One of the thoughts on yesterday’s post from Margaret made me howl with laughter. In case you didn’t see it, having just read about my love affair with the big fat leather recliner and how I’d been reluctant to haul my ass out of it, she suggested I kick it out into the yard and torch it. Once I’d stopped chuckling I came out in a cold sweat at the prospect of getting rid of it. I mean it’s so comfy…the comfiest chair I ever owned. I couldn’t.
I know it’s got very close links to my old life, as in I’ve spent years letting the big old frame envelop my big old arse and tip me back at the push of a button to the optimal angle for scoffing cheese-balls in front of the telly. But I’m hoping I can continue my love affair with it in my skinny life once I’ve shed the fat suit. I’ll just leave out the eating bit, and maybe self-impose a few ground rules, you know? Must do x, y and z first before any contact can be allowed between arse and seat cushion…
Thing is, I’m a bit tied to that chair. I don’t mean in a dodgy Fifty Shades of Grey way obviously, I’m too old for that shit even if there was a bloke brave enough to take me on. But daft as it sounds I’m really attached to it. I mean aside from the fact that it’s a great chair, it totally lends itself to the fact that I like to sprawl.
In the comfort of my own home, I can’t remember ever really sitting in a chair with everything where it should be you know? Feet on the floor, arms on the arm rests and so on…other folk did that, but not me. Even as a kid I remember watching TV whilst sprawling on the sofa, because…well, chairs were for the grown-ups. So even though I am a grown-up now, the fact that the chair kind of unfolds itself and offers a perfect platform to drape whatever bits of me wherever I like works, you know?
Given that I’m not inclined to go cold turkey and cut all ties with it, there’s definitely a pull towards my old life that I need to watch out for, which is more pronounced when I’m sprawling in that chair. Remember in the An Old Shoe In The Gutter post, I talked about how getting a new TV knocked me sideways because all I wanted to do was lay in the chair and eat whilst I watched it? There you go…my head just seems to make that association. I need to learn to disassociate, you know, cut ties with the memories of being a lazy bum rather than with the physical objects. Basically get over myself.
There are a few people I know, or know of who’ve taken pretty drastic action to ensure that they don’t repeat destructive patterns associated with their former fat life. Sean Anderson, one of my favourite weight loss transformation bloggers cut all his ties with refined sugar a couple of years ago because he figured out that if he didn’t, he would put his food sobriety at risk. That’s a bad-assed move, because it really restricts your food choices, but it works for him and I’m glad it does. I’ve considered it myself but just like with the armchair, I’m not quite brave enough to flex those scissors. I’m not sure enough that I need to.
That said, if I get to the point where the armchair once again becomes synonymous with cheese balls, it’ll be out in that yard quicker than a flash, you can trust me on that one. I’m curious, is there anything you’ve had to cut all ties with in order to move forward with your new normal?
Don’t ask me to torch my chair even though I had many food feasts in it. With giving up sugar I lost all my weight and eventually the cravings stopped. My old recliner is great for having a nap, so comfy.
Thank heavens for that, I’m not sure I could bear to part with it ?
Heh heh heh… I’ll bring the bonfire idea back up when you get to the maintenance stage when it really pays to control environmental triggers because you’re no longer laser focused on each bite. Yes, that day is coming, but not quite yet…
BUT the funny thing in my mind was picturing Dee, back to the blaze, saying to the Asshole Voice in her head, “Anymore bright ideas?” ((total silence)) Dee, “Damn right, pass the marshmallows” 😀
Love the blog!
xoMargaret
Too funny, I can just see it in my mind!
Refined sugar, eating in the car, buffets…I associate these with binging, sneak eating, rationalizing (just this time, the diet starts Monday thinking), me at 14 stone instead of me now at 11 stone.
Hi Dale, lovely to meet you and congratulations on your weight loss, that’s awesome 🙂
Because sugar was my drug of choice, i’ve had to part ways with it. My realization was that it’s a white powder for a reason!
wow you too Mimi? And you’ve been food sober for donkeys’ years haven’t you…hmmm, there’s definitely something in that then.
Hi, here I am top of the list again. My excuse is it’s morning here!
Margaret gave me a 220v wake-up call too. Certainly got me thinking. Sorry to balk – I’m reluctant to plunge merrily into drastic changes, thinking that will make me follow through with a resolution.
I have loved me a recliner. They’re true addictables, really. And incidentally, anyone who directs me to Kill Your Television gets brushed off, yeah, yeah. But I did jettison sweat pants, the very moment I got down to a size where they actually fit. Sweats, (& their cousins Yoga pants), are dangerous!
My goodness yes. Sweat pants! Former cheese-ball munching outfit of choice! I can’t wait to move away from elastic waistbands!!
ps. I also got rid of my television (left it with the ex), which has left me so much more time for reading and other things.
wow that’s hardcore! I don’t watch much but I don’t think I could go cold turkey!
does my ex-husband count? (don’t mean to be flip, but my reaction to him used to be to eat four frozen meals in a row.)
I’ve stopped eating things with corn syrup (almost inadvertently); it definitely messes with my blood sugar.
I think that going sugar free, like Sean did, would do me a world of good (like you, I’m not there yet)– instead, I work hard at getting 7-10+ servings of vegetables per day– I find that if I’m crunching on things I really like (thin French green beans are great, as are slices of fresh fennel–yeah, I’m strange), I have less desire (and room!) for the less-nutritious stuff.
God yes of course he counts! He sounds like he belongs in the category of trigger! I love to eat tons of veggies too although sadly it doesn’t stop me fancying all the stuff I shouldn’t have 🙂