Weight Watchers, Not Like AA

Before I went to a Weight Watchers meeting, I had some misconceptions about it.  I thought that everybody would sit in a circle and say, "My name is Denise Spears and I need to lose weight," or something along those lines.  It's not like that at all.  When you go in you weigh, which is completely confidential, and the leader (in my case, Robin Dotson) is not judgmental at all.  If you gain five pounds, she doesn't make you feel like a worm.  Maybe you make yourself feel like a worm, but she doesn't.  Then there is a program for that day to help you navigate the cruel world of weight loss.

I didn't think Weight Watchers would even take me.  My BMI has never been above the normal range.  I am 6'1/2" tall, so I can really weigh a lot.  Unless you are dangerously underweight, they let you decide if you are overweight.

It started with a sports injury.  I began going to health counselling to try to get back to the point that I could run 2.5 miles again.  We talked about personal training, nutrition, and weight loss. 

Weight Watchers is, by far, the best diet I have ever done.  They don't like to call it a diet, but a lifestyle change, but any plan for eating is a diet, whether for weight loss, or not.  I started in 2007, and have been tracking my weight since then.  I opted to go with the Core Plan.  The new points plus system doesn't have that plan now, but the new plan incorporates so many of the same features.  Core is basically eating fresh fruits and vegetables and low fat meats.  Those are the foods I love,  and what America should all be eating.  It has none of the processed foods.  If everyone could be happy eating these foods, we wouldn't have an obesity problem.  I was allowed 25 additional points for items not on core, like the Weight Watchers giant fudge bar (soooo good).

I lost 25 pounds and became a lifetime member by keeping the weight off for six weeks, and could continue being a lifetime member as long as I didn't gain more than two pounds.

So, you're thinking, why didn't you?  As Dr. Phil would say, "What was it about the weight loss that you didn't like?"  I loved it, but I love eating carbs so much that I put the weight back on.

These are the foods that are my biggest downfall:  chips and salsa, wheat thins, and Quaker oatmeal squares.

I am trying really hard now to get back what I lost.  It isn't easy, but, as I told Robin, I know what it takes.