The National Weight Control Registry (NWCR) project, which began in 1993, has tracked some 4,500 people, all of whom have lost at least 30 pounds and kept the weight off for a year or more. The registry has been trying to find the “key” to their combined success — a trait or similarity, if you will, that could explain their success when so many other dieters fail. In doing so, they tracked magazine reading habits, foods they preferred, exercise programs, even the music they listened to.

While the report tries to present yet another “novel view” of successful weight loss: that methodical, hyper-organized people do better losing weight, so to the key to losing weight lies in becoming methodical and hyper-organized.

Bull.

See, within the report is an even more important finding, one that I’m afraid will be lost in all the hooplah over whether you’re a “Quadrant A” or “Quadrant B” thinker.

What the registry really discovered is that successful weight loss is about quieting the mind and not obsessing.

“All the subjects had incorporated some meditative element into their lives,” Treitler says. “It might have been walking or yoga, but it was self time, a white space where they could disengage from the old, obsessive behavior.” This transformation of identity appears crucial in keeping weight off. Without a new self who’s clearly different from the old, overweight one, it’s too easy to revert to former unhealthy habits.

Out with the stress, in with the calm, off with the pounds. Hmm… I think I’ll go spend some time contemplating my navel now.

Six months out of the year, I look to outdoor playtime with my son as one way to get in additional exercise. Now that August is here, the season during which both his and my allergies are worst, we’re pretty much cooped up indoors praying for rain to wash the pollen out of the air.

It’s just not the same as getting outside to play. After all, you can’t climb silk trees and, although jumping on the sofa makes a nice substitute for a trampoline, even that gets boring after a while.

So we’ve been playing DDR quite a bit, along with Eye Toy. The latter has managed to help tone my arms quite a bit this past week, as a matter of fact. I’ve been strapping on wrist weights and doing the “Window Washing” routine: talk about an upper body workout!

The Eye Toy game that involves trying to “head” a soccer ball actually makes a great butt-blasting routine. Last time we played it, I wound up doing 72 squats in a little over 2 minutes. Sure, my thighs burned afterwards and I spent the rest of my day dragging my ass around like overstuffed luggage, but the time flew by faster than any I’ve spent with a workout DVD.

What do you do for indoor exercise when it’s too hot to get outside and play?

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