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Lost Dog · 08-24-2007, 04:40 AM

Warning -- Long, self serving post!

Can you change your habits in 21 days?

I suppose you could, but you probably won't. Turns out this long standing timeframe is just a myth. A myth established by one study done on amputee therapy. So, while we may have one lucky member who can feel confident in a 21 day timeframe to a new habit, the rest of us aren't so lucky. The rest of us have to wonder and worry and struggle to keep on track as we don't eat that delicious thing and, instead, eat that other thing that's a lot less delicious. 21 days was somewhat comforting... despite the repeated failures of our new "habits" after that 3 week time period.

So, what do we do? We want our hold habits gone. I do. I really don't have too many old habits that lean toward the positive side. I used to be fat, so I ate too much and exercised too little. I liked to sit and I still do. Luckily, I like to exercise now. A lot.

I was talking to my best friend about this, just the other day. I really, really like to exercise. When I'm done at the gym, I come home, and I sometimes take a walk or run around the lake. It's fun. I don't want to sit so much. My old habit is gone, replaced by a new one.

Contrast this habit swap for another habit that I'm having more trouble with: Eating. I eat right most of the time. But, when I don't, whoa. Lookout! This is a problem for me. It's not a huge problem, today. But, what about the future?

Right now, I have time to workout a lot. It's balancing out my eating. I've got the math right, apparently. I do not gain. I don't really lose, either. So, today, my lifestyle is working well for me. I get to indulge (or overindulge) periodically, and still maintain this level of leanness.

What if I get hurt or sick? What then? I'll have to eat less and I'll have to eat better. Or, I'll get fat again. A sad realization, but one that's hopefully come early enough for me to do something about it.

Most of you are aware of my "high" weight of five years back. I was 235 pounds. Well, embarrassingly, if you go back twenty years, there was a brief point where I was 275. That's a bit more, huh?

I forget about that period in my life, since it was brief (six months) and a long time ago (stretch marks are forever...), but thinking back to that point scared me. It took a lot of effort to be that heavy, so I don't think I could do that again, but still. I was that heavy once, and never want to be that heavy again.

I wish that the "21 days myth" wasn't a myth. I'd love to go 21 days with perfect eating and feel confident that I'm in like Flynn, but that won't happen. I've gone a lot longer than 21 days without screwing up, and I still screw up, here and there.

So, I look to my biggest lifestyle change, from sedentary to very active, as a good sign. I don't know when it became a habit, it just sort of happened. I need to learn from that habit change to establish a consistent eating style that's maintainable over a very long term.

New habits obviously don't get ingrained overnight, or in 21 days, or maybe not even in a year. It might always be an effort, and I'm okay with that. My new habit might not be unconsciously eating right, but instead might be consciously managing a system to keep my eating on track. I'm not sure yet.

I didn't set out to develop an exercise habit, but here it is. Originally, I forced myself to go to the gym so I could see progress in my body. I did and was constantly motivated by the continued changes that I saw. Along the way, the habit formed. During that time, I also ate virtually perfectly all the time. Why then, and not now? It seems like it was the constant positive changes/reinforcement that I saw in the mirror. Eat right and exercise, and the changes happened. That's not happening so much now. Changes aren't so obvious as I get leaner. Sometimes, weeks of perfect eating changes nothing on the scale or abs. It's frustrating to the point of infuriating. And, that's when I cave to my cravings. I'm also an emotional eater, and sad or lonely leads to no good.

So, it's time to look deep within, to what I want and what I need, and stop using the things that aren't working. Maybe the last two of the six pack won't happen, so time to stop getting ticked about that and heading to the freezer for my kids' ice cream carton.

So, maybe I should have changed my motivational focus to general health or something. I'm not really sure. Lately, I've enjoyed getting my work capacity up. More calisthenics, sprinting, bodyweight exercise. A bigger variety of activities, instead of just weight training.

Maybe "health" or being in better shape or condition is what I can focus on. I'm not sure, and I could use some help. Ideas. Stories about your own focus for motivation. You all inspire me, already. But, it's mostly in the admiration dept. You're good people, by and large, and good friends. If you have ideas, stories, anecdotes, tips, etc., please post away.

I'm sure that most of us have these problems. If we didn't have bad habits, we wouldn't be (or have been) fat, right?

Not that you haven't read enough, but when you have the chance, take a look at this blog entry on the 21 day myth. It's an excellent read, with some solid tips on forming habits. Can You Change Your Habits in 21 Days?

08-24-2007, 04:40 AM	#1 (permalink)
Lost Dog You mean three DOG moon! Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: The South Bay! Posts: 19,229	New Habits: The Myth of 21 Days Warning -- Long, self serving post! Can you change your habits in 21 days? I suppose you could, but you probably won't. Turns out this long standing timeframe is just a myth. A myth established by one study done on amputee therapy. So, while we may have one lucky member who can feel confident in a 21 day timeframe to a new habit, the rest of us aren't so lucky. The rest of us have to wonder and worry and struggle to keep on track as we don't eat that delicious thing and, instead, eat that other thing that's a lot less delicious. 21 days was somewhat comforting... despite the repeated failures of our new "habits" after that 3 week time period. So, what do we do? We want our hold habits gone. I do. I really don't have too many old habits that lean toward the positive side. I used to be fat, so I ate too much and exercised too little. I liked to sit and I still do. Luckily, I like to exercise now. A lot. I was talking to my best friend about this, just the other day. I really, really like to exercise. When I'm done at the gym, I come home, and I sometimes take a walk or run around the lake. It's fun. I don't want to sit so much. My old habit is gone, replaced by a new one. Contrast this habit swap for another habit that I'm having more trouble with: Eating. I eat right most of the time. But, when I don't, whoa. Lookout! This is a problem for me. It's not a huge problem, today. But, what about the future? Right now, I have time to workout a lot. It's balancing out my eating. I've got the math right, apparently. I do not gain. I don't really lose, either. So, today, my lifestyle is working well for me. I get to indulge (or overindulge) periodically, and still maintain this level of leanness. What if I get hurt or sick? What then? I'll have to eat less and I'll have to eat better. Or, I'll get fat again. A sad realization, but one that's hopefully come early enough for me to do something about it. Most of you are aware of my "high" weight of five years back. I was 235 pounds. Well, embarrassingly, if you go back twenty years, there was a brief point where I was 275. That's a bit more, huh? I forget about that period in my life, since it was brief (six months) and a long time ago (stretch marks are forever...), but thinking back to that point scared me. It took a lot of effort to be that heavy, so I don't think I could do that again, but still. I was that heavy once, and never want to be that heavy again. I wish that the "21 days myth" wasn't a myth. I'd love to go 21 days with perfect eating and feel confident that I'm in like Flynn, but that won't happen. I've gone a lot longer than 21 days without screwing up, and I still screw up, here and there. So, I look to my biggest lifestyle change, from sedentary to very active, as a good sign. I don't know when it became a habit, it just sort of happened. I need to learn from that habit change to establish a consistent eating style that's maintainable over a very long term. New habits obviously don't get ingrained overnight, or in 21 days, or maybe not even in a year. It might always be an effort, and I'm okay with that. My new habit might not be unconsciously eating right, but instead might be consciously managing a system to keep my eating on track. I'm not sure yet. I didn't set out to develop an exercise habit, but here it is. Originally, I forced myself to go to the gym so I could see progress in my body. I did and was constantly motivated by the continued changes that I saw. Along the way, the habit formed. During that time, I also ate virtually perfectly all the time. Why then, and not now? It seems like it was the constant positive changes/reinforcement that I saw in the mirror. Eat right and exercise, and the changes happened. That's not happening so much now. Changes aren't so obvious as I get leaner. Sometimes, weeks of perfect eating changes nothing on the scale or abs. It's frustrating to the point of infuriating. And, that's when I cave to my cravings. I'm also an emotional eater, and sad or lonely leads to no good. So, it's time to look deep within, to what I want and what I need, and stop using the things that aren't working. Maybe the last two of the six pack won't happen, so time to stop getting ticked about that and heading to the freezer for my kids' ice cream carton. So, maybe I should have changed my motivational focus to general health or something. I'm not really sure. Lately, I've enjoyed getting my work capacity up. More calisthenics, sprinting, bodyweight exercise. A bigger variety of activities, instead of just weight training. Maybe "health" or being in better shape or condition is what I can focus on. I'm not sure, and I could use some help. Ideas. Stories about your own focus for motivation. You all inspire me, already. But, it's mostly in the admiration dept. You're good people, by and large, and good friends. If you have ideas, stories, anecdotes, tips, etc., please post away. I'm sure that most of us have these problems. If we didn't have bad habits, we wouldn't be (or have been) fat, right? Not that you haven't read enough, but when you have the chance, take a look at this blog entry on the 21 day myth. It's an excellent read, with some solid tips on forming habits. Can You Change Your Habits in 21 Days? __________________ - - Lost Dog's Blog workout log & fitday "The wolves spoke to me in a language all their own; it was like German, Mongol, and Bitchin' all mixed together."