Bipolar Lesson From How I Kept Off 60 Pounds for 10 Years
Published: Thu, 10/15/09
Hi ,
How's it going?
Actually I am in the process of lowering
by body fat to under 6%. My goal is
to get there by October 22, 2009.
I am not sure if I told you this, but
I used to weigh 282 pounds at my
peak when I was playing football.
Well, after football, I decided that
it was not wise to carry that much
weight, so I wanted to drop down
to about 220 pounds.
I did it. I lost that 60 pounds.
And I have kept off that 60 pounds
for over 10 years now. Which,
according to statistics, is incredible.
See, for a lot of people, they lose
the weight, but then they gain it back.
But I didn't.
I don't say that to brag, but only to
qualify what I am about to say.
In order for me to do this, I had to
create a system and to follow it.
That's why I am always telling people
with bipolar disorder and their
supporters that you have to have
systems in place if you're going to get
better.
SUPPORTING AN ADULT WITH BIPOLAR DISORDER?
Visit:
http://www.bipolarsupporter.com/report11
SUPPORTING A CHILD/TEEN WITH BIPOLAR DISORDER?
Visit:
http://www.bipolarparenting.com
HAVE BIPOLAR DISORDER?
Visit:
http://www.survivebipolar.net
Well, I faced ups and downs, I'm just
being honest with you.
No system is perfect, because no person
is perfect.
Like, you could be on the perfect diet,
right?
And you could follow it every day for
weeks to a T.
But then one day you would just have
to have that piece of chocolate, right?
You would just have that craving so bad!
So it would be tough to keep up being
perfect all the time.
But as long as the main system is in place,
it will be ok.
Have you ever played that game where
you stack up the pieces of wood?
Well, the idea is that each person one at
a time takes out one piece, until one of
the people makes the stack fall.
The point I'm trying to make is that they
could take out just a few pieces of wood
and it would be ok.
But there would come a point where the
whole pile would come crashing down.
So you need a good system.
One that will stand up to one or two
pieces being ok to be taken out without
the whole thing coming crashing down.
So let's look first at being a supporter:
You have to have a system too.
You are dealing with bipolar disorder
just as much as your loved one is.
Your system might be that you have to
work to support the family financially,
and that you handle the family finances.
Another part of your system is to watch
your loved one's patterns, triggers, signs
and symptoms so you can tell in advance
if they are going into a bipolar episode.
But you can't be a babysitter all the time,
so that's ok. You just do the best you can.
Another part of your system is to take
action of you do see that they are in a
bipolar episode.
Do you see how you have to have a system?
Of course, these are only a few parts that
should be included in your system.
Now, for the person with bipolar disorder:
Your system, first of all, MUST include
taking medication, as prescribed, and on
a daily basis. This is crucial to attaining
and maintaining your stability.
Other parts of your system would include
proper rest, a good sleep schedule, exercise,
and a healthy diet.
You also HAVE to see medical and mental
health professionals - a doctor, psychiatrist,
and therapist (or counselor, social worker,
clergy person, etc.) for your medication and
to deal with issues surrounding your bipolar
disorder and your life because of it.
Having a good strong support system with
several people in it would also help, but is
like that wood piece game I was talking
about. If you only have you and your primary
supporter, at least you have that.
Just like your supporter, you need to be
watching your own patterns, triggers, and
signs and symptoms for an oncoming bipolar
episode, and have a system of what to do
if you do go into one.
Of course, these are only some of the things
that should be part of your system.
What about you?
What systems do you have in place?
How do they work for you?
PLEASE POST RESPONSES TO THIS EMAIL BELOW
http://www.bipolarcentral.com/bipolarsupporterblog/?p=2240&cpage=1#comment-14342
FIND OUT WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING ABOUT ME
Visit: http://www.bipolarcentral.com/testimonials
Well, I have to go!
Your Friend,
Dave
===>> Great Resources For You <===
Get Your Own Subscription To This Newsletter
Want your own copy of these daily bipolar
emails sent to you for F.ree? If so, visit:
http://www.bipolarcentral.com/register3
Get More Help On Bipolar Disorder
Don't forget to take a look through the
different programs I've put together... each
one is designed to help you with a different
area of bipolar disorder whether you have it or
you are supporting someone with it.
You can see them all and get the details by visiting:
http://www.bipolarcentralcatalog.com
View Past Daily Bipolar Emails For F.REE
Check out my F.ree blog with copies of emails
that I have sent in the past and lots of great
information for you:
http://www.bipolarcentral.com/supporterblog/
Get Audio Information On Bipolar Disorder For F.REE
Check out my F.ree podcast. Hear me give
mini seminars designed to teach you information
you can't learn anywhere else.
http://bipolarcentral.libsyn.com