I know.� I can’t believe I am going to do Weight Watchers again, but I am.� It is something I have been debating for a couple of months, and I have reached the conclusion this is something I need to do right now.� My meal plan has been very sloppy lately, and I can’t have that or I will gain back the 50 pounds I have lost.� As it is, I am already up 5-7 pounds in holiday weight.� I’m trying not to panic.� Normal people gain weight during the holidays only to slowly lose it again throughout the year.
Here is my concern.� I don’t think I am “normal people” when it comes to food.� I am too much of a negligent snacker and meal skipper, which is exactly what I have been doing since the holiday rush started.� No breakfast, snack, snack.� No lunch until around 3:00pm when I realize I AM STARVING.� Snack, snack, snack.� Light dinner because, hello, I’m full from snacking.� Late night rolls around, hungry again.� Or tired.� Or stressed.� Or any other sort of emotion that for me is tied to snacking.� For example, Mikey has been sick since last night.� First with vomiting, now with a fever.� I am a nervous wreck, sad that he feels so poorly.� I wrote my elephant post today to take my mind off things, but it didn’t work.� Tonight I ate a small bowl of popcorn after dinner.
NOT GOOD.
On Monday I decided to cut out the snacking.� The number of times I caught myself reaching for a mindless thing (cracker, cookie, chocolate, etc.) was disgusting!� With the boys, I am in and out of the kitchen all day long.� Juice, water, breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks…and all the while the counters are laden with holiday food I shouldn’t be considering, let alone mindlessly eating.� Notice I didn’t write mindlessly enjoying.� The truth of the matter is that most of what I have been eating just didn’t taste all that great.
Eating something that doesn’t taste good isn’t normal.� Actually, I take that back.� I think for many of us it is becoming the new normal.� What I should say is that eating something that doesn’t taste good will not be my normal.
I don’t expect Weight Watchers to help me with this aspect of my diet, but I do expect to work the food plan to my advantage.� I intend to regain a rational relationship with food using a structured meal plan and the regular meetings where there will be (please, God!) positive and supportive individuals on a similar journey.� Of course, I will continue working with Jorjana, as she has been instrumental in helping me lose the weight I have thus far.
I don’t consider this a resolution for the new year because, like taking a shower or brushing my teeth, losing the holiday weight along with the rest of the weight I have to lose is something that will happen, not something I hope to achieve if I really, really, really try.� I did not lose 50 pounds only to gain it all back.� If my mom is not a lamp, I am not a yo-yo.
Whew.� Glad I got that off my chest. :)
In other news, after two years of hearing people rave about this book, I caved and bought Nourishing Traditions by Sally Fallon.� Have you read it?� I will let you know what I think once I am done.
Honey, I feel EXACTLY the same way you do. I am so getting back on track starting on Friday. I can’t believe how cliche that sounds–I’m back on my diet on the 1st. But it feels right. I’m feeling the motivation, so I HAVE to do it. There’s nothing better than diet motivation and you HAVE to take advantage of it. Go for it, Jules!
My mom lost 65 pounds while on WW, and now she’s a WW Leader (or whatever they’re called). She decided to be a Leader because then she’d still be accountable every week. She is (and I am too) also the snack-snack-snack type unless she specifically plans out meals. I say if it works for you, do it.
Sorry Mikey is feeling ill. :(
I echo those feelings so much! I have to tell you, walking into a WW meeting was one of the most f-ing awkward and weird moments ever, and I still feel like a crazy old granny sometimes when I do it, but it has worked. I applaud you so much for the effort you have put into the 50 you have lost! Don’t give up! Your fab self is worth more than that :D. But I’m definitely at that point where I lost some motivation and I’m grabbing with my stubby little fingernails to hold onto that wagon and hoist my ass back up. Seriously, the wood on the wagon is splintering under my nails I’m so desperately holding on, but it works and that’s what I have to tell myself.
I’ll share my little trick with you: when I feel particularly awkward in a meeting, I imagine I’m in an SNL skit (because it seriously feels like that sometimes) and then I’m amused enough to distract from feeling uncomfortable or awkward. Good Luck!
I just want to let you know that I am encouraged by your willingness to mull something over and then follow through with the decision you’ve made. I think so many decisions these days are made spur of the moment and are not thought out, which in turn, can be highly detrimental. So, thank you for that.
Also, I just read recently that if you want to accomplish great things it’s a good idea to tell lots of people because then you have more people to be accountable to. You’ll have your Weight Watchers group that will hold you accountable every week but I’m sure your readers here will be continuously curious at how your journey is going. So let us know from time to time!
We have Nourishing Traditions, it’s a great resource. Best of luck with this journey!
Good for you! I’m also a mindless snacker. Or I snack when I’m bored. Or stressed. Or what have you.
Also, this year I’ve realized I don’t like feeling overly full or how I feel after I’ve eaten a bunch of junk. Cheers to being healthy and disciplined.
I’m back on track starting Monday. I have fallen WAY off track. I don’t like it. I don’t like the way I feel or look. We are all here with you in this boat and will be supporting you!
Caitlin–sometimes I think I need to do something like that (become a leader) for constant accountability.
I’m glad to see I am not the only one feeling gross after all this holiday garbage. Ugh. I feel like a quivering bowl of jelly, and I feel constantly stuffed. Gross.
Esther–last year, when I started losing weight, I started with Weight Watchers. I would report my weigh in every week. When The Mister was laid off, I stopped. He has a new job, and even though his salary isn’t what it was, I’ve decided there is always room in the budget for health.
Jules-
Good for you!! It’s so funny because I got out my Weight Watchers book on Monday to start keeping track of what I ate this week. I am going to start full on next week. I did it last year and lost 12lbs – I have since gained it back. My problem is meal planning… I’m not good at it. I felt like I was eating the same things over and over. Let us know what kind of low point, good meals you come up with…
I feel HUGE from all the Christmas eating! It was out of control… I think this year was the worst for me. I love to eat…
Best of luck to you… Keep us updated.
C
Me too! WW on the 1st. I feel lame for starting on Jan 1st instead of Dec 1st since I knew that was my plan all along, but for some reason starting on the 1st makes it seem more official? Happy New Year! And, thanks for the book suggestion! I had never heard of the book until your post!
I’m also a ww memeber. It helps to have the accountability! What I wish they would focus on more is eating healthy, wholesome foods. I stear away from their processed garbage. Its not healthy and most of the time will leave me with a craving worse then if I had splurged on what I really wanted.
Anways, I also belive if you have an FSA with your health insurance that you can deduct the monthly fee of WW as part of your flexible spending.
Good Luck on the program!