The Jumpstart Weight Loss Questionnaire

Sometimes life knocks us down. It seems that happens more often in the realm of weight loss. It seems like lots of weight loss/ healthy living bloggers are struggling right now. While I’d love to put on a happy face, say a motivational quote, and perk everyone and myself up let’s be real: sometimes the journey sucks. It sucks and it can suck the life out of you. Accept that it sucks, and do it anyway. We must just try to stand steady, pick ourselves back up when knocked down, and slowly move ourselves forward again when we can.

One of the things that help me regroup, stand back up on my own two feet, and move forward is journaling. Last week I found a fabulous questionnaire on Jean Fain’s website that I think all weight loss bloggers could benefit from completing.

Jean Fain is a licensed psychotherapist and a certified hypnotherapist with credentials out the wazzo. Look at her bio page on her website and prepare to be impressed: teacher at the Department of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, 15 years of practicing psychotherapy, certified by the American Society for Clinical Hypnosis, and author. On her website, she offers a fabulous F.A.Q. section about hypnotherapy, and overview of psychotherapy, and a slew of resources including links to articles, links to her self hypnosis YouTube videos, and a 10 Questions to Jumpstart Weight Loss Questionnaire.

The questionnaire isn’t a walk in the park but I think a great exercise for anyone stalled, struggling, or starting a weight loss effort to complete. Below are my answers to questions 1-5.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

1.      Where do you get your energy from?  What are you passionate about?

o   I get energy from being outside, in nature, in the sun.

o   I get energy from doing activities I like:

• Volunteering

• Creating things

• Outdoor activities (kayaking, rock climbing, hiking)

• Attending/participating in community events

o   I get energy from talking with good friends.

o   I’m passionate about the rights of individuals with developmental disabilities.

o   I’m passionate about self-improvement techniques and theories.

o   I’m passionate about technology.

o   I’m passionate about makeup and skin care.

o   I’m passionate about animals and pet rescues.

o   I’m passionate about living life to the fullest.

2.      Think back to the last time you were comfortable in your own skin. What was different about that time (attitudes, beliefs, behaviors, mood, energy, passion)?

• This is an interesting question. There are so few times I’m comfortable in my own skin but these situations usually are conducive to it.
• Hanging out with my husband
• Being with my girlfriends, particularly Victoria, Jill, Emmy and Machelle. I never feel a need to “front” with them and feel they accept me as I am, faults and all. One of my favorite things to do is visit Victoria in Orlando and just chill with her. It feels so un-complicated and relaxed.
• Volunteering with Special Olympics
• When I’m in my element at work. When I’m on, I’m on. And I’m good at what I do. That confidence leads me to feel at ease most the time I’m working. Bumps and issues arise every so often but overall I feel very comfortable and competent at work.

3.      What is your ideal weight (even if it seems unlikely)? Your desired weight (the weight you think you could probably achieve)? Your tolerable weight (the highest weight you could live with, even if you might be disappointed)?

Ideal weight- 140

Desired Weight- 150

Tolerable Weight- 160

4.      How did you come up with your desired weight? Why do you want to weigh this specific weight?

• My doctor told me he’d like to see me get down to 150-155 lbs. I’ve been 168 before and felt pretty decent at that weight. There was room for improvement, mainly room for me to increase me physical fitness and tone up some. I would guess I could have lost 18 lbs and looked and felt awesome. I feel like I would look strange at 140 lbs, even though that is what I’d have to weigh to be categorized as “healthy” according to BMI.

5.      How achievable is your desired weight? When were you last at your desired weight? How hard do you think it would be to stay at this weight? Would your tolerable weight offer the same benefits?

● When were you last at your desired weight? Wow… I don’t even know. I’d have to look at medical records. Maybe early high school?

●How hard do you think it would be to stay at this weight? I think maintaining this weight would require the complete lifestyle change: working out consistently, eating really healthy, not indulging much. I think it would be a challenge, especially in times of stress and lifestyle change (i.e.- when I become a mother). I would need to find something that makes me as equivocally happy as food and have it readily available. I would have to change behavior patterns in my family (how we eat, what we eat, etc). I would have to put myself first. I think I would need a constant fitness goal to work towards and challenge myself constantly with. I’m a competitive person and having some goal to achieve (medals or personal bests are a plus) is necessary for me.

●Would your tolerable weight offer the same benefits? I’d love to say yes but, I think I’d mentally be hung up on it. I’d be happy but I wouldn’t feel finished. I know weight loss maintenance never finishes but I wouldn’t feel like I accomplished what I set out to do.