Comments on: How to cultivate extreme-motivation for lifestyle change and weight loss: Part 1—Vital Fear [lifestyle evolution series]

By: Mark Riffey

Mark Riffey — Tue, 01 Jan 2008 17:22:31 +0000

Jonathan,

The 3 stories at the beginning truly are things that everyone can use, but will we? Are the rest of us in denial? Of course.

How many people get a diagnosis of and then make themselves become experts on the cause, advance and reversal/treatment of some condition? Plenty.

Why do we (collectively) wait until that moment? Because, as you say, the fear doesnt truly arrive until that time.

Vital Fear is accountability in the form of death and disease is the ultimate nagging finger waved in your face.

Accountability is quite often the difference between success and failure. It’s why Weight Watchers succeeds. People are afraid to show up at next week’s meeting heavier than they were this week. Powerful stuff.

I read a Vonnegut short story the other day and it struck me from so many angles (including weight) that it was in my blog today.

The short story is on a university site at http://instruct.westvalley.edu/lafave/hb.html. It’s short, sweet and a great read. Think about the weight bags in the story as your own…

Great start to 2008, Jonathan. Keep it up.

Mark

By: esther

esther — Mon, 31 Dec 2007 02:39:36 +0000

well, that’s cheery news! thanks guys!

By: Jonathan Fields

Jonathan Fields — Mon, 31 Dec 2007 01:22:32 +0000

@ Esther and Adeline – The good news is that the less vital fear is a genuine motivator, the more likely it is that you’re in a good enough place to move out of Maslow’s bottom level–survival–and start to move up toward the “attainment” of certian highly specific positive goals as a prime source of motivation. great questions and thoughts, more to come tomorrow!

By: Adeline

Adeline — Mon, 31 Dec 2007 01:12:46 +0000

Hi Esther,

I am sure Jonathan will have a great response to your post. I thought I’d comment since I am in a similar situation to you. You might want to take Jonathan’s challenge on as a means for evaluating your overall health and vitality, as I will be doing for myself. All of us can benefit from taking the time to review our total wellness and see if there is an area that needs our attention. While I am in “apparently” good health currently, I did discover that I have very low-iron – that will be my focus early this year and I hope to improve it through improving my nutrition profile to include iron-rich foods such as figs, dark greens, teff flour, etc and reducing caffeine which reduces iron in the blood. I too have let 10 extra pounds (not normal for me)creep on over the last 3 years…

Early on, Jonathan alludes to the fact that he too seemed to put his own self-care on the back burner and while not “Vital Fear” yet, it kinda creeps up on us when we aren’t looking. This really isn’t about weight, weight can just be an visible indication that we are not taking the best care of ourselves that we can.

We are all bound to benefit from taking part in this lifestyle evolution. It should be a fun learning experience.

-Adeline

By: esther

esther — Mon, 31 Dec 2007 00:56:29 +0000

maybe you’ll answer this in the “extreme desire” section, but i just don’t know that “vital fear” will get me there. see, it’s not cardiac arrest i’m facing down, just the 10 lbs i’ve wanted to lose since… well, college (and i hate to tell you how long ago THAT was). in other words, nothing drastic is really going to happen if i don’t do it, and it’s not actually THAT excruciating being 1 size over where i want to be, it’s just a long-standing (though possibly not extreme enough) desire. tell me doctor fields, am i a candidate for your 84 day transformation, even in my semi “whatever” state?

By: Jim

Jim — Sun, 30 Dec 2007 22:47:15 +0000

Jonathan:
I feel my vital fear and look forward to learning how to keep it closely in mind, and about extreme desire, and about the 84 day plan that can transform my life, if what you have to say is true. I believe that it may very well be true. Can’t wait to find out.
Jim

By: Jonathan Fields

Jonathan Fields — Sun, 30 Dec 2007 03:00:16 +0000

@ Adeline – I agree that a lot of people put off starting lifestyle change, because it’ll mean taking a real, hard look at where they are and for a lot of us, that’s not a comfortable. And, I can totally empathize. But, it’s a critical element in creating the mindset needed to sustain a lasting change in behavior. Thanks for your always thoughtful comments and, wishing you a giant 2008, too!

@ Sarena – Vital fear is the part that nobody likes to look at, but, it’s so incredibly powerful when you do. Mazzerati, eh? got a new shopping list for ’08 !!! Have a wonderful New Year!

By: sarena

sarena — Sun, 30 Dec 2007 00:22:31 +0000

Yeah J
That Vital Fear is what pushed me to a major lifestyle change including correcting my nutrition and fitness. I dont like the “d” word as in Diet. I tend to think of food now as fuel. If you wanna drive a Mazzerati, you are sure not gonna fill the car with economy. I too want my body to perform and have energy so I fill my tank with premium high grade! It works!
Thanks for all the great input. Have a Happy 2008. I just envision 2008 as better than 2007 and that year saw many positive changes for me.

By: Adeline

Adeline — Sat, 29 Dec 2007 20:19:11 +0000

Wow Jonathan – you write a very vivid picture of what life is like for all too many people and even those of us who are health conscious are not immune to the downside of complacency.

I have worked in the industry as a personal trainer for many years and what strikes me is how disconnected people become from their physical bodies. You allude to the fact that many of us become so preoccupied with attaining the great job, house, car, etc. to boost our morale, that we lose ourselves in the process. Many 45 plus clients said they “don’t know how this happened” -how they became so overweight and let their health fail. They are exceptional in every area of their lives, but give nothing to themselves.
Physical activity, especially weight training, seems to immedidately help those who are inactive and obese “feel” their body again and begin reconnecting…this is a place for many to start.

I would also like to add that even many normal and even underweight individuals are unhealthy and need to take a good look at their lifestyle – if they are inactive, smoke, don’t eat fruits and vegetables,rely on medications to sleep, etc., then this program is just as important to them. They also need support – many individuals comment on “vanity” when a thin person makes healthy lifestyle choices. It is just as hard and just as vital for them.

Lastly, you may cover this in your program and book, but everyone should start by knowing their numbers (medical assessments). A yearly physical will let you follow your blood pressure, sugar levels, thyroid, cholesterol, c-reactive protein, etc. Don’t rely on your physician – ask for a copy of the report and get educated on what to look for. I just picked up my “normal” report and found that my Ferritin (iron level) is extremley low…my doctor saw no issue with it even though it is precursor to anemia…I need to take control of correcting it – she’ll wait until I’m sick so she can write a prescription.

Everyone embarking on your program needs to take control of their life. This is about being able to live your life with vitality and joy – being able to do all that you want to do.

Thank you for making that clear and for leading the way.

Wishing everyone a great 2008 and the best of health and happiness!