About a month ago, I started Weight Watchers again. Previously, I lost about 18 pounds, but gained it all back when my grief hit the big time (and I hit the Texas state line). I did my rounds of Popeye's, chicken fried steaks, Tex-Mex and cobbler. But then it became time to lose it. For good.
By counting the WW points, I write everything down and thus, I account for everything, including booze. I detach myself from any guilt or encouragement or feelings re: food because the last thing I need is to "celebrate" food victories with food. So no celebration when I weigh less... just progress reports.
My goals are to lose back to where I can fit into the summer pants I already own. I have other vain goals, but that's the practical one. I also know that I'll sleep better and feel better if I weigh less (ie, less body pain). My ultimate goal (one of the vain ones) is to look hot in jeans and a white dress shirt.
I also use my weekly points and if I'm running low, I either do some activity, or I just skip a meal. I'm working slowly back into yoga, walking and swimming, and hope to add dog agility into the mix when I get in better shape.
What works out for me over the years is to shop and keep foods that are healthy for me. I have eliminated certain entire classes of food. I don't have soda, cookies or snacks in the house. This makes me creative w/r/t snacking. But it takes more effort to eat a snack than it does to not eat, or grab an apple. If we are out, I go ahead and have the thing I'm craving because if I don't, I'll obsess on it and eat double when I finally do break down and eat it, but I write it down and count the points.
I weigh things, and I measure things. I don't eat fat free anything that is supposed to be a fat. I eat the real food. I put real sugar in my tea. I measured how much I use? and it's 16 calories. Except we have started eating "light" cream cheese.
I'm trying to LIVE, not diet. I stopped all the excuses and justifications. I've had all the Church's fried chicken I "deserve" in my life... I don't feel deprived if I don't get a dessert or a main dish. I still love food, and have found that if we indulge a bit on Monday and Tuesday, our week goes by much better. Last night, we had two kinds of ice cream and tater tots. That was my dinner.
Tonight, I plan something chaste like fish and asparagus. But it has to take totally delicious. I've discovered that if I'm not satisfied, I will continue to eat. That aspect of WW is new, and has been useful. They ask you to rate your hunger. Just adding that to my post-meal calculations brings awareness to the fact that I'm FULL and HUNGRY. Oh. That's a different non-food problem.
So, it goes. My reward system is a little odd: when I lose 10 lbs, I'm getting new underwear. When I lose 25, I'm getting a pony. Maybe.
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