Water Cooler, about TV
Submitted on Sun, Jan. 28th at 12:18 am by sunnyjoy
Not yet begun UltraMetabolism 
Not yet begun the UltraSimple Diet 
I'm putting this in Water Cooler because it's not about UM, but I find it very relevant to our overall purpose. I resonated with this more than anything I've read recently, so maybe it will speak to someone else. It's a letter in The Washington Post in the "Ask Amy" column.
"My husband and I made a New Year's resolution to give up television. We were going to try it for only a week, but I wanted to write and tell your readers what a revelation this experiment has been for me. I expected to gain more time in my life, but I never expected to feel completely different.
"The first few days were hard. To determine the effects, I decided not to listen to the rado and to spend the day in silence. I was off work that week. In addition to gaining hours of time, I am finding myself mellower than I ever would have imagined. I was always multi-tasking, and the TV was generally on as background noise.
"It seems that even the sheer volume of sound kept me agitated. Now I'm feeling relaxed all of the time! My Type A personality is morphing into something very different. I'm even driving completely differently.
"Even though we agreed that we could now put the TV back on, neither of us wants to go back to it. We are getting our news from the newspaper."
So my TV is off tonight! (But I'm enjoying some great folk music.)
Joy.
Great observation
Submitted on Sun, Jan. 28th at 8:22 pm by cat
Not yet begun UltraMetabolism
Doing the UltraSimple Diet
I think the experiment directly relates to "giving up" anything in your life you've taken for granted as normal, including some of the foods we now know we should do without on UM. It's liberating and envigorating to shake up the routine. You never know what you'll gain until you try it.
Thanks for sharing the article. I just turned off my tv, too!
Cat
I gave up TV news 5 years ago..
Submitted on Mon, Jan. 29th at 7:49 am by Pollyanna
Not yet begun UltraMetabolism
Doing the UltraSimple Diet
I'm a big believer in conscious creation and I know the drama and negativity of News and most TV programing have a powerful impact on my emotions. My parents are perfect examples...they watch news constantly, during breakfast, lunch, & dinner...my Dad stays mad at the world and Mom stays scared and depressed.
I get any news I may be interested in by reading it (briefly) on the Internet, that way I don't get all the drama used in TV presentations. I do have the TV on a lot but it's usually on the Weather channel, or QVC shopping ~ LOL! I don't really watch it but I got in the habit of keeping it on for company when I was single. As long as it's a calm mellow tone it's soothing to me...I turn it off when they play Storm Stories or the dramatic rescue stories.
Congratulations on the revelation!
Pollyanna
"Re-examine all that you have been told . . . dismiss that which insults your soul." ~ Walt Whitman
Quietude
Submitted on Sun, Feb. 4th at 8:42 pm by nutritionist
Not yet begun UltraMetabolism
Not yet begun the UltraSimple Diet
I agree that we need periodic sabbaticals from television, radio and internet news - just way too much negative stimuli. My house is quiet now (no tv or radio) and soon I am shutting my computer down - enjoying the quietude of a "super" evening.
Kathie
Turning off the TV
Submitted on Thu, Jun. 28th at 9:34 am by dtartchick
Not yet begun UltraMetabolism
Doing the UltraSimple Diet
Awesome! My daughter and I were at the Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts last week and it was a week without TV or the radio. We walked along the wooded roads all day - we parked the car! We reconnected with each other. We played cards, made art and talked a lot. It was a wonderful experience. And here we are watching Ellen.......maybe I can disable the TV and no one will be able to figure it out! :)
No TV in our house for 3+ years
Submitted on Sat, Jul. 28th at 9:28 am by CarrieA
Not yet begun UltraMetabolism
Not yet begun the UltraSimple Diet
We moved house just over 3 years ago and did not buy a television. In the temporary accomodation we had, there was a TV and is caused no end of arguments and clashes, particularly with our children.
We decided to try living without for a while and have discussions with the kids sometimes about whether they feel they are missing out compared to their friends but they are both adamant (age 8 and 5) that they don't want a TV.
It is definitely liberating - my husband dislikes the obsession with constant depressing news and the cult of celebrity that fills in for news frequently. The children read way more than their friends and we play board games frequently. There isn't time to watch TV now we have gotten out of the habit.
One of the biggest benefits that we didn't foresee is that having not seen any adverts, the kids don't nag us for the latest toys and crazes. They seem to look at them more objectively, having missed all the hype and advertising, and often tell us how silly they think they are. It's a bit of an issue around Christmas and birthdays as they generally have no idea what to ask for, but we take them window shopping so they can see what's out there.
I can't imagine we will ever go back to TV now, although we do have a movie room in the house with a projector and a 12 foot screen where we sit and watch movies as a family every week or so.
I get my news from the internet now.
TV
Submitted on Sat, Jul. 28th at 9:43 pm by grandmaof3
Not yet begun UltraMetabolism
Doing the UltraSimple Diet
Hi, CarrieA!
I'm with you about the tv issue. We have tv's all over the house, but I rarely watch them except for re-runs of old shows, and I've been so busy during the past 3 months that I don't remember watching any of them for weeks. I am even behind watching tapes of the few shows that I enjoy. I get a lot of my news off of the internet, also. I try to scan the daily paper to read my favorite cartoons, plus other things that catch my eye, but right now, even those newspapers are piled up for the last week. I've spent most of my time during this past week, hunting and gathering food and trying to cook and preserve the fresh produce that is currently available, and although I've thought of tv a few times, I haven't found the time to sit down and watch.
Our daughter and her husband have solved some of the tv problem for their children by not subscribing to cable, which limits what the children can view, although they do get local programming with a rabbit ear antenna. They have a huge supply of "G-rated" videos and DVD's for the children to view.
I could type for longer about this topic, but my husband and I are about to head to the local walking track before they turn out the lights.
I haven't seen you post here so far, so Welcome to the message boards!
TV is a funny thing. I
Submitted on Wed, Aug. 15th at 6:02 pm by Papageno
Currently beginning UltraMetabolism
Not yet begun the UltraSimple Diet
TV is a funny thing.
I haven´t had a TV now for nearly 20 years. And I don´t miss it at all.:O)
I have so many tasks during the day that they isn´t any time for TV.
If I want some entertaining I just look at all my animals - there are about 35 animals here around me. They can keep me entertained for hours. They cheer me up when I am down and make me think and wonder and feel happy.
Greetings from little Denmark
Papageno
Welcome, papageno
Submitted on Thu, Aug. 16th at 3:01 am by grandmaof3
Not yet begun UltraMetabolism
Doing the UltraSimple Diet
Welcome to the "virtual" USA, papageno! Just curious, how did you discover the USD/UM programs? I heard about the USD in late June of this year while reading a health newsletter.
How long have you been on the program, and which one are you following?
I'm on the USD, Week 2.
What kinds of animals do you have? We have had a dog, a cat and several hamsters as pets at our house, at various times, but now, we are "petless".