I am THRILLED to have had a big -4.2 lbs. loss this week!!! This brought me to -30 lbs. 15 weeks in! To be honest this Weight Watchers Lifestyle change STILL feels “too good to be true” to me as I am eating ALL the foods I LOVE (and most weeks more than I should be), but am losing MORE weight than I’ve EVER lost in anything I have tried over the years. While it’s still “work” as you have to be cautious of how much you eat and plan what you eat, track your points and add in some exercise, it’s not at all depriving like other things I’ve tried, and at this point I’m not having to do grueling workouts, just simple walks around the block (and if I want go on the bike). Most days I still can’t believe this is working!
A lot of people ask me how I have got to this point. The following things I feel are HUGE in my success.
Last but not least
A lot of people ask me how I have got to this point. The following things I feel are HUGE in my success.
- Weight Watchers – The program ROCKS, the Staff Inspire and the Group Supports/Motivates. I’ve met many new amazing people that I am so thankful for. I LOVE my Saturday mornings (even give up other things just to be at my meetings because I WANT to)
- Hypnotherapy – Nate Hager has been a Godsend to me. He’s helped me get to the ROOT of my issues with many things in my life, and I truly believe he’s helped me to shed this weight a lot easier by helping me release the “junk in my life.” In every program I have tried over the years, I’ve always known that to KEEP weight off you NEED to heal the MIND/BODY/SPIRIT, and now I am finally doing this.
- Affirmations – HUGE in all aspects of my life. My Hypnotherapy homework requires me to say affirmations 2x a day at LEAST. I made a colourful chart with all the things I found I was saying and turned them into a positive affirmation. I truly believe this has played a HUGE part in my weight loss, confidence, healthy boundary setting AND being able to drive places I haven’t driven in 2- 10 years due to my fears.
- Support – Having a group of friends go with me to meetings has been the most motivational thing for me as we encourage each other and know all of us are counting on each other to be there. We also lift each other up if any one of us needs it.
- Tracking – I still track EVERYTHING I eat – literally if it enters my mouth I track it (mints and all) as it’s too easy to “slip back into old habits” the minute you say “oh I’ll just skip this day”. Even after girls weekend, I went home and tracked it all – Most weeks I use ALL my daily AND weekly points PLUS I go into the negative, but so far I’ve still had great losses.
- Measure/Weigh ALL your foods! – I went out and bought even MORE measuring cups and spoons from the last time as now I try and keep them right in the cereals, rice’s, etc., so there is no excuse to not track. You will be SHOCKED if you haven’t been tracking and see just how wrong your “eye balling” it has cost you MANY pts – or short changed you in some cases. It takes a few extra minutes, but your health is worth it!
- Prep – PRE cut, PRE cook, PRE make all your foods as much as possible so you’re less likely to grab the granola bar and more likely to make a wrap or grab fruits/veggies – I slip some weeks and those are the weeks I do NOT do well in my pts!
- Presentation – I found that taking the time to arrange my food and take pictures of it to share with others and on my blog has helped me stay motivated to try new things and experiment. There is something more satisfying about eating a restaurant looking meal over something thrown on a plate.
- Water – Yup, we’ve all heard it before, but most of us rarely drink enough! I have a big 32 oz. jug I fill every day that I MUST have four of (more is a bonus); I sure can tell now the days I don’t do it. When you keep track of it, you’ll be able to stick to is a LOT easier!
- Music – music is therapy for my Soul, it always has been. It’s been able to get me through a lot of things in life and also allowed me to express many things as well. Make a playlist of your favourite songs and turn it on when doing your walk around the block or exercising.
- Journaling – Blogging keeps me motivated and allows me to express myself as not everyone around you is supportive and wanting to hear about every little success you do, or the days you feel unmotivated. I’ve had people close to me ask why I post so much, but I’ve learned over the years via personal experience and from what people have told me that when you share your trials as well as your losses, it helps others to know they aren’t alone. I’ve always been very open about MOST things in my life, as I feel if my trials and successes can help others get motivated or not feel alone, than it’s worth sharing it.
- Taking BEFORE and DURING pictures – this was one of the HARDEST things to do, but now I am SO thankful I did it. Often we can’t see the changes in ourselves, but when you have a BEFORE picture to compare yourself to, it shows you the progress and keeps you motivated along the way.
Last but not least
- TAKE IT ONE DAY AT A TIME! This has been the BIGGEST factor this time for me. In the past I was so stuck on the “number” that I totally missed all the little things that changed as well in me. Your resting heart rate, blood pressure, how far you’re able to walk, how long you can go before getting out of breath, how much you can lift – the list goes on and on. My leader also taught me to not do more than I will continue to do once I reach my goal weight. I would always push myself and do an hour a night on the bike or treadmill, or almost make myself throw up in boot camps and NEVER lost more than 10-15 lbs., I disliked EVERY minute of it and dreaded exercise. Since Weight Watchers, I’m reminded how important losing 1-2 lbs. average is so much better than losing big amounts and not being able to continue with the workouts later. Now that I only exercise on average 20-30 minutes, 4-6 x a week, I actually enjoy doing it (well MOST days – some days I have to fight with myself to get off the couch, and some days I feel like doing an hour so I do – which isn’t often and that’s ok). Too often we want the end result right now, but this usually ends to putting it all back on. I’m embracing those 1-2 lb. loses now knowing that it’s a healthier way for me to do this, BUT I will admit the odd week I have a higher loss I get really excited too!