Side by Side - the Dieting Journal
Marinating Set (T in Austin): T’s entries are a cycle of self-reflection, guilt, and plans that never fully launch. They fixate on past failures (tacos, granola), emotional roots (loneliness, family), and a “plan” (calorie counts, affirmations) that’s just more rumination. The focus stays inward, reinforcing the struggle without real movement—classic marinating.
Doing Set (R in Denver): R’s entries are action-driven, rooted in facts (calories burned, miles walked) and observations (elk signs, hawks). There’s no emotional dissection—just a goal (165 pounds) and steady steps (cooking, walking, weights). Progress is tangible (2 pounds down), and the narrative moves forward without wallowing.
The marinating set shows how even a “plan of action” can be part of the cycle if it’s just more thinking, while the doing set proves forward motion comes from acting, not overanalyzing.
Set 1: Marinating
April 20, 2025
This is incredibly helpful.