So I did something today that I said I would "NEVER do"! I joined Weight Watchers. I've known people over the years that have joined and lost amazing amount of weight, only to gain it back plus some, so I swore it didn't work and I would never do it. Plus I "assumed" it was totally different than what actually goes on. A week ago a friend of mine asked me if I wanted to check out a meeting for free - no obligation to join. I was hesitant at first, but then something a couple mediums have said to me the last few months popped into my head ("accept invitations, get out and socialize more, do things outside your comfort zone and go to "group settings" for things that interest you), so I went back and forth on it for a bit, than decided what could it hurt to just go SEE....I had NO INTENTIONS of joining, I was just going along for her. Well this am when I woke up and stepped on our scale after our week long cruise and saw the number, I was mortified. That AND all the pain throughout my entire body that I have been feeling again made me realize I MUST do this as doing it "my way" has not worked yet. Getting a glimpse of living "pain free" during the POSH program I did a year ago made me realize how life REALLY should feel, but I knew that program was beyond what I could "stick to" and I didn't feel "in control". I walked into the building this am, and as soon as I saw my friend I said, "I AM joining" - even before we tried the meeting out, I made the decision and committed to a 6 month membership. On arriving I was nervous and wasn't sure what to think. We signed up and got weighed in - which I might add was 4.5 pounds LESS than what my scale said so I was in a "happy moment"! Once the meeting started I immediately knew "this was the place for me". The room was filled with about 20-30 people (men and women) and they were all of different sizes and ages which made me feel that much better. Everyone seemed very kind and caring and we had lots of laughs as well. It was great to hear so many tips, tricks and lessons. The 1/2 hr. (which turned into longer) ran so fast, it felt like we just arrived.
During the meeting I learned MANY things.....some good and some not so good - BUT thankfully I saved myself $199.99 as I was going to head out after and buy a juicer until I heard Juicing and smoothies are NOT the way to go - no wonder I was never losing much weight on all my plans before. At first I was SHOCKED to hear that fruits and veggies are FREE, UNLESS you juice or blend them.....what???!!!??? I thought the lady was CRAZY! After she explained and it sunk in (trust me it didn't right away), it made total sense. She explained it in a way like if you add 1 apple, 1 cup blueberries, 2 celery, 1 carrot, Parley, 1 cup Kale, 1 cucumber, 1 beet, 1 pear, etc. into a juicer it makes a cup of juice which you drink and a couple hours later you are hungry again as you didn't chew the food you just swallowed it (something to do with the salivary glands and such), but if you tried eating all those foods in one sitting you wouldn't be able to do it without feeling very full, so basically you are eating WAY MORE than you need in one sitting and then eating again as you aren't filled up. All these years I thought I "had it right", but it just goes to show what we don't always know it all :D ! I thought I was making healthy choices, but in the end the scale was telling me the truth. Another tip I learned that "hit home" is, if you love to "eat out" like me than you need to make a plan as there will ALWAYS be an "occasion that you are celebrating" (I laughed inside as I thought, "yup, that's me!" - first it's your b-day, than Valentines/Anniversary, than husband bday, than Easter, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Holidays, the kids b-days, Christmas.....etc.....and you say "I'll only have cake at this occasion as it's a special occasion, only you have 3-4 a month! - GREAT excuse to eat but not a way to lose the weight!). After she explained the following, it "clicked".
We have 3 Occasions
1. YOUR occasion
2. THEIR occasion
3. I don't want to cook dinner occasion
On YOUR occasion, splurge, drink the wine, eat the cake have some steak, this is YOUR day, YOUR occasion and you need to celebrate (B-day, Anniversary, Valentines - DANG I lose here as our Anniversary IS on Valentine's :D)
On THEIR occasion THEY celebrate, it's not our day to splurge (or pick ONE occasion that means the most and treat yourself than), if you really want some cake or fries, as to try some of your partners or kids rather than having the whole thing.
On I don't want to cook nights, make healthy selections, look at a menu BEFORE you go, order BEFORE everyone else does so you don't change your mind (e.g. grilled chicken, potato and steamed veggies - don't even open the menu while there as the pictures will decide for you)
I left the meeting feeling excited and with my wheels spinning. I love how it's also at a grocery store, so you can do your shopping right after feeling motivated in the meeting and be more opt to buying health foods rather than the junk if you go a few days later.
When I got home I was pumped to talk to my hubby about it, but then the bubble burst as his excitement wasn't what I was feeling. The old "are you going to stick to it this time and not waste our money" speech came out and all the rest. I was so mad at first, but then I thought "to heck with it, I will NOT let anyone else's opinion matter. This is my journey and I will travel on it with those in the meeting who are traveling the same path. He doesn't need to understand it". I sat down at the computer and began to read up about the points system and all the rest. Needless to say my head was spinning, my heart was pounding (from anxieties) and I was like "Oh my lord, AM I going to be able to do this???!!!???". That's when I put it all away and just took a breather and remembered that I don't need to conquer this all in one day. I just need to sit with it, research it, plan and get ready to start and slow and steady and better than fast and quitting. I know this is going to be a LIFE LONG JOURNEY and things said in the meeting made me confirm this. Before today, I always felt I'd go on a diet or life plan and MAKE myself change and once I lost the weight I'd go back to normal. I lived in ways I KNEW I wouldn't be able to sustain and I felt I wasn't in control. With Weight Watchers I feel like I am the one in control as no one is telling me what to eat, I get to choose and I can eat all my favourite things, I just have to ask myself "is it worth the points".
Failure was brought up in the meeting as one lady "plateaued" and the leader asked a question that hit me hard but I never would have thought of. "Why are you AFRAID TO SUCCEED" - WOW! who would have ever thought we'd be scared to hit our goal. BUT then it hit me with remarks others said yet deep down I knew it was me too
1. I'm afraid of losing all my favourite clothes and having to buy new ones
2. I'm afraid of failing and what others will think/say
3. I'm afraid of the "unknown" - I'm not happy with my weight now, BUT it's my "comfort zone" as this is who I am, and how I've been for years, what will it be like thinner"
4. Than on the way home it hit me after the meeting that I'm afraid of losing "points" for food allowance the more I lose the weight as will it be enough
5. I'm afraid knowing this is GOING to be a LIFE LONG JOURNEY. Some people gain weight after babies, trips and such than lose it and are good to go, but for people like me who eats for emotions, comfort and protection and who's body is just made different, this is going to be a LIFE LONG battle and even once I DO hit my goal weight I will have to work to keep it off and maintain it (THIS is the key - knowing this, as so many quit once they hit their goal, than slowly gain it back and don't come back for help until they've gained ALL their weight back PLUS more, but like our leader said, if you come back when you realize you are close to being over your goal weight, than you can get on track so much easier).
6. I am not good with change, and I guess losing weight would be a huge change.
So many things to ponder that I never would have questioned before BUT so rewarding as we learn so much about yourself through these struggles that we never would have learned before. While my husband would view each failure as "a waste of money", I view it as learning curves along the way which I gained invaluable amounts of tips, lessons and guidance as well as knowledge about myself. We didn't get to be this large overnight, so why would we begin to think we'd lose it overnight. SO I guess its all how you look at it.
I am going into it this time knowing no matter what happens, I have tried and it's one step more than those that don't.
During the meeting I learned MANY things.....some good and some not so good - BUT thankfully I saved myself $199.99 as I was going to head out after and buy a juicer until I heard Juicing and smoothies are NOT the way to go - no wonder I was never losing much weight on all my plans before. At first I was SHOCKED to hear that fruits and veggies are FREE, UNLESS you juice or blend them.....what???!!!??? I thought the lady was CRAZY! After she explained and it sunk in (trust me it didn't right away), it made total sense. She explained it in a way like if you add 1 apple, 1 cup blueberries, 2 celery, 1 carrot, Parley, 1 cup Kale, 1 cucumber, 1 beet, 1 pear, etc. into a juicer it makes a cup of juice which you drink and a couple hours later you are hungry again as you didn't chew the food you just swallowed it (something to do with the salivary glands and such), but if you tried eating all those foods in one sitting you wouldn't be able to do it without feeling very full, so basically you are eating WAY MORE than you need in one sitting and then eating again as you aren't filled up. All these years I thought I "had it right", but it just goes to show what we don't always know it all :D ! I thought I was making healthy choices, but in the end the scale was telling me the truth. Another tip I learned that "hit home" is, if you love to "eat out" like me than you need to make a plan as there will ALWAYS be an "occasion that you are celebrating" (I laughed inside as I thought, "yup, that's me!" - first it's your b-day, than Valentines/Anniversary, than husband bday, than Easter, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Holidays, the kids b-days, Christmas.....etc.....and you say "I'll only have cake at this occasion as it's a special occasion, only you have 3-4 a month! - GREAT excuse to eat but not a way to lose the weight!). After she explained the following, it "clicked".
We have 3 Occasions
1. YOUR occasion
2. THEIR occasion
3. I don't want to cook dinner occasion
On YOUR occasion, splurge, drink the wine, eat the cake have some steak, this is YOUR day, YOUR occasion and you need to celebrate (B-day, Anniversary, Valentines - DANG I lose here as our Anniversary IS on Valentine's :D)
On THEIR occasion THEY celebrate, it's not our day to splurge (or pick ONE occasion that means the most and treat yourself than), if you really want some cake or fries, as to try some of your partners or kids rather than having the whole thing.
On I don't want to cook nights, make healthy selections, look at a menu BEFORE you go, order BEFORE everyone else does so you don't change your mind (e.g. grilled chicken, potato and steamed veggies - don't even open the menu while there as the pictures will decide for you)
I left the meeting feeling excited and with my wheels spinning. I love how it's also at a grocery store, so you can do your shopping right after feeling motivated in the meeting and be more opt to buying health foods rather than the junk if you go a few days later.
When I got home I was pumped to talk to my hubby about it, but then the bubble burst as his excitement wasn't what I was feeling. The old "are you going to stick to it this time and not waste our money" speech came out and all the rest. I was so mad at first, but then I thought "to heck with it, I will NOT let anyone else's opinion matter. This is my journey and I will travel on it with those in the meeting who are traveling the same path. He doesn't need to understand it". I sat down at the computer and began to read up about the points system and all the rest. Needless to say my head was spinning, my heart was pounding (from anxieties) and I was like "Oh my lord, AM I going to be able to do this???!!!???". That's when I put it all away and just took a breather and remembered that I don't need to conquer this all in one day. I just need to sit with it, research it, plan and get ready to start and slow and steady and better than fast and quitting. I know this is going to be a LIFE LONG JOURNEY and things said in the meeting made me confirm this. Before today, I always felt I'd go on a diet or life plan and MAKE myself change and once I lost the weight I'd go back to normal. I lived in ways I KNEW I wouldn't be able to sustain and I felt I wasn't in control. With Weight Watchers I feel like I am the one in control as no one is telling me what to eat, I get to choose and I can eat all my favourite things, I just have to ask myself "is it worth the points".
Failure was brought up in the meeting as one lady "plateaued" and the leader asked a question that hit me hard but I never would have thought of. "Why are you AFRAID TO SUCCEED" - WOW! who would have ever thought we'd be scared to hit our goal. BUT then it hit me with remarks others said yet deep down I knew it was me too
1. I'm afraid of losing all my favourite clothes and having to buy new ones
2. I'm afraid of failing and what others will think/say
3. I'm afraid of the "unknown" - I'm not happy with my weight now, BUT it's my "comfort zone" as this is who I am, and how I've been for years, what will it be like thinner"
4. Than on the way home it hit me after the meeting that I'm afraid of losing "points" for food allowance the more I lose the weight as will it be enough
5. I'm afraid knowing this is GOING to be a LIFE LONG JOURNEY. Some people gain weight after babies, trips and such than lose it and are good to go, but for people like me who eats for emotions, comfort and protection and who's body is just made different, this is going to be a LIFE LONG battle and even once I DO hit my goal weight I will have to work to keep it off and maintain it (THIS is the key - knowing this, as so many quit once they hit their goal, than slowly gain it back and don't come back for help until they've gained ALL their weight back PLUS more, but like our leader said, if you come back when you realize you are close to being over your goal weight, than you can get on track so much easier).
6. I am not good with change, and I guess losing weight would be a huge change.
So many things to ponder that I never would have questioned before BUT so rewarding as we learn so much about yourself through these struggles that we never would have learned before. While my husband would view each failure as "a waste of money", I view it as learning curves along the way which I gained invaluable amounts of tips, lessons and guidance as well as knowledge about myself. We didn't get to be this large overnight, so why would we begin to think we'd lose it overnight. SO I guess its all how you look at it.
I am going into it this time knowing no matter what happens, I have tried and it's one step more than those that don't.