DO: Lose that baby weight, for good! (part 2)

Well, I told you last week, I would share with you some of my "diet expertise". I really am having a hard time writing this because I don't feel I naturally am good at any of this. The learning has been slow going. My mom fed us all meat and potatoes. I suppose this was the cheapest way to feed a large family when my parents were raising us (and nice and filling for the guys who were subject to the cold outdoors of a Minnesota winter)! But, not great on the waistline! 

Nothing makes it easier to resist temptation 
than a proper bringing-up, 

a sound set of values 
- and witnesses.  
~Franklin P. Jones

So, I was frustrated. I have worked out faithfully and still the pounds aren't coming off. I cook and eat healthy, I really do! I would do "really good" and lose a couple pounds, then my focus would get on something else, and the pounds would hop right back on. I got desperate and joined Weight Watchers. This was rather humiliating to me and I didn't want to tell anyone. But, now that I have been there, I love it. And, it really works!  (obviously! Jennifer Hudson did it...right?)

Before and after: Jennifer Hudson! I love that Chicago girl! :) 

The first day I went, I talked to the weight watchers leader. I told her I eat healthy...she said, "If I had a quarter for everyone that says that..." Ouch!! So, I guess I had some things to learn about my "healthy eating" :) She also said, it doesn't matter how much or little you have to lose. The process is still the same. If you have a hundred pounds to lose or ten, it still requires the same discipline and the same principles to succeed. 

Discipline weighs ounces, 

regret weighs tons.

Here is what is helping:
1. Weekly weigh-in - this helps me be good all week, because I want that number to go down! It is amazing how much better I am because I see CLEARLY my process each week. 
2. Healthy snacks - The meals I cook are healthy. What I realized is that I made very unhealthy snack choices throughout the day. They didn't energize or fill me up, so I would eat more, than if I made a healthier choice. (and it always helps if it contains protein!) 
3. I can eat whatever I want, just in healthier quantities. If I want a piece of chocolate cake, I can have it, either saving up my points for it...or just taking a couple bites. The key here is to build self-control over things that I desire. Learning to eat one cookie, instead of going overboard and eating way more than I should.
4. Power Foods - WW really doesn't talk much about abstaining from foods you love. They speak more about POWER FOODS. These are the foods you should be trying to eat the most of. Most of them "cost 0 points" - such as almost all fruits and vegetables with just a few exceptions. I have found, if my goal is eating 5-6 fruits and veggies each day. I can pretty much get full just doing that! (WW favorite line - no one is here for eating too many bananas! :) Filling up on whole grains, protein & fiber! 
5. You earn "points" for activity - that is positive encouragement to get moving! 
6. Techie - I love anything that is on the computer or on my phone. They have an awesome website and great smart phone apps. 
7. Going to the meetings - I have two little kids, so making meetings, I thought, would be impossible. So, I found one at 7:00 a.m. on Saturday mornings. My kids are normally still in bed and my hubby is always home at that time. I am usually home before anyone realizes I was gone! (You can go to any meeting, nationwide - super flexible).

The toughest thing:
1. TRACKING. uggg! But, if I didn't write it down, I wouldn't see where I am blowing it. I learned a lot about my eating habits within the first few days. They really do make it easy for you to track, giving you several options:

• Food Tracking Journal - paper...how retro! :) 
• eTools Online Tracker - which is what I use
• eTools Smartphone tracker - for some reason isn't working on my Android. I heard the iPhone gels better with it. 

If you want to "do it yourself" - you can do the above.  Just make sure to purchase a really accurate scale. You should see progress! 

DO IT YOURSELF PLAN - 
You actually can find many recipes that list WW points online. Also, you can find out online how many points you should consume in a day. 


OTHER GREAT SITES FOR WEIGHT LOSS:
LaaLoosh - Weight Watchers recipes with points calculated
SkinnyTaste.com
Hungry-Girl.com - great ideas for eating less fattening but still yummy foods!
Top Ten Weight Loss Websites - great resource!!


So, not to say that WW is the only way to go, it has just been a great experience for me. I hope if you have battled losing 10 pounds or more, you will find a program that works for you. 


Love, Kristen