Recommitting

Weight Loss

Weight loss has been a permanent concern for me in the past five years. I have never been skinny, but until I started college my weight was still within a healthy range. 4.5 years ago I started doing Weight Watchers, and lost a huge amount of weight but I did not manage to keep it off permanently. For the past year I have been in the same weight range that I originally started out in, sometimes 10 pounds lighter, but always overweight. In December I started the new Weight Watchers program that had just been introduced here. I thought it would give me new motivation to try a new program, something that I didn’t already know in my sleep.

Well, I only did really well for a few weeks, and then made too many exceptions. I was still losing weight, though. Very slowly but the trend was downward. Then March came around and I started studying for my exams. I completely abandoned Weight Watchers. I thought I would just try to eat as healthy as possible while allowing myself more ready-made meals (such as frozen pizzas) on the days when I had no time or energy to cook. Unfortunately, I am really bad at this, you know, allowing myself a little, but not all.

And I should know. For me it is either do Weight Watchers strictly and with no exceptions or I will go way overboard with the junk food (I am not talking McDonald’s or Pizza Hut as I hardly ever eat that but frozen pizzas, chocolate, and chips). I can usually not keep a healthy balance for very long without keeping myself accountable with the help of counting points.

I hate that about myself. Because that is really the key to changing my life style. I do not want to have to count points for the rest of my life. I want a healthy lifestyle to come naturally. I want to want to pick the healthy food option at a restaurant without feeling like I am missing out. I want to be able to say, ‘no thanks I don’t want that chocolate.’ And not be lying. I admire people who genuinely have no interest in chocolate or cookies at times. Who can say no thanks and mean it. Who will not be taking peeks at the box of donuts at work that a co-worker brought and want another one. Because I? Would love another donut, another piece of chocolate, another handful of chips!

That is why when I do WW properly, I have no chips or chocolate (though I do sometimes buy the dark 80% cocoa one as I don’t like it as much), and I do not even bother buying any of the food I can’t say no to. But in the past weeks? I have probably consumed more chips than in the past two years. Originally, my plan was just to focus on exams and not worry about my weight until exams are over, but I have already gained 7 pounds over the past 7 weeks, and if I keep up that rate I will end up at a weight I don’t think I have ever been by the time I am done with my exams in another eight weeks. And I really do not want that. I don’t want to go there. I don’t want to have to start there in July.

That is why I decided that even though I am busy studying for exams, I will just have to do Weight Watchers again. I will just have to invest the extra time in cooking and I will have to cut all the pizza and chips out of my diet again. I clearly am not capable of holding a healthy balance without controlling myself right now, so I will have to control my food intake. I started doing Weight Watchers again on Thursday (I never actually canceled my subscription) and while the past week has not really been on plan due to the large amount of food I still had in the fridge that isn’t quite weight loss compatible, I think I am on the right path. And I will simply be disciplined in the grocery store again. I know I can do that and that it is easier than you’d think once I’m in the right mindset. I can say no. I just really have to say no. I cannot buy a bar of chocolate and plan on just eating one piece a day, because guess what? That’s not going to happen.

I also have to go back to the gym. I have not been since the end of January. In February I went home for a couple of weeks and I have not been at the gym since. Just like with Weight Watchers, I keep paying for my membership but I am not using it. And that is something else that I need to do again. While I am still busy with exams, I doubt I will be going more than twice a week, but even once or twice is more than what I have been doing in the past 4 months.

So this? Is me committing to this. I will keep posting semi-regular updates on my progress on here. My weight loss blog is still temporarily (and possibly permanently) abandoned, as it is too hard for me to keep up with two blogs right now (and possibly always). Will you help me keep myself accountable?

How is this spring going for you in terms of weight loss, working out & living healthily? Are you sticking to your goals or have you been slacking off lately as well? If so, want to join me in recommitting to our goals?

14 thoughts on “Recommitting”

Funnily enought I’ve set myself the contrary to your goal. I want to gain weight… But anyways you’ll have my support! We could make it a “common destiny” :-)

I’ve found it hard to keep the “sports” part my goal these last few weeks, as the weather has been so bad around here. However, I allow myself to slip one day a week, not a fixed day, but one day that I feel the need… On other terms I’m really disciplined.
I also set myself small milestones, that I’ll reward. E.g. if I keep going without slipping for 3 weeks or if I gain a certain amount…
.-= Deia’s last blog post: Ten on Tuesday =-.

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Hi,
I can’t give you “real” advice on weight loss since I never really had problems with my weight (and since I am an ambitious runner, I hardly put on any weight).

But I can recommend to read the numberous weight loss blogs out there- if you read and see the guys losing 200 pounds and more, you might get motivated to pursue your own goal more consistently as well.

My favorite is Sean Anderson (www.losingweighteveryday.blogspot.com) and some blogs on his blogroll. There seems to be a VERY supportive weight loss community around the globe!
He talks a lot about the mental aspects of losing weight (and says it’s 80% mental, and 20% physical). -

I think the first step is always to re-begin everyday and every minute, instead of saying “I’ve blown it already today, so won’t matter if I just grab another xxx (insert food of choice)”.

Lissy (and, to be honest, I am not really someone who should give advice on discipline and keeping resolutions…).

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Oh, good luck sweetie. I’m awful with self-control too and so I find that it has to be all or nothing – I don’t do well dieting when I’m ALLOWED to have small treats, because I overdo it. So I just cut out chocolate and dessert and things like that and just say no, at birthday parties or at work, and feel okay doing it knowing that it takes strength to do so. I found that after a few weeks of cutting them out completely I lost the craving, too, which was a bonus! Good luck!!
.-= Emily Jane’s last blog post: What are you waiting for? =-.

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Ah, I feel you. I have a kind of similar problem. I’m not terribly overweight, but it’s really hard for me to lose weight. I’m not too bad on the unhealthy food part, as I try to have a varied diet and limit stuff like sweets and chips, but still it takes me ages to lose some weight.
One thing I resolved to do is to avoid eating out as much as possible. For example, I hardly go out for lunch when I’m at work: I prefer to cook at home the night before (and believe me, it’s annoying when you get home at 9:30-10pm), and make some extra food that I can take to work. It’s usually a healthier option and also saves money.
Also, I try not to buy tempting stuff when I go grocery shopping. I might get a bar of chocolate, that will last 2 days probably, but then I’m so lazy I won’t go out to just buy chocolate if I want some. I just make sure there’s no stuff in the house that can tempt me, and then my laziness does the rest!
I also know I should do more sports. I’m so lazy even there. I’d go swimming twice a week for a month, then leave it because I’m not motivated enough. It’s stupid, because afterwards I feel very good. But I resolved to work more, at least 30mins of power walk 3 or 4 times a week. Which I can stick to, since I can walk across the Harbour Bridge, which is really nice! Gyms are just not for me… Too boring :P
Good luck!

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I’m right there with you. And I’m 100% behind you with the all or nothing approach. I started back at the gym today and now I’m actually looking forward to leaving all the bad stuff behind me. We can do it together!
.-= aly’s last blog post: The Great Wedding Venue Search of 2010 – Part III =-.

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Good luck!!

I actually have a handy way of making sure I eat healthy food: irritable bowel syndrome. If I eat too much fat or sugar or drink too much caffeine I’m in heaps of pain… Not fun, but it’s easy sticking to a healthy diet that way.

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My best friend from Germany (who used to be 90+ kg) went vegetarian the beginning of this year and it has helped here losing the first chunk of pounds before she started committing to exercising. Now she jogs a lot. She is not fast but she goes out there and runs 30 min to an hour every other day. I talked to her the other day and she told me that she has never felt better in her life. She is currently at a plateau (and hates it!) but she keeps going.

I believe the hardest part is staying committed. I have been running since January but recently got injured – now I miss it. I set goals and it has worked really well for me. However, sometimes I feel like I am only running so I can eat. I have the worst eating habits and I believe that someday it is going to catch up to me (just like it did when I came to the US for the first time and gained 40+lbs within three months).

You can do it! But the first step is staying focused and committed. Set goals. Find a support group! :) Good luck!!!
.-= Stefanie’s last blog post: See you later. =-.

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i totally get this – every time i go shopping i pick something up, think “am i going to regret eating the whole package of this later?” and then put it back or take it with me. also, shopping sans cart or bags helps, bc you can only take what you can carry AND everyone can see exactly what you eat. (for some reason i’m always afraid of how judgey the people at my grocery store are)
.-= texpat’s last blog post: relief =-.

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Totally understand 100%. I am the same way – all or nothing. If I cheat, then I say to myself “I have already cheated today so why not go all out” – NOT a healthy way of eating or living. I too am starting again – here is hoping it goes well for both of us!!!
xx

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You can do it! I love WeightWatchers. I should go back to that program but I’m unable to attend the meetings. I agree with you about not wanting to count for life. It’s so frustrating and I’m so jealous of those who are super skinny and eat all these bad food and not even gain weight. I’m here to help you and myself of course! :)
.-= steph anne’s last blog post: Living in a Television Show =-.

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