Exercise. I’ve always been naturally slender but all my life until about college, I used to really hate it. Hated gym class, never played sports, thought it was lame. I just started running one day and have done it very consistently. I like the way it makes me feel–the endorphins, all that.
Amasia, would you mind sharing what useful things you’ve learned in your course?
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Still not yet though, not by a long shot
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If you meant to write ‘‘still not done yet,’’ then I agree heartily. It’s never enough. I think it takes a lot of practice to be committed to constant improvement but still be able to accept where you are in that moment.
I still feel I have a long way to go too… like 60 years or so. I think behavioral change is a life’s work.
To be honest, I have some frustration with the course in that it focuses on a number of set models that describe why behavioral change takes place, specifically regarding health-related changes.
This is the first course I’ve ever taken related to sociology/psychology, so it’s a very different perspective than I’m used to coming at problems from. I tend to like things that give clear explanations and are practical and applicable. Behavioral theories are not like that, from what I’ve seen.
My frustration is that it uses fairly simple models to try and explain human behavior related to health, when I believe that people act in way more complex ways than the models can account for.
The most useful and interesting theory is the social cognitive theory which basically says that you learn by seeing others do things. I think it’s interesting in that it discusses a lot about how we related to each other. In a way, seeing these success stories could help others succeed- an unintended side effect of starting this thread! I’m sorry to say, overall there’s not really much useful that I’ve learned in the course, although perhaps that will change later on in the semester.
Yes, that is what I meant. Obviously I am not quite perfect, yet!
I turned 40 and worked out I was running out of time to do all those things I was going to do ‘someday’, so I started doing them.
I quit smoking after 24 years.
I am stil losing weight, but have lost nearly 100lbs over the last two years.
I have lived with my committment to track every calorie for more than a year now.
I started exercising, and have kept my committment to go to the gym 2-3 times per week when I’m at uni and 5-6 times per week when I’m not for two years now.
I went back to school to study law. It’s a four year program, and I have just finished my first year.
I don’t want to be old (or not get to be old because I’m hugely fat and smoke) and still think that I could have been a lawyer. I want to be old and still active, happy, healthy with strong bones and good stamina.
My next challenge is to run a half marathon by the end of next year, although it’s a secondary thing and I might not get there due to time restrictions because of school. Have to see if I can fit it in. I have friends who have (quite literally) cracked from stress and I don’t want to be that person either.
Twice:
The first one was when I quit smoking in 1982.
The second was when I left my first wife after meeting the woman who would be my second wife.
I always knew I had to take better care of myself. A couple years ago, when life got crazy and the alternative was seriously losing my shit, I decided it was time to start. I did several things:
- I broke up with my ex, who despite wanting to, was not capable of being the partner I needed.
- I ate better and exercised more. Monitored calorie intake and portion sizes, switched to whole grains, added more fruits and veggies. I lost 30+ pounds and look and feel better than I have in my adult life.
- I switched jobs within the same company. It’s still stressful, but I earn slightly more money, and my efforts are acknowledged.
- I developed a plan to eliminate my credit card debt by the end of the year.
- I moderate my time-wasters better and I reinvested time in my hobbies. I don’t play video games or watch TV much now.
- I took a chance on a new guy, who turned out to be the best thing ever.
The result is a happier, more secure, more confident, and overall better me.
There’s no secret strategy-- you just honestly assess where you are, think about where you want to be, and figure out a reasonable, sustainable way to get there. If things don’t work as you plan, you try another approach. Some of it’s luck.
Quit practicing law? :dubious: It was definitely the right decision for so many reasons-my personal interests, I’m better off financially (I got my old attorney salary back as a summer intern, granted I now have the higher loans to deal with), international job flexibility etc. However, I’m still kind of sad over it. It’s so much cooler to say you’re a lawyer than something lame like “consultant.”
Similar to my story. I lost 60 lbs in about 7 months starting during the 2009 holidays. Next month I’m running the Boston marathon.
Self-understanding through therapy, followed by self-acceptance of the things I cannot change.
Exercise and deliberate hyperactivity. No longer do I just “veg”. I must either be walking or doing stuff with my hands. Constant motion helps my body and mind. I can’t even be on the 'Dope too long before I start getting sick.
I have adopted a more aggressive, almost arrogant attitude that I keep inside. I am aware I need to pare it down a little and be more sympathetic, but I realize that it feels so much better being secretively mean than being a sensitive innocent. Instead of feeling guilty because I’m irritated by people all the time, I give myself permission to feel this way. And I don’t feel guilty for being a “no” person. No I don’t want to go “hang out”. No I don’t want to grab a drink after work. I have realized that life is too short to do things you don’t want to do, just for the sake of “fitting in”.
But I have also started saying “yes” to things that I do want. Whenever I get a stroke of inspiration or a cool idea, I go with it. I don’t find excuses or allow fear to inhibit me. Being able to make things happen, rather than simply wandering into them accidently, has been very empowering and has given me more confidence in myself.
this is a positive change?
I can think of five “purposeful, intentional transformations *'ve successfully undertaken” in the past 30 years. Going back to grad school (both times), a career change from math professor to statistician about a dozen years back, and last but definitely not least, moving forward with the adoption process that ultimately resulted in our bringing home the Firebug two years ago.
But before those outward changes, one inward transformation was needed. 30 years ago when I was in my mid to late 20s, I’d been just kinda drifting through my life, and I realized I had to change who I was, to become the sort of person who was capable of overcoming his own inertia, to be capable of doing the right thing in his own life. That was the necessary precursor to everything else.
look at the ecig thread. which I c an’t link because I have a cat on my wrist. My friend has been using them for about a month. I haven’t seen him with an analog for a couple of weeks.
I used to bve very shy and not willing to talk to strangers. When I got a job that included me talking, I started faking it. I’d pretend to be all self confident an d somewhere along the line, I started to belie3ve my lies. sorry for the typos, but idiot cat is happy and I’m not willing to move him to correct them.
There is kitty belly happening now 
When you spend 30 years hating yourself because you’re especially sensitive to people encroaching your boundaries, then yes, it is a positive change to go from blaming yourself to thinking (not saying), “Fuck 'em. They’re the stupidheads, not me.”
I still try to act kindly and still try to understand people and take them for what they are. But like I said, I’m getting rid of all that guilt and recognizing that I simply have low tolerance for all the crap that abounds. Kudos for people who can handle it, but I don’t have to villify myself because I can’t stand it. Nor do I have to feel guilty for withdrawing from it and sticking to myself. My sanity and comfort are much more important to me than being someone’s idea of an ideal person.
Many things:
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In college, I moved to South America for a year. It was the best thing I could’ve done for myself at the time.
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While in South America, making the choice that I would leave without regrets. So, even if something seemed hard - climbing a mountain, jumping off a waterfall, getting a job there - I did it and learned that I’m a stronger person than I thought.
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Running three marathons. Each time, I didn’t think I could do it. Each time, I made myself and there are few better things than crossing that finish line.
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Quitting my job as a marketing coordinator at a large law firm to become a freelance writer. Not only did I double my salary within two years, I learned that I could operate my own business. Even though I’m employed full-time by a private company now (benefits are everything), I know I can do it and I have something to fall back on if I need it.
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Losing 25 pounds when I learned my cholesterol was getting too high.
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Committing myself to losing another 20 this year. My cholesterol is borderline high now (losing the previous 25 lowered it 74 points!) and I know I can make it better. Since I’ve started eating healthier, I already feel better. It’s incredible how quickly you feel better when you start treating yourself well.
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Committing myself to enjoying my kids. Seems like a no-brainer, but when you work (or even if you stay home) and you come home to a houseful, the last thing you think about is enjoying yourself. It’s hard when they’re young not to see them as a series of chores - hold them, feed them change them, put them to bed and now you can get things done! But they’re actually a lot of fun and they become even moreso when you decide to enjoy them and incorporate them into your life early. And they notice how you feel about them and act accordingly. If they’re seen as something to do and get out of the way, they get frustrated and act out to get your attention and stay with you longer. Actually enjoy them and they don’t feel like they need to cling as much. And if you let them cling when they need to now, then they don’t need to as much later. And they’re happy and funny and fun to be around. It ain’t all sunshine and roses, but things have become so much better since I got that stick out of my ass.
Quit smoking two years ago and about a year ago started practicing meditation and seriously studying Buddhism. It’s changed the way I think about everything.
I’ve spent the last 6 years in an industry I didn’t wholly enjoy. Despite still being in debt for poor property investment choices I’ve gone back to university. It’s hard balancing full time study and trying to repay my debts whilst just moving in with a new partner… but it’s worth it. I could have easily spend another 5 years doing the same old and suddenly realising I wasn’t young enough to make such a dramatic life change.
Went on the No S Diet. That means I don’t eat snacks, don’t eat sweets, and don’t take seconds at meals, except on Saturdays, Sundays, and special days (I actually start my Saturday at dinnertime Friday and end my Sunday just before dinnertime, to accommodate Shabbat dinner).
Bought some nine inch diameter plates. I use those instead of our old 10.5" plates on weekdays.
I don’t weigh myself, but people who’ve seen me since I started all this say I’ve been losing weight, and I’m going to need to get my engagement ring sized down before long.
I’m trying to get more vegetables and whole grains into my and Mr. Neville’s diets, but that hasn’t been as successful as the No S and nine-inch projects.
All of the major positive changes in my life have involved removing myself from the presence of toxic people, which is more the deletion of a negative than the addition of a positive. Although the peace and quiet is a great positive addition IMO, I’m not sure it falls into the category of this thread.
I’ve been gradually descending further into hedonism ever since entering adulthood 8 years ago, so I don’t think my dietary or attitude changes would appear positive from a third-party perspective (so again, nothing there to add to the thread). But I like me, overall 
I guess I could say one good thing is on the self-esteem front: I’m not embarrassed to wear capris with hairy legs anymore. I don’t shave because I like my leg hair.
Had a kid. It’s been a great experience so far.