Wednesday, January 11, 2012

Believe and the Power of a Plan

Last week, I started Weight Watchers.  I was frustrated with myself and lack of forward motion trying to get healthy.  I took a step back and really evaluated myself.  I asked myself, "What have I done to be successful in the past?"  The answer came to me quickly.  I was coached and took a class that taught steps to take to lead a healthier lifestyle.  My husband and children had gone to my in-laws early for the long New Year week end.  I decided to attend a meeting for free.  I left that meeting feeling on top of the world.  The leader is amazing, energizing, and sincere.  I could tell she wanted everyone in the room to succeed.

I told my husband (I did not ask) that I was joining Weight Watcher.  I told him how the group support was what made me successful in the the past.  I signed up at the next meeting I could attend.  That meeting was even more inspiring and motivating.  We talked about the theme, "Believe".  You need to believe you can do it to be successful.  You need to reprogram your thinking to achieve this.  For example the old you might say, "I lost 5 pounds, so as a reward I will eat a pint of ice cream."  The new you will say, "I lost 5 pounds, so as a reward I will treat myself to a manicure,"  or another non food item.  Another example of this is overcoming your mental demons if you have a bad week, day, hour, minute.  It is normal to slip up or plateau.  Forgive yourself and move one.  If you didn't lose this week, it does not mean that you are a failure.  It means you still have opportunity to improve.

This week we talked about the power of having a plan.  Which is the #1 reason I think I was so successful in losing 4.2 pounds.  After last weeks meeting, I came home, looked through recipes on Weight Watchers eTools, and in my Hungry Girl cookbook.  I planned out 7 dinners, lunches, and breakfasts.  I then loosely planned some snacks.  I knew one day at work we were having a work lunch, so I brought the Weight Watchers (WW) Garden Vegetable soup.  This soup has ZERO point plus.  It is delish, too.  I ate the soup then had some pizza.  I was feeling pretty full by time I got halfway through the second piece. 

Which leads me with the #2 reason for week 1 success...budgeting points.  I am not a budgeter.  Or I should say I WAS not a budgeter.  I have always had problems sticking to the plan of counting calories or tracking what I eat, but WW and the Points Plus system makes it easy.  They provide tools to take the guess work out of calculating your points.  Armed with my Daily Points Plus value, I tracked my food on eTools (again removing the guess work).  I found that I was good about hitting my Points Plus Values (PPV) most days.  Two days I dipped into my extra 49 PPV that every WW member gets.  Towards the end of the week, I felt myself really understanding the PPV budget. Most fruits and veggies have ZERO points.  So, that is like free food ;)  When I got hungry and I was close or at my daily PPV, I would have an orange or cucumber slices.  The internal conversation went, "I am hungry, but I don't have any points left.  If I eat an orange, that won't cost me any points."

How successful was I this week?  4.2 pounds!


4 comments:

  1. Excellent! Good Luck with WW it's a great tool. Glad you're back blogging!

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    1. Thanks! I hope you are doing well. I miss talking with you and your family.

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  2. I know how much you want to be healthier, and I know you can do anything you put your mind to. So keep up the great work. I am here cheering you on from my corner of the world. You can always call or chat if you need to. Tommy said you did awesome and suggested I try weight watchers once I am done with IP for the support they offer.

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    1. Thanks Melissa and Tom! The awesome thing with WW is once you reach your goal you become a lifetime member. If you are a lifetime member you don't have to pay!

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