(In Windsor Ontario, on the Detroit River.)
This morning in our Weight Watchers meeting we talked about slip-ups, and how we respond to them. Do we "act" or "react"? Everyone in the room raised their hands when our leader Marci asked if we had ever slipped up while on Weight Watchers. I would find it hard to believe if anyone has not. I know I have, many times. And in the past, I would allow my slip-ups to multiple into landslides, until I was in such a bad place mentally that I would simply abandon WW and the whole weight loss process. I would give up. I would let one or two instances completely derail me and I would throw in the towel. But not anymore. That was reacting, and in a horrible way. This time, I am all about action and moving forward, no matter what.
One of the ladies in the meeting admitted that on weekends, she just continues with her bad habits and choices, and then works extra hard during the week to lose before Friday morning. Then her cycle started all over again as soon as weigh-in was "over". Another lady said that on her weigh-in day, she thought of that as a "freebie" day and ate whatever she wanted the rest of that day. Lots of folks nodded, including me. But that was how I used to behave. It was always about meeting and beating the number at the scale every week, and like those ladies I manipulated my diet and exercise on certain days, depending on how closely the day was to weigh-in (or how close it was to being the day after). I basically stayed on the program part time.
Sure, this morning after my meeting I would have loved to stop at McDonald's for a breakfast combo and large Coke. In the old days, I would have, I would tell myself okay I lost a pound at weigh-in so I can eat this and I have all week before I weigh again. But I didn't even consider making that choice, and I came home and had my whole wheat toast, and I don't feel unhappy or cheated one bit for doing that.
It used to be that one fast food breakfast on a Friday morning would turn into a weekend of nonstop noshing, with me telling myself I had "time" to get back on track by Monday. But as the lady at the meeting said, by doing that, she just had to work harder during the week to lose what she gained over the weekend. I would do that, I would lose a pound at my weigh-in on Friday, then gain 2-3 pounds over the weekend, which meant come Monday I would act crazy trying to lose 5 pounds just so I could continue to see small losses at the meetings. Sounds stupid when you put it that way, doesn't it?
So now, come Fridays after my meetings, come the weekend, my diet and exercise plans do not change. The day of the week should have nothing to do with me getting on the treadmill or eating a big salad for dinner. And so far it's worked. This week, coming back from vacation, I had a two pound loss. After vacation. In the past it would have taken an extra month to lose what I would have gained on a week long trip. In the past I would have said, it's vacation, I can "take a break" from my weight loss efforts. But I did not do that on this trip, and I'm proud and excited that it paid off. I am proud that I can say, I LOST weight while on vacation! Yes, James and I ate out three meals a day in restaurants (no fast food), and we had snacks too. But first and foremost, I continued to exercise on this trip, and if we didn't get in enough walking during our sightseeing excursions, then in the evenings I put my sneakers back on and headed out for another walk along the river.
I made very deliberate choices about my meals on this vacation, especially at breakfast. Not once did I order any kind of combo or platter. I always ordered from the "sides" menu. Normally I just had toast in the morning. At lunch, if the sandwiches were monster portions, I just ate half, and again I didn't order combos- no fries or chips. At one lunch, James and I even shared an entree and I still didn't finish my half. At dinner, I also watched my portions. I would only eat half, or eat a large salad, and one night I even ordered an appetizer as my entree. I did not feel deprived for one single moment at any restaurant. In fact, one of the best dinners I had on the entire trip was a big salad at a Max & Erma's, and we ate many great meals.
I let James snap a photo of me (above) on the trip, and normally I don't like to have my picture taken because of my weight. But this photo really made me notice how baggy my clothes are on me now. Even with the 25 pound weight loss, I'm still wearing the same size, and I am starting to realize that by wearing overly large clothes, it's actually making me look heavier than I am right now. It's a good feeling to have, instead of tugging at shirts that are too snug and clinging to every lump and bump. I'm not quite ready to get out of the plus size section at the stores, but I know if I keep this up, I will be strolling out of there very soon.
I did not give up my substantial income to stay at home and half-ass this. If I don't lose the weight this time, I know I never ever will. I will be 50 in a little over three years. I spent most of my 20's, all of my 30's and my 40's very overweight and tired and frumpy.
It has to be NOW!!! Yeah!!
SANDY
Keep up the great work that you guys are doing. Mom and I are proud of you.
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