Friday, December 3, 2010

New Weight Watchers Plan

I attended my Weight Watchers meeting with great apprehension.  They changed the plan.  The first time in 13 years.  I have been kicking ass on the current points plan and so I am a little how shall I say....afraid to change what's been working for me.  But the way Weight Watchers has covered its bases, it is impossible to stick to the old plan unless you do it manually.  I do nothing manually except clean my house, anything else can be done on my computer.  If it cannot be done digitally, then it probably shouldn't be done at all..... Anyway, I bought a new scale, new books, new cookbook etc.   Yeah, they saw me coming but in my defense, this is my third time on the program.  I know what works and what doesn't and the more I explore the new program, I think this will work.  I believe it will work because it relies heavily on protein and fiber to fill you up and to keep the body's metabolism working even when you aren't.  Protein and fiber are much more difficult for the body to digest, therefore, the body is burning additional calories.  The program also has fruit and veggies with the exception of avocados (sad day) as 0 points.  The program is trying to encourage us wayward eaters to eat better.  The number of points has also increased.  That was the one that threw me for a loop.  Hmmmm 0 point fruit and veggies and more points..... can't possibly work.  But there are a couple of catches....  you eat the 0 fruit and veggies until you are satisfied not stuffed.  Additionally, many of the foods have increased in point value.  For example, healthy 1 point popcorn is now 3 points....  WINE HAS DOUBLED IN VALUE..... moment please.... whew.. okay.... I can never get through that one without a tear...

Monday, November 29, 2010

Another Fat Chick Yapping About Dieting..........

I have put off writing this blog mainly because I didn't want to start something that I would not be able to finish or fail at miserably.  Although, I wonder why I am so concerned about failing, especially since I have been on some sort of diet for over 30 years and have yet to achieve the success that I crave.  I have had an issue with my weight since I was about 10 years old.  I have read the statistics about the success of using a journal to accomplish a goal by keeping the writer honest about dealing with the behavior and on track. 

I would love to use this blog to keep my self on track and honest, to share wonderful recipes and food items all the while figuring out why my relationship with food is screwed up.

The bottom line is that I am on a diet, yes a diet, a lifestyle change, a coming out of the food closet, whatever... I am restricting my willy-nilly, I should be able to eat anything I want just like those skinny so and so's do behavior for a number of reasons.

My first reason is that I am tired of being fat. Coming from a family that teaches you to flaunt what you got no matter how big, how small, how ugly..... well maybe not how ugly.....  I have never had a real problem with my fatness and self-esteem to the point that I withdraw from society or individual relationships.  I have learned to love and accept myself no matter the size.  I am truly tired of being fat and wearing fat clothes. Although, designs for larger women have come a long way.... I would like to see curves instead of valleys, dry creek beds, hilly mountain ranges and dimples that I image to be pockets of quicksand.

My second reason is I will be 50 years old in January and the weight is taking a toll on my health.  I stopped smoking 11 years ago and to satisfy my oral fixation I chose food to make my mouth sing with joy.  I also had two discs from the upper thoracic region of my back break and slip into my spine.  Weirdest thing.  I thought I had a pinched nerve or had wrenched my back in some way, went to the emergency room and ended up staying as their guest for 5 weeks.  I had two surgeries, the first left me paralyzed from the trunk down. The second surgery got me back on my feet but it has been 6 months since I have been home and I am still using a cane and looking down the barrel of another surgery.  I do not wish to be this overweight when I return.  My hope is that losing the weight may reduce my chances of even having an addition surgery.

My third reason is that I was asking too much of my body.   I had gotten up to 326 pounds.  OMG, it is amazing how the brain can fake you out when you have a dysfunctional relationship with food.  Just like the anorexic views their body as fat when the world views it as skin and bones.  Fat folks also view themselves as being smaller than they actually are. But I caught a few glimpses of myself in the mirror and had a few moments of clarity when I thought I saw five other butts attached to mine!!  Prior to the surgery I began exercising (which I secretly believe is the reason my discs crumbled) and joined NutriSystems to get me started  and I dropped 30 pounds over a four month period.  Once at home after the surgery, I began to pick up weight again, I could barely walk, let alone exercise????  Yeah, right!  But I also couldn't afford the food that I had grown very, very tired of.  So that I would not lose ground, I white-knuckled off 4 more pounds.  Doing weight loss on my own does not work.  So I joined the only plan that I know of that has worked for me because it is designed for living the kind of life I lead, which also supports my family and it has worked for me in the past.  Weight Watchers. Because I did not continue the wonderful habits I learned in Weight Watchers, I regained the weight over and over.  So anyhooo,  I joined Weight Watchers again 2 months ago and have dropped 20 more pounds.  I am down 54 pounds and have a long, long way to go before I reach my goal of 150.

I have other many reasons, which I will get into as I continue write about my obsession.   All I know is that it is time.  I need to be in control of what I put in my body and why I am putting it in my body.  I have been a bystander to the mayhem that I have imposed on myself.  I used the usual excuses, I am big boned (and I am),  my metabolism is shot (and it is.. I suffer from Graves Disease turned Hashimoto Disease... translation High to Low thyroidism). However, I am learning that these obstacles can be overcome.  I am learning that weight loss is about much more than losing weight.  In fact, losing the weight is the easy part.  It is all the other crap that makes the journey a doozy.

Until Next Time,
Fats Fun