I listened to a podcast interview of a Florida State University Roy Baumeister on self control and addiction. He said that self control is like a muscle: if exercised, it grows stronger but it also needs to rest.
Isn't that interesting? S Days are like resting a muscle. Following the No S guidelines on N Days is like exercising a muscle.
Kathleen
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I think the muscle metaphor is spot on.
First, No-S gets easier as you do it - exactly like building a muscle.
Second, some of my biggest failures have been after extended periods of extra willpower - as if I've exercised the muscle to exhaustion.
I like the notion of S-days as "rest." For me, they reasure the unreasoning emotional part of myself that I am NOT going through a period of deprivation, that I can have yummy things. So, the frantic little voice that whines "but I'm st-ar-ving" on standard diets is totally silenced.
Thanks for sharing that!
First, No-S gets easier as you do it - exactly like building a muscle.
Second, some of my biggest failures have been after extended periods of extra willpower - as if I've exercised the muscle to exhaustion.
I like the notion of S-days as "rest." For me, they reasure the unreasoning emotional part of myself that I am NOT going through a period of deprivation, that I can have yummy things. So, the frantic little voice that whines "but I'm st-ar-ving" on standard diets is totally silenced.
Thanks for sharing that!
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butterfly1000
- Posts: 303
- Joined: Wed Mar 25, 2009 1:37 pm
What a great metaphor!KCCC wrote:Second, some of my biggest failures have been after extended periods of extra willpower - as if I've exercised the muscle to exhaustion.
I like the notion of S-days as "rest." For me, they reasure the unreasoning emotional part of myself that I am NOT going through a period of deprivation, that I can have yummy things. So, the frantic little voice that whines "but I'm st-ar-ving" on standard diets is totally silenced.
Same with me, KCCC, it's the knowledge of knowing that an S day is around the corner that helps me not cave in to temptations during the week.
KCCC, taht was a great post. And yeah, I need to feel relaxed some of the time -- able to enjoy a dessert or a cocktail nibble before dinner -- in order to feel happy and centered and determined during the week.
I passed up cookies at my writing class last night, no problem, because I can always have a cookie again. If losing and maintaining weight meant O NOES I MUST NEVER EAT ANOTHER COOKIE FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE, there's no way I could sustain that. Cookies are good, in their place!
I passed up cookies at my writing class last night, no problem, because I can always have a cookie again. If losing and maintaining weight meant O NOES I MUST NEVER EAT ANOTHER COOKIE FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE, there's no way I could sustain that. Cookies are good, in their place!