Coasting

I have been diligently keeping track of my eating and watching my points and yet, I haven’t come down much in the past couple of weeks. For me, not going up isn’t bad. Does that make sense? I’d like it to be easier to go down, but it isn’t. We have too many fun eating opportunities. Somehow, I’m looking forward to weighing in tomorrow at WW. It’s kind of like setting a new benchmark mentally and then tackling the issue with renewed focus. I’m still on this and I’m going to push down. The Summer heat is oppressive this year here in SLC. Even the pool is suffering and is too warm. It makes me less tempted to go hiking or on a long walk or to ride my bike. I’ll report back in after the weigh-in.

OK, down 1.6 lbs. I’m not setting any records, but I’ve felt great and I’m heading in the right direction. I also got a few more stars for various good behaviors and put them in my WW baggie. I think there’s a drawing or something. I’m going to try to add more exercise and see how that goes. As a side note, I’ve read the first 200 pages of Harry Potter and love it. However, I do feel a bit like a muggle right now.

They asked us to analyze some of our negative defeative thoughts about being on the program and how these thoughts can hurt you. A recurring theme in my head is that I’m a big tough guy and counting calories is feminine or more something women would do. Over the years I’ve disliked picky food behavior. I can just picture my dad telling John or one of the skinnier kids to finish their meals. I’ve done that with Beau and Ashley and even Rob. Come on, eat!! Sorry kids.

The weigh in.

One of the things that keeps you honest is going in and having someone weight you in. I’ve lost an official 12 pounds now and I’ve received a couple of little stars. I don’t know what to do with the stars but I’ve enjoyed getting them. The people at Weight Watchers are such great and humble people, ready to help in any way they can and they’ve all been over-weight, many of them 100 pounds plus. They look normal now. They don’t look really thin or emaciated, just normal and they’re enthusiastic about helping people with their issues. I asked them about going to Costco and eating the little snacks around every corner. They call them BLTs, bites, licks and tastes. I made the point that I estimate that I walk about five miles every time I go to Costco and therefore, I walk out of there with a negative food balance. They told me that this is the kind of math that makes me overweight. Actutally, I just made this up but I laughed to myself thinking about it at the meeting. It’s so easy to be liberal with yourself when it comes to eating, and yet, if you are able to follow the plan properly, over time, the weight really does come off. And, sure, you can cheat, but unlike getting a better grade, you just don’t lose weight and you may gain weight. So, bottom line, cheating’s nothing.

Here are a few little interesting things I’m learning:

1. Ben and Jerry’s premium ice cream is 350 calories per 4 ounces (1/2 cup)!!! That’s about two bites for me and adds up to 7 points. An apple, a corn on the cob and a salad with lowfat dressing are only about 3 points!
2. Fruits and veggies are fantastic eating bargains and are really the root foods to eat (pun intended) to lose weight.
3. Be careful about over-exercising when trying to limit intake. Your weight may go up because of overcompensation, fluids, etc.
4. Don’t quit, just recommit and keep moving forward. I’ve enjoyed the past six weeks, I’ve eaten well and I’m losing weight. It feels great. My wife has noticed and is very amorous because of it. Just kidding.

The Road is loonggg, with many a winding turn…..

I find that the hardest thing for me isn’t so much combatting hunger, but that fun times are linked to food, parties, going out to dinner and lunch and that somewhere inside of my mind if I have to be careful about what I eat, very restrictive and still successful, in many ways, I don’t even want to go. Poor Doug! Here’s a big beautiful brownie, go ahead and break off a 1 inch square piece and have a bite, only about 1 point. It’s a bit of a martyr feeling that I get inside. Why travel? Why cook really good food when I can’t have much? Life sucks, I can’t do anything I love any more. And yet, I know deep down that eating a healthy diet will do just the opposite, give me energy to do more, keep me healthier, smarter and yes, my coarse features will be lessened a bit. So, yesterday was a perfect day, healthy foods, slightly under my points and did the stairclimber for 45 minutes and gained a pound!