Post by Andrea - Read her bio - here!
On Monday I went back to Weight Watchers (WW). I have done WW off and on for the past 6 years, but it has yet to really and truly “stick”. I started in college after my parents staged an intervention with me on my 21st birthday, sharing their concern for my weight and ultimately my health. I knew I needed help and I think I really just needed their push to get started. Obviously WW is not a magic pill and losing weight is incredibly challenging, which is why I am still working on it, 6 years later. Taking insulin and over-treating lows doesn’t help much either!
Last summer I started to see a nutritionist who specializes in people with diabetes (PWDs). She was telling me how WW does not work that well for PWDs because they don’t take into account the carbs in everything, just calories, fat and fiber. The nutritionist started me on a low glycemic plan to help me lose weight and when I follow it, it works. The problem is the plan she put me on does not keep me accountable to anyone. Well, anyone but myself! Being accountable to only me does not work so well in my world, which is why I am still in a place where I need to lose weight! I am the kind of person who needs to know that someone else is watching over me in sense. I need to know that each week I will get on a scale and someone else will write down my weight in a little book that tracks my losses/gains. Just the knowledge of this helps to keep me on track.
So, this time, I am starting WW with a different perspective. I am going to keep counting the points and doing the program, but I am going to make sure to choose foods that work for me. So in a sense I am getting the best of both worlds; I will be eating low glycemic foods and will be kept accountable all at the same time. Also keeping me accountable will be the fact that I am blogging about my experiences. Brian is very supportive of my endeavors and even kept me on track yesterday morning when I had a low and wanted to ravage the kitchen. I did eat a few dark chocolate covered almonds after my second low in the morning-but I made sure to write it down and count my points : )
Good for you!! I've been trying to lose some weight too, and it's so hard because the lows can crop up and force us to eat calories we hadn't left room for when planning our meals for the day. I have yet to find a solution to that – except to try to keep some calories "on hold" in case I need them.
I'm with you on the accountability too. It's so easy for me to be all gung-ho at first, but then burn out after a few weeks when the novelty wears off. I've been weighing myself every Sunday morning and then posting what I've lost or gained on FaceBook. It keeps me accountable and an added benefit is the supportive that my friends give with comments!
I've never had to watch my weight until recently when the pounds started creeping on. Now I'm very unhappy with myself and although I want to do something about it, I need to be accountable to someone other than myself too. I find that keeping a log of what I eat (whether for weight loss or cde/nutrionist appointments) helps. When you "record" all that you eat, it's more obvious seeing it in writing what may or may not be working for you. We're all behind you Andrea and if you need us to check up on you for support or motivation, we'll do it
Andrea, I feel your frustration. I think it's wonderful that you have figured out a way to get the best of both worlds. Being held accountable usually helps most people I think. The hardest part is being honest. I wish we lived near each other, we could walk together. Good luck, I am sure you will be successful. We are rooting you on and here if we can help in any way.
I've been through WW a few times as well and definitely know where you're coming from. It takes a lot of hard work but I know you can do it! And yes we are all here for you.