The last time I was here I shared with you the exciting news that I joined Weight Watchers. And not only that but I had already been seeing results! I'm still a Weight Watchers member but I am struggling a lot despite seeing results. During a slow morning at work the other week I was thinking about why this is because in the past I felt I was struggling because I wasn't seeing results (The struggle to keep on trying to make changes without any reward is real!). I discovered a few truths about why I struggle whether I'm following Weight Watchers or doing it on my own, seeing results or not.
The truth is... Weight Watchers or any plan to be healthier takes work. Woah! No way, really?! Yes, really. As much as I like to think I am organized and a planner I'm not like that 80% of the time. Weight Watchers takes some work to plan ahead for the week and even just the next day. What will I need to pick up at the store in order to have something to cook? What can I make ahead and have portioned out in containers waiting for me? What will I need to make right before eating? What am I going to pack for lunch tomorrow? When will I work out and what will I do? The questions just keep coming! And like I said, about 80% of the time I am not a planner who has all of these questions (and the countless others) answered by Sunday night so I am prepared for the week ahead. It's definitely something I need to work on.
The truth is... old habits die hard. (Side note: does anyone recognize that as a Justin Moore song featuring Miranda Lambert?) Drinking Mountain Dew and being a couch potato are probably the worst old habits that I have. I made it about a month without drinking any Mountain Dew but once I had one they started to slowly creep their way back into my daily habit. And now I'm back at square one because I've been having Mountain Dew pretty much daily and skipping the water. And being a couch potato has almost always been my thing and I have rarely if ever really truly broken that habit. Both are huge mental battles, to just not have a Dew or to just get up and go to the gym. Why are mental battles with ourselves like the hardest thing ever??
The truth is... being social requires more thinking than just what to wear and how I should do my hair. Weight Watchers doesn't give you a free pass if you want to go out for a night with your friends. But! It also doesn't restrict you from doing that if you want. Weekly points are my friend but they need to be used wisely which means I need to have a plan of what and how much I'm going to eat and drink on my night out. And maybe the hardest part is tightening things up the rest of the week and staying within my daily points. Easier to do for sure if you know ahead of time that you'll be going out but when those nights out surprise you it might change your beverage plan depending on what your points situation is looking like.
The truth is... I have a routine that is not in line with all that needs to be done to succeed. I hit the snooze button way too many times every morning. Hitting the snooze button leads to leaving for work at the last possible minute. Leaving at the last minute means I don't have time to pack the lunch I should have had ready the night before. And why didn't I have my lunch ready the night before? Because I was too "busy" watching TV. Yeaaaah. It's terrible and I know it.
Having said all of that the best part is none of these things are permanent. I can change each and every one of those things that I struggle with. And I'm going to. :)
Now I can share with you those results I mentioned!
Height: 5'7.5''
SW: 224.4
March 27: 216.8
April 3: 218.0 (+1.2)
April 10: 216.2 (-1.8)
April 17: No Weigh In
April 24: 215.2 (-1.0)
May 1: 215.2 (no change)
May 8: 216.8 (+1.6)
May 15: 214.6 (-2.2)
Total Loss: -9.8
A few ups and downs but as laid back as I've been about my eating and my lack of workouts it's to be expected. I'm proud of what I've accomplished so far and am looking forward to seeing what can happen when I'm more on my game.
Just keep trucking along!
ReplyDeleteLove the comment, old habits die hard. YES THEY DO!
Yes to all of this!! And, all definitely parts of the process that I learned when I first joined WW (and some that are still ongoing challenges). Old habits die very hard, like Shannon said, but the more you are aware of your habits, the more you have to have strategies to beat them. Can't get yourself off the couch for a workout? Don't even think about sitting down on the couch until the workout is done. Can't resist Dew? Don't buy it. Don't carry a dollar in your pocket to buy it. Don't even go near the store/vending machine when you are craving it. And then, of course, if you set up little rewards for yourself along the way (beyond weight loss which is a reward in itself!), you'll be more motivated to stick with it.
ReplyDeletethat's great progress! Keep it up! :) I KNOW YOU CAN DO IT!
ReplyDeleteOne of the members at my WW meeting has it in her points budget for two glasses of wine every night. You just have to pick and choose what is worth it.
ReplyDeleteHey thats a big loss! Don't downplay the hard work you've done for it.
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