Tracking

If somebody asks me the pros and cons of a weight loss program, I usually mention that I don't like tracking what I eat.  It is a pain in the patootie.  It feels a little self-stingy, self-absorbed, and labored.  Who can remember to do it consistently?  While I'm brushing my teeth in the morning I often realize with a jolt that I've got to figure out everything I ate since breakfast yesterday.  And how do you even begin to estimate what is in a dish or serving size if you ate at a restaurant?

But I've noticed something.  If I track, I lose weight much more consistently and I eat better too.  It doesn't even have to be done perfectly -- just doing the best I can.

My weight loss has been much slower and less consistent since summer began, which I find stressful and frustrating.  My Weight Watchers meeting is on Mondays, so this week I promised myself I'd track every day to see if that would make a difference.  Now I'm on day seven and it is starting to feel second nature.  My scale says I am solidly down a couple of pounds.  I did eat more healthy this week.  And there were some treats that I might have longingly avoided (with inner grumbling and stress) but tracking allowed me to fit them in using a reasonable portion.

Is tracking really such a pain in the patootie?  The truth is that now that WW offers so many options on its smart phone app, tracking is quick and easy.  Most of the time I am eating familiar foods that I've stowed on my "favorites" list.  Whenever I have to look up a new food or find something reasonable to eat at a restaurant using the WW list, I learn something new.  Yup.  The WW app builds health knowledge and promotes self-honesty.

I think tracking is my new best friend.

10 %

As of this past Monday, I've lost 10% of my body weight since February.  That percentage is known as sort of a magic number because it is the level of weight loss where researchers begin to see significant health benefits.  Man.  That feels good.