tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3126474537687051974.post1961025731732204961..comments2024-02-16T23:48:54.987-06:00Comments on The Daily Diary of a Winning Loser: September 8th, 2014 It Was A Nice PlanSean Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07973189725254566966noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3126474537687051974.post-1798165154862904142014-09-09T23:08:56.527-05:002014-09-09T23:08:56.527-05:00BD, I would imagine you're right on the money ...BD, I would imagine you're right on the money about the water/BP connection. Certainly makes sense to me! I could use a shifted perspective on water...I sometimes "take it" room temp so I can drink it faster. I honestly believe if I made a bigger effort to change my perspective on this, I might evolve from "taking it" to "enjoying it." <br />The benefits are undeniable!! <br />Thank you, BD, very much!! I will, sir! You too!Sean Andersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07973189725254566966noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3126474537687051974.post-47064707225539461332014-09-09T15:23:45.808-05:002014-09-09T15:23:45.808-05:00The water tracking is interesting. I love cold wa...The water tracking is interesting. I love cold water and drink it constantly. It's probably the only healthy thing I do normally and without forethought and effort. I keep a couple of Nalgene bottles in the fridge at all times and drink from them constantly. I am a big guy and have type 2 diabetes, but the one thing that I've always been lucky with is blood pressure. Mine is normally right at 120/80. This has surprised many healthcare professionals who seem to expect my blood pressure to be elevated due to my size. I can't help but wonder if my habit of drinking water all day has something to do with it. Anyway, love your posts, keep up the good fight!BDhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14317879837467449895noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3126474537687051974.post-67537236732255865342014-09-09T15:22:57.814-05:002014-09-09T15:22:57.814-05:00I sincerely appreciate the insight, Deb! Thank you...I sincerely appreciate the insight, Deb! Thank you. No hard feelings at all! I appreciate the insight too. You have a real talent, a gift to get to the heart of things quickly! <br />I will sometimes write an entire post, that if I took the time--I could likely condense the points to a paragraph and still be on target.<br />I've long recognized the absence of emotion, inflection and humanness in text...it's been an issue in past relationships of mine, where big misunderstandings were born from this dynamic.<br />Our exchange--from start to finish, could very well be a perfect example of me overlooking this truth.<br />Oh--lol, the picture question--Nah, I honestly didn't think anything of it... Gerri picked it on her own, actually. <br />I hope you're feeling better after your procedure today. <br />Take care, and thank you<br />Sean Sean Andersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07973189725254566966noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3126474537687051974.post-61140159568817430982014-09-09T14:53:47.080-05:002014-09-09T14:53:47.080-05:00You're sweet, Sean. It's okay.
In fact, ...You're sweet, Sean. It's okay.<br /><br />In fact, although I'm glad my comment ended up finding a hot button under that stone, I want to offer my own apology for making the original comment in the first place.<br /> (I just got back from the hospital for a thyroid ultrasound and was turning this over in my mind as I was being tortured.)<br /><br />I repeatedly forget, and am often painfully reminded, about two things. <br /><br />The one thing I forget is that print has no tone of voice. I can see how an unusually forthright question or comment, without tone of voice, could be "heard" as being the result of a negative judgment and implled criticism..<br /><br />And the other thing is, I was reminded that I have a propensity for forthright, and probably socially questionable, comments and questions.<br /><br />It's an occupational hazard that I must overcome. I spent 20 years as a counselor. People paid me to facilitate stone turning over. They paid me to not waste their time with politically correct drivel, but to, instead, put my finger on "that spot" that was irritating them and from which they were averting their eyes.<br /><br />My style has always been to ask direct questions or request that they think about what they had just said with a curious attitude. <br /><br />Here's the thing: That was always done within an established safe relationship and with a nonjudgmental tone and attitude.<br /><br />I forget that (1) no one is asking for me to switch on my stone turning skills, (2) there is no established safe relationship on a blog, and (3) there is no tone of voice in print, accepting or otherwise, so by default, we who have been wounded hear it in a negative voice.<br /><br />Sigh.<br /><br />That's a lot of forgetting and presumption on my part--and I am sorry. I will earnestly try to do better.<br /><br />Deb<br /><br />And, just for the record: When I asked you if on a past post your poster picture was current or past, it was because I honestly wanted to know. I am legally blind (which is why I am no longer in practice) and simply could not tell. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3126474537687051974.post-89208873493704657352014-09-09T13:52:35.410-05:002014-09-09T13:52:35.410-05:00Gwen-- Only a couple of times have I had trouble g...Gwen-- Only a couple of times have I had trouble getting a restaurant to help me navigate their offerings. I read your facebook comment after I had finished the meal and thought--- I didn't even think to ask!! I will next time.<br />Yes, a pinch can sometimes be a dash! Thank you Gwen!!Sean Andersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07973189725254566966noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3126474537687051974.post-70189163639679637032014-09-09T13:48:59.110-05:002014-09-09T13:48:59.110-05:00I was actually over it-- her comment on that parti...I was actually over it-- her comment on that particular post came in yesterday morning, so I revisited the page. I'm surprised that it was still fresh 14 hours later when I sat down to write the post. <br />I suppose this might be considered a "hot button" for me. ;) I have very few of those. And now--if the owner of this company reads this, "Losing weight is so easy for you" will become a workplace punchline... Oh, my word!Sean Andersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07973189725254566966noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3126474537687051974.post-35827182183522484672014-09-09T13:43:53.157-05:002014-09-09T13:43:53.157-05:00Deb, My most sincere apologies for jumping to conc...Deb, My most sincere apologies for jumping to conclusions! <br />"See? I knew there was a reason for your post and my comment about it allowed you to put the underlying issue into words: feeling discounted by another's opinion." <br />Thank you for that.<br />My stuff, indeed! LOL ;)<br />I try my very best to not let things get under my skin-- and I can usually find a balance and grace in avoiding such unnecessary emotional detours--but the "it's easy for you" thing just wouldn't stop bugging me.<br />I appreciate your clarification--and hope you'll accept my apologies for being wrong in the tone of my original reply.<br />My best, SeanSean Andersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07973189725254566966noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3126474537687051974.post-87771201670537013452014-09-09T13:01:50.407-05:002014-09-09T13:01:50.407-05:00Oh. And to finish this off. Perhaps, you don'...Oh. And to finish this off. Perhaps, you don't realize that you did, indeed, answer my question in teh original comment.<br /><br />The reason the "easy for you" comment caused you the psychi distress was that you felt like you were being discounted. The reason you embraced the interpretation that your friends said what they said to get themselves off the hook was because, per you reply, you had been on the other side and had said the same thing to let yourself off of the hook. (That probably qualifies as "your stuff.")<br /><br />And you quoted the content listing your efforts to defend against that discounted feeling of yours.<br /><br />See? I knew there was a reason for your post and my comment about it allowed you to put the underlying issue into words: feeling discounted by another's opinion.<br /><br />Signing off this time for real.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3126474537687051974.post-91110339889446928112014-09-09T12:38:01.944-05:002014-09-09T12:38:01.944-05:00Hmmm. I'm sorry that you felt my comment was...Hmmm. I'm sorry that you felt my comment was more a criticism than a query. It was an honest, "What's up with this?" kind of thing.<br /><br />I'm not sure what conclusions you think I jumped to since I did not provide you with them. In fact, I had no conclusions--just a curiosity as to what was behind the revisiting of your friend's comments and the choice of the content you quoted. I thought it might just be an indication of a sore spot, if you will, that could cause some problems for you down the road.<br /><br />I wasn't feeling negative or critical and I'm very sorry you took my concern as having that motivation. <br /><br />As far my mention that my comment may not be pleasant to read--it wasn't that I thought I was being either rude or critical, it was that being encouraged to turn over stones ans discover what's under them is not always a welcome invitation. Clearly, I was right with that observation.<br /><br />I wish you well, Sean.<br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3126474537687051974.post-41380057910636002882014-09-09T10:35:39.583-05:002014-09-09T10:35:39.583-05:00As I mentioned on Facebook, I always (nicely) ask ...As I mentioned on Facebook, I always (nicely) ask the waiter to ask the chef to please not add any salt. I can tell by the taste that they always comply. Sure, some meats come pre-marinated, but if you've watched any cooking shows on TV, you know how much a 'pinch' is to THEM. LOL<br /><br />You done good! :)Gwenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18386517479350871434noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3126474537687051974.post-77176796027277007232014-09-09T10:22:21.712-05:002014-09-09T10:22:21.712-05:00It is fine, Deb. The comments, although I'm ce...It is fine, Deb. The comments, although I'm certain had no ill intent, was offensive to me because I work very hard at doing what I do. I'm proud of my efforts. And for someone to say this is easy for me--it just hit me wrong, like it's a discounting of my efforts.<br />Deb, no offense to you, but you've had a tendency to read into things or jump to your own conclusions very quickly. <br />It isn't that your comment isn't pleasant, it's just misinformed and affected by your own stuff.<br />I recognized the "it's easy for you and that makes me feel better about it not being easy for me" dynamic because I've lived it, Deb. I've been on the other end of that statement too. I've done the exact same thing.<br />And as far me including her list of my accomplishments over the last 6 years, she didn't say anything that isn't true. I think "regional" book tour would have been more accurate, instead of "nationwide," but that's her perception. Bottom line is, I'm very proud of what I've accomplished and what I'm doing to take exceptional care. Perhaps read my reply to Sheila above-- I've been there, Deb.<br />I'm humble, modest, grateful and human--I'm not perfect and have never claimed to be.<br />With assistance in therapy, from good friends like Life Coach Gerri and many others--I stay grounded and connected, spiritually, emotionally and mentally. <br />Perhaps the "red flags" you mention noticing are products and reflections of your own experience or the projection of the standards you feel others should keep?<br />I've expressed to you before how much I've appreciated and respected your opinion and perspective. At the same time, I can't help but notice how most of the time your input is of a critical nature. <br />Why is that?<br />My best,<br />Sean Sean Andersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07973189725254566966noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3126474537687051974.post-11322631492102268642014-09-09T09:48:02.798-05:002014-09-09T09:48:02.798-05:00Just a thought. You might want to ponder why the ...Just a thought. You might want to ponder why the "easy for you" comments in response to your 78 pound weight loss in 19 weeks has been so troubling to you.<br /><br />The evidence of that psychic distress is in the fact that you embraced the assessment that people just say it's easy for you in order to excuse themselves and your reprint of the part of that comment which admiringly detailed the efforts you make in order to get that number on the scale.<br /><br />I do understand that this comment of mine is not pleasant to receive--and I am sorry about that--but this post began waving the red flag I've seen peaking out for a while now.<br /><br />Shrug. I could be wrong....but just in case, do let yourself think on these things. One usually only trips over the rocks one does not see.<br /><br />Respectfully and with care,<br /><br />DebAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3126474537687051974.post-90031158799888325002014-09-09T09:29:30.671-05:002014-09-09T09:29:30.671-05:00Good points, Nikki. I bet a lot of restaurants are...Good points, Nikki. I bet a lot of restaurants are like this--especially the chain restaurants. <br />I totally agree about the sleep and the body's insistence on getting as much as it can. It does know what's best--If we just listen...I need to a little closer!Sean Andersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07973189725254566966noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3126474537687051974.post-33581518129810037382014-09-09T09:22:51.925-05:002014-09-09T09:22:51.925-05:00I was on vacation last year and we stopped at an A...I was on vacation last year and we stopped at an Applebees and I asked for no salt at all on the steak. The server said that since it comes to the resto frozen and pre-seasoned, the cook couldn't control the sodium. Many chains operate similarly. Another chain, I forget which one, has their meat not frozen but refridgerated and vaccum-sealed in brine. Again the cooks can't really control the salt levels in that situation either.<br /><br />Sleep is so vitally important. Your body decided it needed the extra rest. Sometimes your body knows what's best :)Nikkihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11133209982557200052noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3126474537687051974.post-52009580328845370492014-09-09T08:59:40.396-05:002014-09-09T08:59:40.396-05:00Sheila,
The mushroom cap was the tipping point for...Sheila,<br />The mushroom cap was the tipping point for me! I was sold. <br />Oh my--yes, the challenges of this journey are multi-faceted... And I could totally relate with her description of how when we're not making these things important in our lives--finding the switch feels impossible. <br />I'll admit-- It wasn't too long ago when I couldn't imagine doing what I'm doing today. It seriously scared me because it honestly felt like I was doomed and certainly returning to 500 pounds and likely beyond. I cried tears of hopelessness, fear and regret--and now, if I sit, ponder and fully appreciate where I am today, I end up having tears of joy. <br />It wasn't impossible after all--and realizing this was one of the biggest reliefs I've ever felt. And you nailed it, we must do--nit wish. One step at a time, one day at a time...You can do it, Sheila---I know it's cliche--but if I can do it, you can do it. I promise that's a statement of truth, my friend. Sean Andersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07973189725254566966noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3126474537687051974.post-63333760841743268402014-09-09T08:47:33.433-05:002014-09-09T08:47:33.433-05:00You're so spot on about the water offsetting t...You're so spot on about the water offsetting the temporary sodium effect. When I make special requests, I'm very careful with my approach--never demanding, always soft--and not wanting to bother, but really in need of the information. I've found that people naturally want to help others--as long as it's truly appreciated--and it is, everybody wins!<br />I agree about being at the mercy of the cooks... Some places are a little more controlled--and precise...I've found it especially inconsistent at locally owned and operated non-chain places. <br />Oh my-I love stuffed mushroom caps. I'm not a big fan of artichokes--but it had just enough cheese to act as a buffer against that aversion. The sirloin and shrimp sounds wonderful! Sean Andersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07973189725254566966noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3126474537687051974.post-20365015913547269412014-09-09T07:47:32.272-05:002014-09-09T07:47:32.272-05:00Good choice, Sean!! When u posted about your Appl...Good choice, Sean!! When u posted about your Applebee's meal, that was the selection that jumped out at me. I love your post here and the blogger you quoted really does understand the phenomenon of the challenges of this journey. I need to work harder at the consistency. Doing it instead of wishing it. -Sheila Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3126474537687051974.post-35623479516210550312014-09-09T07:36:58.263-05:002014-09-09T07:36:58.263-05:00I eat out often, and have all during this journey ...I eat out often, and have all during this journey I've been on since Dec. 2009. Salt content is tough to control, but by drinking a lot of water, I figure any gain will be temporary. I do worry about the portion size. There is a petite sliced sirloin lunch at Ruby Tuesdays. It comes with mashed potatoes and broccoli. I always worry about those mashed potatoes, sometimes the serving is quite large, sometimes smaller, which is probably truer to what it should be to come in at the reported content of 364 calories. You truly are at the mercy of the cooks, I wish I had your chutzpah and demanded more of the staff at restaurants. Be sure to try the Signature Sirloin with Garlic Herb Shrimp next time you're at Applebee's. It's very good. Did you like the stuffed mushroom?dupsterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18088114640385927198noreply@blogger.com