Unhook and Don’t Crash!

shutterstock_107970386Recently, I became aware of an unhealthy habit that was undermining my efforts to eat right, stay fit and enjoy a healthy life. Like the invisible fish and birds in a recent post, the habit was hidden until caring friends helped point it out.

Unhooking from this one habit has made a huge impact on my weight loss efforts and fitness goals. Here’s the one habit that was impeding my efforts to stay healthy and live fully alive, and here’s what I did to unhook from it. 

What was my habit…? Crashing! That’s right, during the day I was very productive and attentive to the strategies that have helped me lose weight and stay fit. After dinner I would crash. Often I would turn on the TV, find a comfortable chair and vegetate until it was time to go to bed. And what does one do while vegetating in front of the television?

Graze.

I am convinced sheer boredom of watching mindless television causes a person to go “grazy.” I was munching on a handful of nuts here, a peanut butter sandwich there, a bite of a bran muffin during commercials.

Food had become the “special treat” that broke the boredom of doing nothing. There is nothing wrong with watching a favorite television show, but four or five mindless hours will drive you grazy! What else does crashing in front of the TV cause us to do…?

Stay up too late.

Benjamin Franklin was right, “Early to bed early to rise makes a man healthy wealthy and wise.” It also keeps a man or woman energized and keeps him or her from emptying the refrigerator, the pantry, and the energy in life. My family makes fun of me, but I am working on following Ben’s advice. I’m going to bed earlier and feeling much better. I’ve even thought of flying a kite in a lightning storm. Talk about recharging your batteries!

Crashing in front of the tv also causes us to…

Waste valuable time.

I always felt I had to stay up long enough to be depressed by the news. Then of course I had to hear Jimmy Fallon’s monologue, then… suddenly it is 11:30pm and I’ve accomplished nothing of value. So much for healthy, wealthy and wise. There is a difference between resting and crashing. Don’t Crash!

So what am I doing to unhook from the crashing habit?

I am unhooking from TV. 

Tivo was designed to help us control what we watch and when. I started using it, but…

I still believe most families should:

  • Unplug their television.
  • Carry it to the second story of their home.
  • Throw it out the window.

If you’re unwilling to do that, at least make an effort to control it instead of letting it control you.

I started using the time after dinner for worthy activities.

  • I work on fun hobbies.
  • I read.
  • I had an actual conversation with Diane.
  • We’ve gone on long evening hikes.

NEVER do I feel hungry during those activities. Before I know it, bed time arrives. I am sleeping more soundly then I ever did after frying my brain on television.

The results?

  • I lost 10 pounds in three weeks. If you find ’em, please keep ’em!
  • I was able to ride my bike for 30 miles at 9000 ft and still have energy to enjoy the rest of the day.
  • I am climbing mountains.
  • I navigated a ropes course.
  • I went for a three hour hiking tour without “crashing.”

What’s the difference between resting and crashing for you?
What advice do you have to help keep from grazing after dinner?
How do you feel about the affect of television on your life?

[reminder]

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The hidden fish and birds in last weeks post, Three Actions to make You Visible,” and the winners of the $50 gift cards to my online store can be seen HERE on my Facebook page.

 

Comments

  1. Yaaaaay!!! So happy for you … and anyone who will do this. Five years ago, I weaned off TV out of plain dislike, opting first for Sky Angel and then even they went out of the Internet-to-TV-screen business (now have another version for $6.99/mo.). I’m so content with this new lifestyle, and so much healthier, following my wonderful Christian nutritionist’s battle plan. There was no painful TV-withdrawal either. There are many good Christian DVDs for ‘sometimes’ (like Last Time Out and all of Ken’s so-uplifting/funny DVDs that cd be watched on portable DVD player if you window-dump the screen). ; }

  2. It’s true being alone in front of TV or computer leads to leads to possible bad habits,especially if you DO NOT have anyone to talk to, So why not take time to Pray to your maker who made you. Find better grazing food such as fruits and vegetables,which according to nutritionists, you can eat as much as you want and not hurt your body. I find prayer can also effect the way we think,if you are serious about the things you pray about, and My God does hear me when I talk to him.

  3. Completely resonate. TV can become an addiction. I often catch myself just flicking it on and watching repeats that I’ve seen multiple times. And yeah I go grazy! Haha great concept. It’s the cyclical removal of energy. When I get home and watch tv all night it feels like i’m too tired to do anything else. But it’s that process of ‘crashing’ that means I don’t have the energy, you’re so right. It’s like the flip-side, where it feels like you don’t have the energy to go to the gym but actually you need the energy that comes from GOING to the gym that motivates you to keep it up. The first step is the most important; ie saying YES to good things (creative, energising), and NO to bad things (grazy crashing stuff). Thanks for this encouraging post, Ken!

    1. Thanks Andy for sharing your experience. Almost any action is better then vegetating in front of the tube. Appreciate your comment.

  4. Grazy suits it perfectly! I always feel really lazy and tired after watching the ‘idiot box’, and guess what? Studies show that your brain does more work sleeping than watching tv!! Unbelievable! I too am trying 2 cut down my tv shows, and am succeeding thanks to the good Lord!
    Thanks as always,
    ~Meg~

  5. Thank you for this post! I’ve heard all this before, but I needed a reminder. I watch too much tv, which causes me to stay up too late, which I’ve heard affects weight loss/gain. So I need to control my tv habits instead of them controlling me. This is on the heels of watching your video “Signs of Life”. Wonderful video! Now this post just reinforces one more thing I need to be wary of to be “fully alive” (also saw that video; wonderful inspiration!).

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