At Peace with Points

One of the main things that deterred me from Weight Watchers in the past is that I disliked figuring out points.  Counting calories is so much easier!  Well, I'd amend that now to say that figuring out points is actually pretty easy thanks to WW lists and apps.

I wrote last post about how I loved the point system steering me away from the empty calorie foods I used to turn to every time I tried to lose weight.  I still find that very true. But another great thing about the point system is that WW gives daily and weekly allowances.  Slowly but surely it is changing my thinking.

I tend to be an all-or-nothing dieter.  If I went a little too wild, I'll throw in the towel and decide I'd start back tomorrow.  Although a fresh start is great and that line of thinking works for many people, it brought me trouble in two forms.  First, I'd use the mess-up to eat whatever I wanted for the rest of the day.  If I was starting over tomorrow, then the rest of today didn't count, right?  And that brought me to the second problem -- either I'd let something keep me from starting fresh the next day or I'd repeat the pattern of messing up mid-day.  I created an endless loop of mess ups and do-overs.

Weight Watcher's weekly points give me enough grace to keep going if I splurge on purpose or slip up.  It also extends my thinking to a longer period of time.  Knowing I may have busted my point count for the day but still have wiggle room in the week, I am able to find my stride again.

Woooooo hoooooo!

(Note:  I missed two WW weigh-ins because of spring break and travel, but I managed to lose 4.4 pounds over that time!)

A Little Scare Can Do You Good

Spring break is over and I managed to lose two pounds despite two road trips.  That, my friends, is nothing short of amazing!  Yet what kept me on track was fear.  I realized the odd sensation in my left breast was morphing into actual pain, which scared me deeply.  This autumn, one of my friends was diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer that first manifested itself in breast and shoulder pain.  Yesterday I finally got in to see my doctor and she thinks it is fine, just fibroids.  We'll know for sure after a mammogram on April 1 (first available).  But I'm taking this as a warning.  I've known for years that being overweight is a risk factor for things like cancer, diabetes, heart disease, etc., but I kept telling myself I had plenty of time to make necessary changes.  The thought that it might be too late filled me with such remorse.  Now that it looks like I have a second chance for health, I'm taking it!  The thought that I'd put myself at risk for leaving my beloved guys (hubby, son) and might never see my five year-old grow up was a bucket of cold reality over my head!

Weight Watchers

Yesterday was my third week of Weight Watchers and the third week in a row of losing. It feels so good.  Although this journey has just begun, already I find my blue jeans easier to button and I no longer feel the urge to immediate shed jeans for sweat pants when I get home.  On a deeper level, there's nothing quite like the feeling that you're on your way, that if you just "keep on keepin' on" that you'll get where you need to go.  I didn't realize how much guilt and shame I was carrying until I felt it just begin to ease up.

The first two weeks of Weight Watchers they recommend you do "Simple Start."  You don't tackle portion control or accountability yet, but instead focus on just eating healthier foods.  Last week, then, I finally started tracking points.  Each food has a point value base on macronutrients (fats, carbs, and protein) plus fiber.  At first I grumbled about having to convert everything into points.  But not anymore.  Eye opening!  I can't tell you how many times last week I chose a food only to realize it wasn't a good value when it came to points.  The point system steers users towards whole grains, quality proteins, and the like.  With a gulp, I realized what a member of the Susan Powter generation I am.  Remember her?  She was a bouncingly enthusiastic health guru in the early 1990s, a "former fat housewife who finally got it."  Her exercise tips have served me well over the years, but she was one of those folks preaching the anti-fat message.  Eat all you want as long as it is fat-free!  Sounds good until you realize jelly beans, marshmallows, and circus peanuts are all fat free -- but also nutritionally void and bound to wreck your insulin levels.  I've known for a long time that over-processed foods need to be kept to a minimum, but now I realize I'm not as good at spotting them as I thought. I'm still a sucker for clinging to calorie count, reaching for baked chips or the like when they may not be the best choice.  I'm learning!

I got messages from a couple of people after the last post.  From the bottom of my heart, thanks for the support!