Down Five
Well, 5.5, actually.
In keeping with my New Year’s goals, I started Weight Watchers last week. I didn’t mention it then, and I don’t plan on making this blog about my weight issues. But since I had said I was going to do it, I wanted to also say that I followed through.
I have a long history with WW. I’ve counted my points quite a number of times over the past 10 years. And every time, I know it works. I know it’s a smart way of doing things, a good tool to help me learn how to eat, not just “diet.” It doesn’t restrict your food in a “you must eat this, you can’t eat that” kind of way. For those who aren’t familiar with it, the “plan” takes the nutritional info from any given food and uses it to assign a certain number of points. Depending on your current (not desired, but current) weight, you are allotted a number of points per day, plus an extra allowance to use over the course of the week, if you want. So, no one is going to tell you that you can’t have that piece of cheesecake. You can decide that using 15 of your daily 26 points is worth it. Or not. So, it’s a good tool to use to decide which choices are worth it to you, and which aren’t.
And, at least for me, it works. When I’m counting my points and writing down what I’ve eaten that day and drinking my water (yes, water again, always water), the weight comes off. As with anything, it’s a question of commitment and complacency. I lose some weight, I’m happy with my results. But then I get comfortable with the new weight, and I start to slack off. A wedding, a holiday, and suddenly I’m not writing things down and I’ve stopped getting on the scale every week. And then, before I know it, I’m back where I started (or worse). Alas.
I truly believe that people who have never struggled with their weight literally do not understand what it’s like. M’s grandmother is one of these people. She can’t for the life of her figure out why, if we know what the right/healthy choice is, why we have a weight/food problem. Or why we don’t just decide to eat less. People without weight issues don’t see what on earth could be so hard about just “eating better.” Well, conversely, I don’t understand how some people can have two bites of dessert and say “mmm, that was good!” and push it away. Um, hi. If it’s good, I want more!
Alright, I said I wasn’t going to make this blog about weight issues, and I mean it. There’s my update, I’m back on the WW bandwagon (online only, as I refuse to attend meetings anymore). And after one week (admittedly, a week that included a stomach bug, but I’ve never been one to lose weight while sick), I’m down 5.5 pounds. Only… a lot more to go.
Now, back to our regularly scheduled baby programming…
Tags: weight loss, weight watchers
February 11th, 2008 at 4:31 pm
I share the same struggles. Congratulations and good luck!
February 11th, 2008 at 6:52 pm
Although I’ve never done Weight Watchers persay, I hereby swear to the “writing down what you ate” technique. After moving to Anchorage after grad school, I gained almost 30 pounds over the course of 8 months. I still exercised, but it was what I was putting in my mouth that made me have to go up 3 pant sizes. After about 6 months, I decided enough was enough and decided to write down everything I ate. Sure enough, the weight gradually came off. And now when I see myself creeping up on the scale again, I start to write down what I’ve been putting in my mouth and it always gets me back on track.
And I will NEVER understand how one could only take two bites of dessert and push the plate away. Insanity.
Way to go on the 5.5!
February 12th, 2008 at 12:05 am
I am so there with you. I HATE always thinking about my weight. And 5.5 is AMAZING! After only one week! Wow!
February 12th, 2008 at 1:20 am
awesome!! I may be joining WW soon too. I went shopping yesterday and left the store empty handed and disgusted. Great work – and thanks for the inspiration!
February 12th, 2008 at 4:20 pm
agreed! If they have never struggled with it – they don’t understand. And, if they don’t have a “fat gene” in their family (and I can show picture proof that there has GOT to be a gene in there somewhere!), then they don’t understand.
I just joined up with WW again this week. I lost 60 pounds before I had my twins in ’04 – and I need to lose that much again. Like you, the counting & points works for me. I kept the weight off for 2 years before I had the kids. Ironically, my OB thinks that the twins can be attributed to the weightloss.
Good luck!
February 13th, 2008 at 10:57 pm
Way to go on the 5.5! I was bound and determined to lose the last 10 pounds of the baby weight, and finally, I am really close. I never worried about weight before having Jack, and I do agree, I never understood what it was like before. It’s been hard but I’ve also been writing down what I eat and guzzling water. Sigh, slowly, pound by pound, we’ll get there!