If you've read any of my posts in the past you know that I joined Weight Watchers Online in March. In June it was time to renew but after having bought a food tracker/weight tracker calculator (you can use an online one, and there is an app, but I do not, nor am ready for, a smart phone), 2 Weight Watchers journals, the Food Companion book and the Dining Out Companion book, I didn't feel I needed to continue to pay $19 a month for the online tools as they essential do the same thing only digitally. Now I will have to try to find more journals, sure I could just use a regular notebook, and maybe I will, but I really like the the ease of the pre-printed ones. So I've been going it 'on my own' since about mid June and so far so good.
Today I am hear to tell you that in my first 3 months I lost 25 lbs. Now I don't expect that kind of loss in the next 3 because I was dropping larger amounts of weight early on and have tapered down to 1-2 lbs a week..which is right where Weight Watchers wants you. I figure I might lose about 5 lbs a month now, give or take, giving myself a goal of 10-15 in a 3 month period. I feel this can be achieved if I work hard. Dieting is hard. Weight Watchers isn't a "diet" but it is still hard work. To date I have lost about 35 pounds. I can't tell you how excited I am about that nor can I express enough how much work went in to losing that.
I am kicking myself for not joining 30 excess pounds ago; had I done that the journey would be much shorter. I am not ready to post before, during, or after pictures but let me tell you there has been a dramatic change in my body. Even if others can't see it, even if some days I myself can't see it through my distorted vision of myself, it is there. I have had people tell me they can tell I've lost weight and putting muscle on, but sometimes I just think they are being nice because they know I'm on this journey. Facebook, as much as I hate it, has been a good motivator for me because I can share my journey with my friends (even if they get tired of hearing it) and they encourage me by giving positive remarks. I also have a cousin-in-law on this journey and a close friend, and that helps too.
You might have a lot of questions about how Weight Watchers works but I am not here to tell you that. There are sites all over the internet if you want to try and to it without joining, but I highly recommend you join for at least 3 months, all your questions may be answered and you'll have the tools to keep going. I am glad I joined. I like that I can eat anything I want, however, you have decided if that sugary soda is worth all those points (carbs/calories) or if you should choose water or a diet soda for zero points and have that sandwich instead. For me the number one thing was portions, the number two thing is that I cut sugar and some carbs. I drink more water. Its not like I drank a lot soda before, I didn't, but now if I choose to drink one I choose diet. Here's my problem; I detest diet anything. I do not like the taste of anything diet nor do I believe the sugar substitutes are even good for our bodies, but I chose to limit sugary drinks and choosing more healthy foods instead. This doesn't mean that I don't order a milkshake from time to time (very rarely!), hey, that's what your weekly points are for! Good thing I've always liked unsweet iced tea cause there is only so much plain water or water with lemon that I can stand to drink.
You will figure out for you what works best but I say, don't drink a bunch of empty calories. I would rather have a hamburger on a sandwich thin (or no bun) than a can of soda because that soda will do nothing for me. Carbs are also something that I didn't eliminate, but chose to revamp so to speak. Rather than a hamburger bun I buy sandwich thins which are only 3 points. Instead of regular bread (wheat or white) i choose Light sandwich bread for fewer points per slice. The new points plus system determines points of food based on that foods carb, protein, fiber, and fat content per serving. This is THE most important thing to track, PER SERVING! You have to watch your portions. Measure, weigh or whatever it takes. If a serving of reduced fat cheese nips is 4 points and the serving size is 31 crackers, then you COUNT out those crackers. If you can't just a cup of cereal by eye then you use a measuring cup. If you don't know what 3 oz of steak looks like that weigh it. I admit that I do not own a food scale and I choose not to weigh my foods, I do however use a measuring cup and count out portions. For my steak, let's say, I use the hand method. Three ounces of steak will be thin and should be of little fat and since a protein will be about the size of your palm. These are tips you can find online or when you join Weight Watchers. Whatever I've been doing is working so I keep at it.
So the diet has been hard to adjust too but I'm doing it. Some days I admit I just don't want to track..I just want to EAT! A voice in my head yells at me then because I do not want to undo all I've done and go back to my old ways that DID NOT WORK! It's not all about diet though, sure you will lose but maybe not as much and maybe your body will get saggy if you have a lot of weight to lose. I detest exercising. You want hard work, I don't see anything getting harder than that. Motivating myself daily to work-out is definitely a challenge. I do it though because I want my body to change. I am not looking to be super-model thin or body builder big, I just want to look at myself and not be disgusted and to strengthen my heart, back, shoulders, legs, arms...and yes, my abs. Ab workouts are by far the hardest and most detestable for me but they are probably the ones I need to do the most! Already in 4 months there is a big change in my endurance and my strength. I can see definition forming in my shoulders and my my arms and legs. As for my abs, well that will take longer. I am going to be 36 years old in September. Yep, that's right. I am not looking to be as lean or fit as I was when I was 21 but I would like to get pretty darn close! My journey will continue and even after I reach my goal it will continue beyond that so that I never go back to the person I didn't like seeing in the mirror.
By the way...I re-visted Greek yogurts again (see my post, My Greeky Opinion)and I actually found one that I can stand to eat! Dannon Oikos greek yogurt. The Black Cherry fruit on the bottom has 0 fat and is 3 Weight Watchers plus points. I do not notice any tang in the yogurt like some other Greeks I've tried. One issue I have with all Greek yogurts is after I eat them I feel like my mouth has been dried out, or maybe it's a film inside from the yogurt, I don't know. I also tried Chobani pineapple fruit on the bottom - it wasn't bad but the texture and taste of the yogurt kind-of reminds me of cheese. I'm not sure that I like that.
Below you can see a slight change in my face. The top picture is NOW and bottom picture is from fall last year. (I told you I'm not ready for full body shots yet!)
Definitely a difference! Good job, Holly!
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