*******Before photos posted below********
As I said yesterday and alluded to in my opening blog....Wednesday's will be devoted to a very sensitive and personal subject for me, my weight.
Some people have known me my whole life, "hi mom!" And others of you (in the future) may not know me personally, but you can relate or understand where I've been, where I am, and where I want to be.
Wednesdays will dig into multiple layers. My journey to better myself, my health, and my body doesn't all have to do with weight or some number on a scale (although, let's be honest...it matters!). It's also about the tools I find, the control I want to gain, emotions involved, and the people who support me.
Today's blog is about Weight Watchers, Medifast, and Thanksgiving!
Yesterday was my first meeting back to Weight Watchers (WW) since...early in college. A lot has changed with WW since then.
But first, my weight loss history doesn't start with WW. I won't go back and re-live the haunted past of Jenny Craig (several attempts), dieting on my own (most like starving and bingeing), shakes, cleanses, etc. etc. etc......
I'll enlighten you with the most recent of successful attempts! About 7 months ago I decided I couldn't continue at the rate I was gaining. I'll be painfully honest because otherwise this account is purely useless. I was up to my heaviest weight, 170 lbs. on a 5'4" frame. I can add little things here, like how my frame has always been curvy, how I have been blessed in certain areas that help me carry weight better than others, how much of my weight is muscle, etc. but those little tricks stop being as effective at 170 lbs. I look back at Thanksgiving photos from last year and I almost don't associate with that person in the photos. Call it reverse anorexia....I didn't look in the mirror and see a fatter person....I saw a skinnier person. I saw the girl I was when I danced several hours a day, played on the marching band, and had a roaring (....okay, more like bubbling) metabolism. I couldn't accept that things had changed so much and yet, at that time, I still wasn't ready to change. FEAR. The emotion that keeps you paralyzed. It had it's ugly claws in me good. Fear also rears it's head to try and keep you "comfortable" or stagnant. It's powerful and if left unchecked, it can drain you of the future you want.
That all changed in April. I was so uncomfortable in my clothes, I had to buy new belts and pants because mine were getting so tight, but I couldn't bear (or bare) to shop. I was working and stressed and eating! Never even thought about restraining myself when it came to Olive Garden or Greek food.
What happened wasn't like some people describe. It wasn't a moment. I didn't suddenly see myself and decide to change or wake up and make a decision to change. It was more like a slow accumulation of events, activities, conversations, tears, binges, emotions, etc. before I started to seek control.
I found MediFast. I searched effective diets online and found MediFast ranked most effective at quick, healthy weight loss. What I liked most....many of the clients kept the weight off. I set up my online profile, bought my food, and started the next week (not before one more binge, of course!).
The food was horrible at first. I have to be honest. It was chalky and tasted like the vitamins and minerals they stuffed into it. I had to force myself to eat the 5 Medifast meals. I looked forward to my one lean& green every day! (*On the Medifast meal plan you eat 5 medifast meals and 1 lean&green meal on your own. Please refer to the Medifast website or centers for more information if you wish to start this plan).
I lost weight, lots of weight, and fast! I lost 9 lbs in one week. I figured out what meals I liked and how to prepare yummy lean and greens. (*Check out
Time Savor Gourmet, a website that has great recipes and seasonings). For several weeks after I lost 2-5 lbs. each week. Right before my trip to Minnesota, Ohio, and Tennessee, I was down to 141 lbs.
I was feeling very good! People were noticing the change and making comments about how I looked so good. I even motivated some close friends to look into Medifast for themselves! It's very effective.
But I couldn't keep it up. I hit a rough patch on my trip. Indulged in home cooked foods and southern cooking. Had too much to drink and ate portions for 4 people. It was delicious. My stomach hurt, my acid reflux was back and in full swing, and my ego was bruised. I had done it again. I had lost a good amount of weight (almost 30 lbs!!!) and had developed what I call "skinny-fat syndrome". It basically means that I still feel like I should be able to eat like a skinny person (those ones that never gain weight and eat like horses) and yet I'm fat again. How did I get here? Okay...I'm being a bit melodramatic. I wasn't fat! I had gained a few lbs. Remarkably, I didn't gain back 10 lbs (even though I normally would have). I gained maybe 5 lbs.
When I got home I tried to go back to the Medifast. I was planning my wedding, I had a goal (my dress, photos, family and friends, my future husband drooling, etc.) and yet no motivation. Where did it go? I was so on fire before and checking off the poundage and then....nothing. Hmmm.....
I missed real food (not that medifast isn't real food, because it is). I missed whole grains, oatmeal, FRUIT, corn, carrots, popcorn, frozen yogurt, etc. I missed eating food that was hot and home cooked. I missed having more choices. (*Side note- my food choices were impacted on the medifast diet because I only liked the bars, the shakes, the puffs, and the pretzels).
I decided to try and kick it on my own. I tried to manage my own portions, kind-of-sort-of watch calories, eat foods high in protein, whole grains, organic, etc. I didn't do horribly....but I slowly started to gain.
Where I am now. I decided to start WW because I feel like they teach you to eat food, out in society, and figure out how to plan and monitor. I went to my first meeting yesterday and I weighed in at 150.2. The lady congratulated me for losing 6 lbs and I was confused. "Um...are you talking to me?" She said I lost 6 lbs. since the last time I was in, back in 2006. "Ooohhh, okay." I sat down with my materials, listened to our meeting leader talk about Thanksgiving, and realized I'm 6 lbs. lighter than I was in college! Yesss!!
Okay people, Thanksgiving is coming. Are you excited??!! I am! I love this holiday because it's mixed up with all the other holidays and it's about family and food. What's not to love? I love how it get's colder, you (flip a switch) and turn on the fireplaces, read a book, snuggle with hot chocolate, sleep when it rains, and eat comfort food!
Some strategies I learned at my WW meeting-
1. Get in some exercise before you eat (I signed myself and my family up for the local 5k Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving morning).
2. Make sure to eat breakfast and lunch before your Thanksgiving meal. We all think to lessen the damage we should skip meals before a large meal...this is a quick way to heighten cravings and binge more than you would if you hadn't been so hungry.
3. Don't drink your calories. (I'm already cutting out alcohol). Sometimes it's a choice between pumpkin pie and apple cider....I know what I want.
4. Save your weekly extra points (check out WW program for more info.) for Thanksgiving day.
5. Thanksgiving holiday is only one day! It's not a holly-weekend or week. It doesn't continue. Get support by having relatives take the leftovers home! I don't need an oversized pot of stuffing staring at me the next morning or a Costco pumpkin pie in the fridge for 4 weeks!
Some strategies I've learned from all the weight-loss blogs, websites, meetings, etc.-
1. Get in your water. It's not that hard and it makes an extreme difference in weight loss! Most of the time I think I'm hungry...I'm actually thirsty!
2. Listen to your body and your emotions. Eat when you're hungry. Hunger is slow to come on and you can eat anything to satisfy it. Emotional eating is ravishing, fast to come on, is associated with strong cravings for specific foods, etc. Take a hot shower, go for a walk, scream into a pillow, vent it out with someone who loves you, drive around (not to a drive-thru), etc.
3. Don't drink your calories. This is big. There also needs to be balance. I've been allowing myself a small cup of no-sugar-added hot chocolate when it's cold and rainy and I'm okay with that choice. But alcohol, regular soda, etc. seems like a waste to me.
4. Move your body. Do anything. Stationary bike has been my only option when it's yucky outside (even thought I don't really like the bike). I walk whenever I can! If you have a gym membership, take a class. Go for a hike. Do housework, etc.
5. Get back on. When you fall off....don't stay off. This has been the hardest thing for me to learn but it's also the best! If you have a large meal or you over indulge, it's not over for you. Just get back on. Easier said then done, but the damage will be far greater (much more work) if you take the opportunity of one bad choice and make it a month of bad eating choices!
Let me know what some of your strategies are. What have you learned in the trenches? Have you tried any diet plans that you love or hate? Is anyone out there doing WW?
And for the big finale---- I've decided to upload before photos. I'm going to post the photo I referred to from last Thanksgiving, but I'm also going to post photos from today. A lot has changed and a lot more will change. I truly believe that people love before and after photos because they are far more of a statement than words could ever be. I know I love a good before and after!
I can tell you one thing....I can't wait to have proof of hard work and some good after photos.
**Let's keep our comments positive and supportive. I will delete any comments that are negative or harmful in nature. Online bullying will never be tolerated!**
