Five weeks is usually my stopping point. It’s when I realize how tough weight loss is and how I don’t like the pressure weekly weigh-ins put on me. So I quit and try it on my own, only to end up gaining the weight (and then some) back. It follows having a week or two when I don’t track correctly which, consequently, causes me to gain weight. That’s what happened the past two weeks and oddly enough, it didn’t defeat me. I knew what I had done wrong and I knew what I needed to do to get back on track. I knew how I felt during those weeks when I had total control over my eating habits and wanted to capture that feeling again.

And I did. This week went so much better than the past two weeks, where I maintained my weight and then gained over a pound. I was a tracking fiend, making sure to write down everything I ate, even those things I used to “conveniently” forget about. Tracking can be a pain and a hassle, but absolutely necessary for this journey. I can’t wait for the day when it becomes intuitive for me, but I’m content to take it slow and learn first.

Some great things that happened:

• I reinstated my No-Coke-Days again, after totally and absolutely failing to drink water during the week. I would really like to get off this addiction I have to soda and I used to have a lot of success with No-Coke-Days. I’m starting with one day a week and will gradually build my days up until it’s only a special occasion type of thing.
• I exercised 5 days! I actually ran 11.25 miles out of the week, as well as completed a pretty kick-ass strength-training routine that I created.
• I had to turn down home-baked cupcakes on Valentine’s Day. My boss baked them and they were staring me in the face throughout my entire lunch on Monday. Honestly, though, it wasn’t too hard to turn them down. I didn’t really want one and knew I would feel so much better about myself if I resisted. And I did. Yay, me!

I still have a ways to go and a lot of things I need to take our of my diet. But it’s going good and it’s all coming together.

Stats
Starting Weight: 159.2 lbs
Current Weight: 153.2 lbs
Net Difference: –6 lbs (-1.6 this week)
BMI: 28 (-1.1 total)

I had a feeling about this week. About halfway into the week, there was just this feeling that it was going to be one of Those Weeks. While I was staying within my Points and not even using as much of my Extra Points as I usually do, my body was rebelling.

I could pinpoint just what I did wrong. Not enough exercise (only 3 days). Not enough water (although I did drink my 24oz 3 out of the 7 days). And the biggie: eating bad points. While I stayed within my limits, I wasn’t eating the good stuff. The problem with staying within your limits with the bad stuff is that you tend to undereat during another meal to make up for it. So if I had a 20-point lunch, I could only have a 5- or 6-point dinner, unless I wanted to use up the vast majority of my extra points.

It’s never a good idea. But it wasn’t a big setback, just showed me I have to be careful of what I’m eating and whether or not it’s a Power Food that’s going to be good and filling for me. I tracked my food, but would conveniently “forget” certain things I ate.

This isn’t a big setback for me that causes me to go crazy, cry, and doubt I’ll ever be skinny. I know what I did wrong and I know how to improve it. I want to really put my focus back on tracking and eating Power Foods, drinking more water (24oz a day, for now), and getting in exercise. I really want to strive to do some sort of physical activity every day of the week, even if it’s just a 20-minute walk. I get very lazy or busy with schoolwork that exercise can take a backseat to other things, but I’m going to work hard to do something every day.

Stats (Week 3)
Starting Weight: 159.2 lbs
Current Weight: 153.6 lbs
Net Difference: –5.6 lbs (-0 this week)
BMI: 28.1 (-1 total)

I like to consider myself somewhat of a Weight Watcher expert. I’ve been doing the program, on and off, since May of 2007. I’ve tried out the Core Plan, the Flex Plan, the Momentum Plan, and now this new PointsPlus Plan. I love them all but struggled with most with Flex and Momentum (which were the same program, basically). This new plan works so well for me, getting me to take in more fruits and veggies and make healthier choices. (Not just low-point choices.)

It feels different this time around. I started Weight Watchers when I saw how much success my mom was seeing on the program. And while my mom never pushed me to start attending, I guess I felt like this was her program and I was just tagging along. When she made good choices, I made good choices. When she made bad choices, I made bad choices. I’ve always looked at Weight Watchers as my mom’s thing.

It’s my thing now. It’s about me, my health, my weight loss. I have to stop riding on my mom’s coattails and start taking action over my life. I’m losing this weight for me, not because my mom already did. I am much more in control of my eating and my exercise. I’m not worried about how my mom is doing (although I care!), so much as how I am doing. I’m documenting everything I eat throughout the day and relying on my own self-motivation to keep me focused.

It feels different this time. Like it’s finally going to happen. This is the time I lose the weight for good, adopt healthy habits for good, and become a brand-new version of myself. It feels like it’s my time and I look forward to proving to myself just how strong I can be every week. It’s not easy and I won’t say I’m even halfway there yet. But my baby steps are getting bigger and less wobbly.

Stats (Week 2)
Starting Weight: 159.2 lbs
Current Weight: 153.6 lbs
Net Difference: –5.6 lbs (-1.4 this week)
BMI: 28.1 (-1 total; –.2 this week)

This week has been about taking control back. Maybe my eating habits weren’t the best most days and maybe I could’ve worked out longer and harder, but it was the first time in a long time that I felt like I had control over my body, my eating, and my emotions.

It always happens like this when I get back on track with eating healthy and exercising. I feel like I’m back in the driver’s seat again. I’m putting good, wholesome things in my body. I’m not overindulging and I’m saying “no” to temptations. I’m not mindlessly eating. I’m stopping when I’m satisfied. And I’m letting myself have an extra piece of chocolate if I want to.

Sunday was probably the worst day of it, eating-wise, but I wrote down every single thing that touched my lips and accounted for it. And I kept tracking and eating well on Monday and Tuesday.

My snacks have vastly improved from cookie dough and chocolates to carrots and hummus, applesauce with cinnamon, and fiber bars. I made a plan for breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, and things to eat at work if I got hungry. I stuck to the plan and it felt great.

I worked out four days this week: a 15-mile bike ride on Thursday, the Core workout on Saturday (which knocked me out for 2 days. Lauren is not playing around with this routine!), a 2-mile elliptical workout, and a 10-mile bike ride on Tuesday, and a third bike ride (9.4 miles) on Wednesday. I love being on the bike and I’m definitely going to buy a “real” bike and start biking more seriously after April. Being on the bike makes me happier than anything.

This wasn’t a perfect week. I’m still struggling with drinking the amount of water I need to be drinking, but I’m getting there. This week was a step in the right direction and I just want to build the foundation from here.

Stats
Starting Weight: 159.2 lbs
Current Weight: 155 lbs
Net Difference: –4.2 lbs (HEYYO!)
BMI: 28.3 (-.8)

Weekly Goal
WATER, WATER, WATER. I plan to drink water at all my meals, as well as only drinking water at work. I think this will help immensely, and give me the small push in the right direction that I need.

What’s your favorite go-to healthy snack?