I signed up for Weight Watchers yesterday, did you?� How is your commitment to a healthy 2010 going so far?� I was nervous (understatement) to step on the scale and get my official starting weight, but in the end I was pleasantly surprised.� I am five pounds down from the last time I weighed in at home, which means I have lost 50% of the holiday weight I packed on in November and December.� The math is fuzzy and confusing, but let’s see if I don’t muddy this up too much.
I lost five pounds when I had the flu.� I maintained this weight loss until my appetite returned, which coincided with the avalanche of cookies and treats that hit our home in December.� I snacked my way through the five “flu” pounds and added five more for a total of 10 pounds in holiday weight.
Lame.
Once the holidays were over, so were the cookies.� The stale stragglers that remained went into the trash.� I told myself not to worry about my weight until I started Weight Watchers in January, so I allowed myself to eat what I wanted within reason and on the condition I didn’t eat blindly as I was when the snacks were just laying there on the counter.� I lost five pounds. There is your testament to the hidden calories in junk food snacks.
The five pounds mean something more to me than numbers on the scale.� During one of my meetings over the summer with my nutritionist, she mentioned that normal people will gain and lose the same 5-10 pounds every year because life is irregular.� There are months, like November and December, where the normal person will eat more than usual.� Once their normal life/pace returns, they lose the weight they gained without conscious effort.� For many people, they don’t even notice the weight gain and subsequent loss.� Amazing, since I am normally aware of every filament I put in my mouth and can tell you within micrograms my weight any time of day.
I feel the five pounds were like that, and I couldn’t be more proud of this step in a healthy direction.� I didn’t get too hysterical over the five pounds I gained.� (I’m not counting the five flu pounds since I was bound to regain them once I started eating again.)� I didn’t allow the weight to put me in the dumps, call myself a failure, or give myself a license to say “forget it” and eat until I regained the fifty pounds I lost.� I tried to be aware without obsessing and for the first time in my life I lost five pounds without trying and without contracting a violent viremia.
If all I get out of 2010 is a healthy relationship with food that my sons can model, I will consider the year a success.
Congrats on rejoining and your general healthy direction! I rejoined the day after Christmas, but online, with an “accountability buddy”. I can’t seem to make it to the meetings on a regular basis. Good luck! I’m still bouncy from that “first two weeks” progress that is sure to taper off shortly.
I have a friend from high school who has done very well with WW online. Congrats to you, too, and good luck for the rest of the year! :)
I (re)joined Weight Watchers too this week. I did it 2 years ago & lost about 20 lbs. I’ve since gotten married & gained back about half of what I lost. I too weighed myself over Christmas & freaked out over how much I had gained. Yesterday was my 1st ‘weigh day’ & I was pleasantly surprised that I’ve also lost all the extra weight I gained over Christmas. Ideally, I’d like to lose 20 lbs again, but even 10-15 will make a huge difference.
Good luck! I look forward to following your progress.
I gained 5 lbs during the holidays and I’m having the hardest time taking it off. Too embarressed to go to WW meeting and weigh in, just a few weeks short of my making lifetime member! I think 30 lbs was easier to lose than this last 5 I’ve re-gained!
I’m back to counting those *am! points! After eating a 6 point lunch, my belly full I’m starting to plan dinner tonight. May just be Special K cereal and raw carrots.
Since I’ve lost two sizes, I’m still not confident I’ll remain a slim size 8 or 10. I’ve yet to splurge on new suits for work so an old diaper pin under the pin stripe is working for me. Hope I don’t get into an accident, where they have to cut my clothes off.
I think you are doing really well. I mean, who doesn’t gain a bit over the holidays?
My weight goals this year? To gain weight apparently since I’m with child. But I guess my goal would be to work out (walk) enough to gain a good amount and not a crazy amount. So hopefully I can fit back into my regular clothes by the end of the year.
great attitude. i love the post! i chide my son for being a picky eater but so am i! it’s more about example for me as well. pour the snacks into a bowl, do not eat out of the bag. that’s one of my main sins. good luck for a great year ahead!
I’ve done the Weight Watcher’s thing, and it did work for me. I also used those tools WW taught me to get into my size 6 wedding dress (I was in my mid-30s). Now I find myself 40 and creeping back up to the 30 lbs I had gained during my pregnancy, UHG!! 8 mo after I had my daughter I developed Hyper-thyroid. Actually went down to my wedding Day weight… so happy but felt like CRAP!! However, now I weigh more than I did when I developed Hyper-Thyroid. It’s sooo frustrating. I too will be starting WW. Gonna take my WW books out of storage this weekend!
I also have a bet with my hubby… when we weigh ourselves every Saturday morning(on the wii fit), the one who loses the most gets a 1hr fully body massage from the loser that weekend!!
You go girl! You might want to watch “The Biggest Loser” on tv to keep you motivated; it has always worked for me.
Heidi
weight watchers is great. i think we need to remember to think of kate moss when we read that julia child quote and remember that “nothing tastes as good as skinny feels.” she’s got that right.
I just got a cold a couple days ago and am on a strict diet of pregnancy cold medicine: Oreos and milk.
Give yourself a break on the holidays… you’re dropping weight quickly and in the end it won’t matter that you got to ‘enjoy’ November and December. It gets us remotivated in January! Congrats Jules!
Jackee–you should force yourself to go, even though you won’t like the scale. That’s what I did. I decided to just get it over and move on.
Congrats, Kelly! No worrying about diets for you–but you’re a rail so I wouldn’t expect you to worry anyway. :)
Roni–I share the same sin, and no amount of confession seems to help the situation. ;)
Aurora–I need to do the wii fit, but I don’t want my husband to see my weight! So lame.
Heidi–I haven’t seen the biggest loser in forever. I should start watching again.
Liz–I don’t know I want to be like Kate Moss, but you are right that the end result is better than the bowl of ice cream you would be missing.
Brooke–Truth? I hate Oreos! My husband thinks this is the most bizarre thing he has ever heard. I am glad I gave myself a break over the holidays and thrilled I have been (mostly) able to jump on the wagon again.
Good for you! I re-joined WW online on Tuesday. And I did my first day of the Couch to 5K running plan today. I lost 35+ lbs for my wedding back in 2006, and sadly it all came back (then some). I wasn’t one of those nursing moms whose weight just “melted off” like some of my friends.
Looking forward to hearing about your journey!
P.S. I think your site is just about the cutest thing EVER.
I’m so happy for you! You are so determined and strong. I want to be more like you!
It happens to all of us that’s for sure. The only way I have stopped the inevitable gain of 5 pounds the last 2 years was by not allowing chocolates (which are my downfall) into the house! Thanks for sharing you!
x
Maria
Congrats! My aunt and cousins did WW all last year and it was so impressive when we were together in October. It was encouraging just to be around their enthusiasm. As for me, I’m still widdling my way through the Swedish chocolate I received for Christmas. But I’m taking baby steps … and eating it for my health, naturally. Also, I just got my first vegetarian cookbook … because I have absolutely no idea what to do with a vegetable other than a side. Yes, I have made it thirty-six years, thank you for asking. And I need to get my big fat, rumpkis off my chair and exercise. Sigh. I hate that part. On a brighter note, here’s another great quote (motivational, I’m sure): “Never eat more than you can lift.” – Miss Piggy
A dear friend of mine told me of a woman who lost 300 lbs with WW and now works for WW.
You can do it! Eat lots of fresh raw fruits and veggies.
Step away from the cookies.
pve
Thank you for this new perspective of the 5 to 10 lb. adjustments. I recently lost 20 pounds and am back to a “normal” feeling good weight. I’m like you in being very aware of every pound that is on my body and even though I’m at my goal weight I am constantly watching for a pound to sneak on. I like this idea of normal people and weight gain and loss. I’m tucking that one into my storage bank to remember. Love your blog.
Adella
Weight Watchers is the way to go, it will help you learn to eat which is the whole basis behind eating good and staying slim. Good luck to you!
I recently had the “I lost 5 lbs. without trying(and without the plague)” breakthrough. I never thought about what it means in terms of having a healthier relationship with food. But I think you are right. Thanks for helping me realize that I may have made more significant progress than I thought. And best wishes for your continued success.
A healthy relationship with food that I can model for my kids (that, and losing 40 lbs) is my goal for 2010 too Jules. Best of luck with WW. I’m interested to hear how you like it.
Your website is SO well designed I love it. Congratulations.
I am with you – if I can set a fantastic healthy eating example to my son. I am winning. I have a horrid sugar addiction… up and down on the weight thing all last year, blow out over Christmas – I am doing my own WW now – determined not so much to look hot in skinny jeans, but like you, set a healthy example for my son to follow (and skinny jeans hotness would = added bonus)
I started WW in July of 08′ I lost 87 lbs by Aug of 09′. I’m about 5 lbs over my goal weight and continue to track points. I work out in the gym 5 days a week. It really is a great program. I wish you tons of healthy vibes and lots of good eating. The website has tons of good recipes and if needed in a pinch Lean Cusines, heathy choice and most diet ice cream bars have the points amounts listed on them. Also Dotties weight loss zone is a great website for looking at restaurant points before going. (dwlz.com). You probably already know this, but I figured I’d mention it just in case. All these things really helped me :)
Just remember you can do it!
Hi there, first time commenter, just wanted to pop my head in and say congrats on rejoining WW. Best of luck with it!
Gina–87 pounds is an incredible achievement! Congratulations!! What do you think worked for you?