IN March of 2020 I chose Weight Watchers, now known as WW, to be my weight loss plan. I know you've heard this: weight loss is not a diet, but a lifestyle change. I would say loosing weight during this last year has been like grieving for me. Had I not lost a parent and grieved, I would not have grieved over the many delicious foods and treats I've awarded myself with over my life time. I thought I could not live without such enjoyment. But I was about to be proven otherwise.
Losing weight is an absolute must for my health. Before chosing WW, I learned from the hospital dietician that I didn't weigh enough or should I say, I didn't need to lose enough to qualify for the reduction surgery. So. I had to do this on my own? No. With WW, I had a support team with a coach and others on the same journey. I had used two other versions of WW earlier in my adult life which worked. I lost 29 lbs after the birth of my first child, 45 years ago; and lost 30 lbs one winter about 15 years ago. The largest amount of weight I lost was six years ago while working out with a personal trainer - 41 lbs. (See posts on this blog: Beginning to Say Goodbye 2014 and others following) Why 41 you say? My goal was to weigh what I did when I was was married 25 years before. In 2020, my need to lose 18 lbs. was 18 of those 41.
I had imagined I would lose 6 lbs. at once like I once did. I was so expecting that loss because after all, I was not eating sugars or pasta, and doing all the right things. But I did not lose 6 at once and often not even 1 lb. at least at first. It was difficult. In the past I might have been tempted to quit completely, but I was not really interested in doing that which surprised me. I have a one-page list of the foods I can eat in unlimited quantities (within reason). I did discover that snacking in the evening was not and currently is not something I can do very often.
While it is a struggle to change behaviors you've acted on for much of your life, in my opinion its not as hard for me as looking at myself in the mirror knowing I had gained 18 of the 41 back after so much hard work and effort and money spent. What is your inspiration to choose to lost weight?
* Seeing what another person has done for themselves
* Improved health
* Wanting to be active in your own life or with a young family or grandchildren
* Clothes don't fit and don't want to buy more
* Breathe better, sleep better, live better
* Life a life worthy of God's plan for you
* Look better
I don't know what incentive you'll find. Choosing to make this change, to let go of your choices will not happen overnight. You've also heard that anything worth while does not happen instantly. It took me two years to decide that I could do this and that I HAD to do this. Once you've found your incentive, include what you will be willing to do to keep the weight off.
Part of following WW healthy eating at this time of my life - I was 65, just 3 months short of 66 years old - was to get my digestive tract back to healthy, and to keep eating healthy after four years of food intolerances and repeated episodes of diarrhea with only guessed causes. I did discover that in addition to being lactose intolerant, artificial sweeteners are a true allergy for me, with wheat and fried foods strong possibilities. WW today has so many options. It is a scientific way to eat for what ever your dietary needs are. And although I never once thought I'd ever want to be a Vegetarian I think I am close to eating that way, although I do enjoy fish, seafood, chicken, and a good hamburger now and then!
Here is one of my favorite recipes, taken from My WW Program Cookbook - Healthy Kitchen. I really enjoy this "Sweet Potato Lasagne with Turkey and Sage." It is made with large slices of raw sweet potatoes in place of noodles, and ground turkey and sage. My personal preference is ground chicken and I've also made it completely without the meat.
Put some time into thinking about your life. What is important to you and why, and what your incentive is to lose weight and change your life. I've lost 22 lbs. What keeps me from going back to eating the old ways (with bathroom emergencies) is feeling good and knowing I'm eating the way my body needs to be healthy. I can move easier. I am interested in exercising more even in the winter indoors, and I don't waste so much time thinking about what I should eat and how I will deal with the after effects.
Here is my photo of one serving of Sweet Potato Lasagne.
Choose wisely - eat awesome healthy food! Thanks for stopping by and be blessed! sb
