All Inclusive
It’s one thing to sit behind a desk and suggest to other people what they should do to lose weight; it’s quite another to have to tell one’s self……..as I’ve just had to do.
It all started at Christmas. Too much celebrating, too little exercise, and suddenly, almost overnight, my waistline had expanded to accommodate the 3 pounds I’d gained. No problem, I’d soon lose it. But I didn’t. The weeks passed, and too busy at work and with family to change my habits, the weight stayed put. And then I really pushed the boat out – I went on an all-inclusive holiday!
The restaurants were fabulous, buffet form, and unlimited, the wine free flowing, and there was a great incentive to do absolutely nothing. And for 48 hours that’s exactly what I did do – nothing. Once again, almost overnight, my waistline expanded, and another 3 pounds were clinging on under my belt. At this point I started to become rather despondent. If this didn’t stop not only was I not going to be take my shirt off around the pool, I’d also be getting worried about what it was doing to my health. How could I help others to lose weight if I couldn’t do it for myself?
Faced with such lavish temptation I had to find simple ways of resisting. And it came in an unusual form of portion control. Within the hotel were other restaurants which offered table d’hote menus, a few choices of delicious, but reasonably portioned dishes. It started to work. Making time to sit at the table, taking time between courses, and to enjoy healthy, vegetable laden dishes, and limiting how much wine I watered it down with, began to work. That, plus an agreement with myself that I would only enjoy a dessert in the evening and make time for exercise every day made the difference. Did I lose weight on holiday? No. But I stopped gaining it. And that’s the first step towards weight loss. Once home, refreshed, and relaxed, I made weight loss a priority and weight loss has followed.
So, what did I learn? That weight gain can creep up on anyone. That weight loss needs to be a priority. That portion control really works. That it’s good for those who spend their lives talking to others about their weight problems to experience it for themselves from time to time. And finally, that we’re all in this together; what’s good for my patients is also good for me……….
Dr Ian Campbell
All Inclusive
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By Dr Ian Campbell February 2011
It’s one thing to sit behind a desk and suggest to other people what they should do to lose weight; it’s quite another to have to tell one’s self……..as I’ve just had to do.
It all started at Christmas. Too much celebrating, too little exercise, and suddenly, almost overnight, my waistline had expanded to accommodate the 3 pounds I’d gained. No problem, I’d soon lose it. But I didn’t. The weeks passed, and too busy at work and with family to change my habits, the weight stayed put. And then I really pushed the boat out – I went on an all-inclusive holiday!
The restaurants were fabulous, buffet form, and unlimited, the wine free flowing, and there was a great incentive to do absolutely nothing. And for 48 hours that’s exactly what I did do – nothing. Once again, almost overnight, my waistline expanded, and another 3 pounds were clinging on under my belt. At this point I started to become rather despondent. If this didn’t stop not only was I not going to be take my shirt off around the pool, I’d also be getting worried about what it was doing to my health. How could I help others to lose weight if I couldn’t do it for myself?
Faced with such lavish temptation I had to find simple ways of resisting. And it came in an unusual form of portion control. Within the hotel were other restaurants which offered table d’hote menus, a few choices of delicious, but reasonably portioned dishes. It started to work. Making time to sit at the table, taking time between courses, and to enjoy healthy, vegetable laden dishes, and limiting how much wine I watered it down with, began to work. That, plus an agreement with myself that I would only enjoy a dessert in the evening and make time for exercise every day made the difference. Did I lose weight on holiday? No. But I stopped gaining it. And that’s the first step towards weight loss. Once home, refreshed, and relaxed, I made weight loss a priority and weight loss has followed.
So, what did I learn? That weight gain can creep up on anyone. That weight loss needs to be a priority. That portion control really works. That it’s good for those who spend their lives talking to others about their weight problems to experience it for themselves from time to time. And finally, that we’re all in this together; what’s good for my patients is also good for me……….
Tags: energy expenditure, Physical Activity, portion control, trigger