Channeling Darth for Good
I spent a lot of time this morning writing about my fear of reversion. It was a long post full of self-loathing and whining. Then I re-read it, gasped, and decided to press the delete key and watch, giddily, as each word disappeared off the screen. Look – I know deleting my fears won’t make them go away, but I just don’t want my negative energy infiltrating the blog waves, ‘cuz guess what? No matter how much I fear reversion to bad habits, reversion to weight gain, and yadda yadda yadda — it’s just not going to happen! So Darth…
I know your whole “dark side” is a necessary counter to the light side of the Force, but I’m not falling for it! I’m going to use my fear, and any negative emotions, to fuel positive goals. So take that you heavy breather!
I know some of you in Blog Land aren’t really the “chipper” type and I totally get it. Shiny happy people can be more annoying than Speidi
and more obnoxious than John Mayer
seriously.
If you prefer channeling or incubating your inner Darths, I get it. My blog title has the freakin word “cranky” in it — I can’t judge! But let me remind you of one thing — you can be a pessimist/cynic/misanthropist/whatever and still conquer your goals. I wrote a post a while ago on the psychology of physical transformation here and it discusses how learning to channel anger into fuel can make the difference between a person who does or does not achieve her/his goals.
So, on that note — it’s our choice today, and every day, to decide how we’re going to channel our fears and negative emotions to either work for or against us. Which do you choose?
For any goal you’ve accomplished that was rectifying a bad habit or lifestyle — do you ever worry you’ll go back to the “dark side”? Are you able to channel negative energy to fuel positive goals?
Challenge Update
- In order to stay in sync with my beloved Jen, I’m going to do my challenge update and Holey Donuts winner drawing on Monday. Stay tuned for a full recap!
In the News
- Shameless Plug Alert — Did you see my guest post, titled, “Cook Your Way to a Leaner You and Fatter Wallet,” over at Carrots ‘n’ Cake here?
- Calorie Lab article, “Agencies Look At Weight of Nation” (7/31/09) here — I was truly impressed with the report released in advance of the Obesity Conference, which recommended 24 strategies that could help prevent and ameliorate obesity levels in the United States. Of course, I have plenty of recommendations I’d add to the list, but this is such a wonderful start and I just truly hope these can be implemented, especially in lower-income, dense, populations.
- The New York Times editorial, “Vote for Safer Food” (here) — Interesting read if you’ve seen Food Inc. or just want to know how the FDA can improve food safety.
- And another reason I’m doomed to repeat the past (I kid, I kid!) — See “High Fat, High Sugar Foods Alters Brain Receptors,” here. Excerpt: “Overconsumption of fatty, sugary foods leads to changes in brain receptors, according to new animal research at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.”
- For fun — Check out this Candy Boots post on Weight Watcher recipe cards from the 1970s here. That’s some disgusting crap if I may so so myself. (And thanks to whomever featured this on her blog! I bookmarked the link, but forgot to note whose blog I borrowed this from!)
So what’s on the agenda this weekend, guys?! I plan on hitting up the beach with the boyf, spending some time with my adorable lil niece and consulting a therapist for that dream I had last night that I was getting married, wtf?! Oh and today, I’m attempting my 1st 8-mile run after my bout of tendinitis. Wish me luck! If all goes well, I will be slowly increasing my mileage to what it used to be (just not so crazy, eh? I don’t want another injury!).
<3, The Cranky One
Tags: Darth, obesity, Star Wars, the dark side, weight loss, weight watchers
9 People have left comments on this post
8-mile run – you go!!! I hope to work up to that mileage soon.
My hubby and I are running a 5K race tomorrow.
I spoke with a friend earlier today who wanted to know what’s been happening in my life these last few months – to my mind not a lot, but as she questioned me, I realized that I’ve come a long way. No smoking, coffee, alcohol, sugar, gluten, dairy, processed food. And there was this twinge of fear that I’d fall back into those nasty habits, but then I realized that my fear was unfounded. I’ve come too far.
Oh wow. You are so inspiring today. I really need to learn from you and focus on channeling my often negative thoughts into positivity! It’s hard sometimes, but looking forward is much more productive than looking backwards! I am going to think of that Darth image next time I start thinking negative, thanks!
Oh gosh, Speidi. ick!
Good luck with your run!!!!!! You can do it! Just be careful & “listen” to the bod!
I have been at the maintemence a long time BUT I have also found new challenges to try to “improve” on what I first accomplished. Getting older does that to you! Age can be unforgiving to the bod!!! I work hard to fight it & just keep finding challenges to overcome. It makes me feel good to say “I tried it & did it”. Even if I did not do it, I tried. Honestly, challenges for me now at 51 would have been a walk in the park when I was younger…. so I have to adjust my mind to that.. don’t like it but it is what it is… I don’t want to be where I was when I was heavier.
Have a fun weekend!!!!
8 miles! Woo! you can do it girl.
I’m taking an 8 hour certification class to teach a group fitness class.
8 miles! Woohoo! Take it slow. The mileage is the important thing, not the speed (but I’m sure you knew that). I remember 8 miles was a pretty epic run for me because 7 wasn’t much longer than the 6-6.5 miles I was fairly comfortable with, but 8 was a LOT further. And I got to eat pure sugar-y goodness. I love guilt free sport jelly bean eating. Is it time for the next half yet?
I love the darth. You crack me up. And I have so done that. I save them as drafts though so I can giggle at what a drama queen I was being a few days later. There’s nothing wrong with posting a negative post, I have certainly done it, but I get tired of the woah-is-me without a plan to improve it. I think if you’re going to make the effort to get upset about something, you should be motivated to change it. As long as I can identify a fear, I am motivated to take it head on. I don’t like being afraid of things. Usually, they just ruminate in the back of my brain making me subconsciously uncomfortable…
The only way to get over the fear of something is to do it. Repeatedly. Thus starts your life of maintaining. And really? I’m not scared. I worked way too hard and am way too used to feeling this awesome for it to go away. Now if I could just finish the losing part…
1) I hope you kicked ass on that run! I have a 7 miler on Sunday that I’m crazy nervous about. I’ve done it before, just not for a while. Scaaary.
2) Amazing job on turning your fears into positive energy! You know I’ve been a little whiny on my blog lately but I am going through a self-discovery stage and I guess it helps some to know they’re not alone. I’m doing well now, so maybe it’s helping me too
3) That stuff on WW cards IS gross.
4) Going to read that vote for safer food article now. I loved that in Food Inc. I always now think about how I keep casting a vote with every purchase I make.
GOOD LUCK ON THE RUN!!!
Great guest post.
Dear Cranky,
(idk what to call you on here? Annabel? Cranky? Or can I call you nina or Bellie? hehe),
You are just so freakin inspirational. Thanks for this blog. I check it daily and have read every single one. You manage to inspire us all to cook healthier, be healthier in our fitness goals, and just lead a better life. Thanks for the positive post, i Love YOU!
I need to start cooking healthier, eating healthier, etc etc. Congrats on your 8 mile run! I never doubted you could do it, i mean you would have run a marathon with me had it not been for mr. nasty tendinitis! Remember our 19 mile run? omg, we are awesome! lol
I need to run an 8 miler this week like i promised, but it will probably be on sunday… tomorrow i will do some sort of cardio and weights… but i did good on weds and thursday cardio wise, so thats why im posponing the 8 miler
do you want to work up to 10, 12+ miles? i totally would not mind! after all, we did our marathon training in the middle of our freaking grad school semester! hehe
anyways, great guest post! thanks for this awesome inspirational blog!
and hopefully you can help me in learning to eat/cook healthier. I really need your help in this… i dont feel my best, and i know its bc im not eating my best… well talk about this soon im sure!