Diabetes Talking

Question:

 Had you never erealized you had low self esteem, you wouldn’t realize how it is improving:)

true – the realisation is really only worthwhile if it can be used as a reference point.  Its just I’ve sat around for years saying "I have low self esteem" and still not been able to do anything "esteemable" to change it.  Since my mother died, I’ve changed a bit, just little things like using the good china every day – being worth it etc etc bye JOy 90/75/68 metrics rule OK

Response:

Joy, I can relate to this.  Even though I live alone I’ve found it’s important *for me* to treat myself well.  I deserve it!  When I sit down to the table for dinner I always use cloth placemats and napkins, and I always light the candles.  Why shouldn’t I enjoy myself just because I’m alone? Congratulations. Jen 198/161/123 – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – true – the realisation is really only worthwhile if it can be used as a reference point.  Its just I’ve sat around for years saying "I have low self esteem" and still not been able to do anything "esteemable" to change it. Since my mother died, I’ve changed a bit, just little things like using the good china every day – being worth it etc etc

Response:

I missed the original post, so perhaps my comment isn’t entirely relevant. However, I’m going to make it anyway. I think it’s important for people to be careful making statements such as "…and also is better than taking an anti-depression pill!!"  Depression can be caused by an imbalance in brain chemistry.  Often it’s an honest-to-god physiological condition.  Yes, exercise (and diet) can greatly help re-balance much (and sometimes all) of the chemistry.  However sometimes medication is entirely necessary as well.  People who need anti-depressants aren’t "lesser" or "flawed" in any way.  Their body simply doesn’t produce the optimal amounts of certain bodily chemicals. I’d compare it to telling an insulin-dependent diabetic to "Just get out and exercise (or ‘just change your diet’).  It’s better than taking insulin."  Yes, exercise might help.  Yes, diet might also help.  But certain diabetics *needs* to take insulin.  There’s no "better" about it. IMO these kind of value judgements keep promoting a popular myth about what depression really is. Unflamingly, Jen 198/161/123 – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Excercise is a great promotion to one’s self esteem and also is better than taking an anti-depression pill!!  It works. Sue

Response:

It’s only just occurred to me over the past couple of months that the mere fact of identifying that you have low self esteem doesn’t accomplish that much unless you are inspired by the discovery to take up behaviours and activities which promote "high" self esteem. this has been the thing for me & exercise – of course sitting around on my bum is nothing to be proud of – but if I can actually undertake daily activities which give me something to be proud of – then I am really working on my low self esteem. My boyfriend has decided to come to the gym with me – work out together – I’m really happy for him – he’s not over weight – but his main sport is skiing – so he doesn’t get too much regular exercise at all and although other people can’t see it – I know he has a squashy tummy bye JOy 90/75/68 metrics rule OK

Response:

Yppu give yourself such a gift when you make the ffort to heal your self esteem.  I think that apositive sense of self is one of the most important keys to a ahppy fullfilled life.  I know that things really started to clik for me when my hubby devoted himself to rebulding mine:)  Of the many things he has given, this was one of the bets.  I had been working on it myslef over a few years, but he just said it enough over and over that I really egan to believe it. — claudia 550/370/157  A malcontent and proud of it!  Low fat rocks! For Claudia’s Cooking Newsletter celebrating low fat, sugar free cooking and living visit  http://cookingnewsletter.ecorp.net – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –  Had you never erealized you had low self esteem, you wouldn’t realize how it is improving:) true – the realisation is really only worthwhile if it can be used as a reference point.  Its just I’ve sat around for years saying "I have low self esteem" and still not been able to do anything "esteemable" to change it. Since my mother died, I’ve changed a bit, just little things like using the good china every day – being worth it etc etc bye JOy 90/75/68 metrics rule OK

Response:

dear joy, i couldn’t agree more! realizing that you have low self-esteem and then doing nothing about it, is a very sad and potentially paralyzing thing! knowing that you are doing something about it, is getting "OUT OF THE INSANITY" and starting to heal! happy turkey day! rosie – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – It’s only just occurred to me over the past couple of months that the mere fact of identifying that you have low self esteem doesn’t accomplish that much unless you are inspired by the discovery to take up behaviours and activities which promote "high" self esteem. this has been the thing for me & exercise – of course sitting around on my bum is nothing to be proud of – but if I can actually undertake daily activities which give me something to be proud of – then I am really working on my low self esteem. My boyfriend has decided to come to the gym with me – work out together – I’m really happy for him – he’s not over weight – but his main sport is skiing – so he doesn’t get too much regular exercise at all and although other people can’t see it – I know he has a squashy tummy bye JOy 90/75/68 metrics rule OK

Response:

Excercise is a great promotion to one’s self esteem and also is better than taking an anti-depression pill!!  It works. Sue

Response:

Improving your self esteem is a journey just like your weight loss.  It doesn’t happen in a day.  You say just realizing you have low self esteem does nothing to chnage it, but I disagree.  When you realize, you are admitting to yourself that it is a problem, whuch in it’s self can start the process of improving it.  Had you never erealized you had low self esteem, you wouldn’t realize how it is improving:) — claudia 550/370/157  A malcontent and proud of it!  Low fat rocks! For Claudia’s Cooking Newsletter celebrating low fat, sugar free cooking and living visit  http://cookingnewsletter.ecorp.net – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – It’s only just occurred to me over the past couple of months that the mere fact of identifying that you have low self esteem doesn’t accomplish that much unless you are inspired by the discovery to take up behaviours and activities which promote "high" self esteem. this has been the thing for me & exercise – of course sitting around on my bum is nothing to be proud of – but if I can actually undertake daily activities which give me something to be proud of – then I am really working on my low self esteem. My boyfriend has decided to come to the gym with me – work out together – I’m really happy for him – he’s not over weight – but his main sport is skiing – so he doesn’t get too much regular exercise at all and although other people can’t see it – I know he has a squashy tummy bye JOy 90/75/68 metrics rule OK

Response: