"NSI" (non-scale insight)

Ok so I was down near the big city  for a non wls medical thing and had plenty of time because I was staying over. Since I live in a rural area, shopping in civilization is a must.

So I had credit cards and plenty of time and energy and malls gallore and a list of a few things I really needed. I found those things pretty quickly and walked miles in malls on a non busy day. (interesting note is that sales people were all over me unlike when I was fat and couldnt get the time of day from them at any place other than Lane Giant).

Ya know what? I couldn't  find much of anything I really  wanted and came home with just the basic things I really needed plus some gifts for others. I began to think about shopping as a form of consuming and how shopping for stuff you don't need is like overeating as its often done for all the wrong reasons.

Gotta admit that maybe at the age of 60 I pretty much have what I need and I live in a place where a clean sweat shirt is dress up. But I really felt like all these shops looked the same and most of what the had didn't interest me even though there were certainly some beautiful things. This is true of home goods as well as clothes.

So I guess I am un-American as I failed in my consumer duty. But it was a beautiful sunny day and a lovely drive and a successful medical appointment and I saw some interesting sights and the older I get the more I know that life is not about what you consume.

Diane

Hey Diane.....

Great observation....NSI

That is/was/is/was my basic problem...... "Over Compensating"

If I were to self analyze......

In my work...... Over Compensating is a good thing and you get rewarded for it.....

In my private life......Over Compensating is a result of my professional mindset.....(who needs 6 or 8 Motorcycles....really....and some other things that I won't mention)

In my eating.....Over Compensating got me to 350lbs.

I still Over Compensate on most things......If one is good....two is better.....three is awesome....and four come on!!!

If I find something I really like.....I get multiples.... bad habit..... but it has worked out more times than not.....

I'm probably Over Compensating on this WL thing..... which for now seems to be a good thing.....

frisco

Oh my Gosh Frisco, I have the same problem!  If I like a pair of shoes, I'll buy 3 or 4 pairs.  I think they call it OCD.  I have to really control myself when I find some thing I really really like, because I always want more than one. 

My family has a nick name for me; "Mo is betta" (more is better).  Because I always want more.

For example;  I know this is strange for a women, but I am a tomboy.  I'm up to 4 ATV's, and 4 trailers.  I love trailers.  I still want one more. I want a medium one. My largest is a car hauling trailer, it's 24 foot long.  The smallest is a 5 X 8.  I can barely control myself when I see one for sale that I like.  Yes, I believe that this type of behavior is called "Obsessive Compulsive Disorder"

 
I have 3 trailers..... 3 tow vehicles including a GMC 1ton CrewCab Dually......But I have to say I use them for my business also.

I have bought multiples in shoes if I think it's not a regular item......or they are on hecka sale.....

Pre-op I never bought good clothes ...it just had to be black and get around my body....... My fashion was to wear an expensive watch and good shoes....... Well, most all my shoes are to big now.....and I have between 60-80 watches..... !!!!!!

frisco

Whoa....Frisco, you have me beat hands down!  I don't even own one watch

  Who knew we could have adipose tissue in our feet.  My feet never looked fat, yet, they are smaller now...

Wonderful post Diane. We are all compulsive addicts. Just like my man Frisco said, compulsion makes me good in IT as I will not give up on a problem until I have fixed it. My mind pours over a problem and I cannot let go. Causes me fits off the clock and it is something that i have had to accept and understand about myself. If I stop loving me because of my flaws I will not love me for my strengths either.

" We are all compulsive addicts."  Boy is that the truth!  Amd I am finally finding out how true that actually is now that I'm not eating compulsively.  My addiction has turned to alcohol.  It's strange because over the years I've prided myself on not being an alcoholic since many in my family suffered from that addiction.  I didn't understand that eating was my addiction and now that I don't have that crutch, I've turned to a daily martini.  I don't get loaded and just have one, so I don't think it's a problem.  I'm just aware of it.  I am working on having a big glass of water in it's place most times, and enjoy a drink on weekends.  

Thanks for the post, Diane.  You have always stimulated new thoughts and new mindfulness habits.  And thanks, justeric for the words, "If I stop loving me because of my flaws I will not love me for my strengths either."

Love this site - it's keeping me honest.

Cookster

Great post Diane, and it is so true!!!!!  It's hard to let go of OCD behavior. 

Good for you Diane.  Just enjoy the day...LOL about you guys and all your trailers....I know what you mean.  I've become a shopaholic...when I hit size 8, I thought that was it, surely I would not lose any more...bought a ****load of size 8's...fastforward, Wow, hit size 6, well, surely I'm done...e.g. ****load of size 6...hmmm, size 4 - no way I can go down any further - you get the idea - time to clean the closet again....Oh, and Bariatric Choice and Torani surely saw me coming...nuff said but at least none of this makes me fat - only neurotic....LOL!

Deb

OMGosh you crack me up!!!!!!!