Hi Ladies, I hope that you are enjoying Ada’s Rules. I loved the book and now I’m re-reading it along with you. I believe that any woman who was ever on a diet or is a chronic dieter should love this book. As a black women, I could see myself as well as women in my family and my friends in this book. I really connected to Ada’s self sacrifice and being too busy to take time for yourself. From an age standpoint, I really could relate to the plight of her unmarried daughters as well.
So, here is our first set of book club questions from the official Ada’s Army website. Please discuss below.
Ada has a lot of things on her plate: running a daycare center; keeping in touch with young adult twin daughters; cooking for the vestry and other responsibilities of a Preacher’s wife; as well as cooking and cleaning for her parents who are battling both hoarding and depression. We might say she has way too much on her plate—except everything she does needs doing and there’s no one else around stepping up.
1. Does Ada find any kind of joy or satisfaction in performing mundane daily tasks and simply doing her duty?
2. Which of her “jobs” seems to bring her the most pleasure?
3. Which of her “jobs” presents the greatest challenge to her sanity and self-esteem?
4. How is being overworked detrimental to Ada’s health?
5. The first rule is “Don’t keep doing what you’ve always been doing.” Is that a rule you can apply to your weight loss efforts?
6. The second rule is “Make a plan: set clear, multiple and changing goals”. What did that mean to you? What are your goals and your plan?
Dede S. says
I agree with Ada’s 1st rule because I knew that in order for me to lose any weight that I could not continue eating the unhealthy food that I use to and not doing any exercising at all. So, I changed my mindset and the foods that I eat. Now, I go to the gym five days a week and walk every day.
Rule 2 is also a big part of my weight lost journey. I use Sparkpeople as a tool to track my goals. Although, I have a long term goal; I also have smaller goals. This helps me to stay focus and maintain my goals in the gym and every area of my life.
Laverne says
1. Does Ada find any kind of joy or satisfaction in performing mundane daily tasks and simply doing her duty?
2. Which of her “jobs” seems to bring her the most pleasure?
It seems to me her job at the daycare center is the job brings her most pleasure.
3. Which of her “jobs” presents the greatest challenge to her sanity and self-esteem?
I don’t think being first lady and working in the church is good her sanity and self esteem. It seems becoming overweight was where she found herself being able to relate to the women at the church.
4. How is being overworked detrimental to Ada’s health?
Because she is not motivated to find the time for herself to take better care of her health.
5. The first rule is “Don’t keep doing what you’ve always been doing.” Is that a rule you can apply to your weight loss efforts? That rule was heavy for me because I know this but I never said it. I never applied it. I always feel some type of way of why I have to cut out the bad habits and be more consistent but I never thought about not doing what I’ve always been doing.
6. The second rule is “Make a plan: set clear, multiple and changing goals”. What did that mean to you? What are your goals and your plan?
This meant a lot to me in one way but than in another way I didn’t want to emphasis on it. When I set goals I am so focused on them that I don’t complete them. Counting calories and logging in food and maintaining a workout plan is too many goals at one time for me. So I decided to be clear on my goals but not be hard on myself and place too many goals on myself at one time. I am focused on paying attention to what and how much and why I am eating what I am eating. I am focused on knowing that I am active instead of going to the gym. I am focused on eating until I am full and enjoying the food for nourishment instead of eating a food that is only 100 calories.