Forever Fighting Fat: The Never Ending Weight Loss Journey

Rules for Being Human

Per my newspaper column this week, I said I would list all the "Rules for Being Human" You can find them here.

Changing the View

I stood on my head today. Well, that's not exactly accurate. Actually standing on my head would require a level of flexibility and dexterity not possessed by yours truly as my feet cannot even reach that big ol' noggin of...

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On the (Butter)horns of a Dilemma

Here I sit, having face-time with the perennial decision of any dieter, "Do I or don't I?" Somebody said that foods made with salt, sugar, and fat are the most irresistible. Why not just call them what they are, "baked...

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The Perfect Day

My latest column came out today about what would the perfect day look like with regards to taking care of yourself. You can find it at http://www.times-standard.com/lifestyle/ci_12236306?source=rss  I hope you enjoy.

Remember the last time I wore this?

Nope, neither do I! I went clothes "shopping" in the dark side of the closet; that section where old too-thin clothes go to hide and you say, "One of these days I'll get back into it." Well, it looks like "one of these days" was today for a nice blue pair of pants I really like!

After five weeks of following the new Weight Watchers Momentum Plan, when I weighed in last week (my weigh in day is Tuesday), I had lost another pound, making the grand total eight pounds!!! They say a safe weight loss is 1-2 pounds a week and, despite the plateau for weeks 2, 3, 4, I'm doing just about the average.

 I stood on the scale this morning and had to do a double take. I don't get on the scale as much as I used to because I found myself obsessing on it. If the loss is less than I am expecting, I feel bad and say, "Screw it, might as well eat..." If I'm doing well, I say, "Wow! I've got room to move. I can get a little sloppy." Either path leads to the kitchen, and before you know it, I'm eating again. So, I stay off the scale...mostly.

Since my weigh in day is Tuesday, I do tend to get a little antsy on Mondays, so I got on the scale this morning and couldn't believe my eyes! Lately, my morning naked weight (you know, trying to get the lowest possible number) had been around 184-186, which was too high. I got on the program again because early December, it got to 189 and that was just too freakin' scary.  When I'm doing real well, my morning weight will be about 180-182. This morning, it was 178! I thought, "What? Is the scale broken?" I got off and on it three times just to make sure. It hasn't been under 180 in as long as I can remember!

Granted, since it seems appropriate to remove all my clothes for my Weight Watchers weigh in, I'll weigh four or five pound more. Still, it's all relative, isn't it?

So, what to do?

Well, the first thing is to run to the closet and dig into the way-back machine of clothing that's too frustrating to put on. There are about four or five shirts I used to like but the buttons pull across my chest or stomach now and it looks tacky. Not to mention, it reminds me that I need to lose weight. I also have about two or three pair of pants back there. The price for wearing them is that I must give up my attachment to breathing.

I tried on the brown ones; nice chocolate color and -- without holding my breath or lying on the bed -- they slipped right on but are a little short; a sign that I need to lose about two or three more pounds before I venture into the world wearing them. I could have but who needs to be self conscious all day because my pant legs are riding above my ankles? (We used to call those "high waters" when I was a kid and I hated it then.) So, I pulled out the blue ones; lo and behold - marvelous fit and the correct length. I can bend over and breathe! Praise the saints!

Well, with that victory under my belt (literally and figuratively), I needed a shirt and found one of my old favorites. It's been so long that I forgot I even had it. So, I'm wearing a Nehru jacket! (Naw, just joking, it hasn't been that long...) I found a blue and white vertical striped shirt with white color that I used to just love.  Wearing it -- with a dark blue tie. Looking and feeling fine!

Oh yeah, the coup de grace; I had to go down another notch in my belt!

Review of Weight Watchers Momentum Plan Books: Week 3

As I mentioned in my earlier post, I decided it would be a good idea to provide a very brief overview of each of the new books in the 2009 Weight Watchers Momentum Plan. In case you're unaware, when you join Weight Watchers, you get a new pamphlet/book each week for the first ten weeks that you're a member. Each of these books is designed to help you with some aspect of losing weight. Week two was designed to help with increasing activity. Week three is set up to help you stay ahead of hunger, which is the title of the booklet.

Book 3: Listening to Your Body's Signals
Stay Ahead of Hunger

 

It's been mentioned by several people that the Momentum plan is not a big change from the Flex and Core Plans used for the last few years. As a matter of fact, it's been called the "Flore" plan by some as it incorporates the best of both programs (IMHO).  However, if there has been a shift, it's more in the direction of getting members to eat healthy as opposed to "lose weight." After all, one can be at her correct weight and still be unhealthy. But, if you're healthy, you will naturally be at your correct weight (whatever that is).  One of the reasons I'm such a proponent of Weight Watchers is because they've never been an organization that's out to con people with quick fixes or false promises; it's always been about the health and changing habits. That said, this program takes it the furthest.

Table of Contents

This pamphlet/book/booklet (I don't know what to call it) has several section in the TOC:

• Introduction
• Understand the power of your body's signals
• Recognize hunger, satisfaction, and fullness
• Respond in a healthy way
• Your next steps

Introduction

In this brief section, WW sets the stage for the booklet, pointing out how important it is to understand your body's signals about hunger and food.

These couple of paragraphs set the stage for the remainder of the book. There's also a very brief blurb promoting how Week 5 and Week 6 will be of value too. I think that's clever as it helps people realize there's more on the way.

Understand the power of your body's signals

This section (which includes a recipe for roasted fennel and carrots for zero points!) starts getting the reader to be aware of the "just right" feeling and provides a tip on the "Smartest Strategy" to accomplish it. They're trying to get readers to understand there is a wide gradient between empty and full. Extremes won't cut it.

Recognize hunger, satisfaction, and fullness 

Now we're getting into the "meat" of the proposal with some specific steps understand where on the  "hunger scale" you fall. In a nutshell (what's with all the food metaphors?) there are three basic stages:

Hungry
Satisfied
Full

Biggest changes in Weight Watchers new 2009 Momentum plan

I've been following the Momentum plan for a week now with my first weigh in in about one hour. (I think I might have lost 3-4 pounds, which for me is amazing!) Of course, in addition to following the program, I've conducted two (rather wobbly) "getting started sessions" for my members. Should you not be totally "up" on WW lingo, a "Getting Started Session"is the 30 minute session we do at the conclusion of the regular meeting. It's for new members. This week, which Weight Watchers calls "Conversion Week," we basically turn the entire meeting into a GSS.

I am what is called a "Diamond Leader." As near as I understand that, it means I'm in the top 20% of leaders in my area. I admit to being a little confused as to how that is determined but I'm still flattered and I've been a Diamond Leader for both years that it has been offered. I mention this not to brag -- well, OK, maybe a little -- but more so to point out that I am very comfortable with leading WW meetings. In my 20 years working for WW, I've probably conducted thousands of GSSs. Yet, for some reason, I'm awkward in doing this one. That said, last night I started getting my footing and I think that's because I finally decided that the changes from the Flex/Core plan to the Momentum Plan are more psychological than physical.

Don't get me wrong; that's not to say they are not substantial. Quite the contrary, you can change your actions all day and all night but if you don't change your thoughts, you'll still find yourself returning to old habits. Weight Watchers has always focused on habit change; that is not new. However, there seems to be more of an embrace this time.

Huh?

Yeah, right. OK, let me explain it a little better. The plan still uses points, which it has for the last decade or so. The daily points target, that amount you get each day, has not changed for any of my members. It's the same as it was in 2008. I have not noticed any major changes in points values of any foods.  In my opinion, what has changed however, is the emphasis put on "filling foods,"  hunger levels, activity, and liquids.

Filling Foods

Barack Obama "Falls off the Wagon"

I was watching Meet the Press this morning. (I had a choice between Condoleezza Rice on "This Week with George Stephanopoulos" or President-Elect Obama on Meet the Press. It was a no-brainer.) Most of Tom Brokaw's discussion with the incoming president was about the important issues we face: national security, domestic issues, finances, etc. However toward the end, Brokaw asked Mr. Obama about smoking. Here's the exchange:

So what does that have to do with weight loss?

Using the NEW Weight Watchers program to get back on track

Where does the time go? It seems like I've been so busy, I haven't time to breathe. I always say that "one of these days," I'll get myself all settled down. One of the days, I'll do less and relax more. One of these days, things will be easier to handle.  However, one of these days doesn't seem to be happening anytime soon.

So, in the last few months since I've been active writing, several things have happened:

1. I was on the road for a week in WA & OR speaking to various groups. I did do one post in that week, but that was it.
2. I have started a new project. (What was that about "doing less?") It's rather complicated but it involves further developing my marketing chops so I can some speaking engagements in that arena, while developing a new motivational magazine called: Two Words.
3. We were out of town for Thanksgiving, visiting my sister, her family, and my sons. It was the first year that my sons hosted Thanksgiving. Big props to Daniel! He prepared a meal for a king and was incredibly generous about it. (He also managed to get everything to turn out a the same time.)
4. I attended the annual Weight Watchers event called Innovations. It's a gathering of the leaders and staff from all over the country (although it's done in regional segments and mine was Northern California of course). At Innovations, awards are given out and any new additions or changes to the program are introduced. There's a whole lot of perky and lots of energy and a grand total of about 5 men surrounded by 600 women. Overall, it's a nice event and I won some cool awards.
5. I am trying to lead a life.

The Bottom Line

Although I'm pretty good about maintaining my weight while traveling (actually I do better than when I'm at home), the constant load of travel and work is taking its toll and I'm little by little, finding my weight creeping up again. It's not bad. Not at a major worry spot (well, that's not true, my weight is ALWAYS a major worry spot) but as my mom's old WW leader said so many years ago,

"Bad habits never go away. They just go into deep freeze. You can thaw them out any time you want."

I don't want to be thawing this puppy out. Gotta get back in gear -- and fast.

The new Weight Watchers program to the rescue!

How to spend a week travelling, eat whatever you want, and lose weight

I just returned from the big annual National Speakers Association convention in New York City (talk about not being able to get a word in edgewise!) and I lost two pounds! Did I starve myself? No. Did I bring "diet food" with me? No. Did I count points or calories? No.

So, how did I do it?

First of all, I have to - in the interest of full disclosure - say that whereby some people find it easier to lose weight (or to follow their program) while at home, I'm the opposite. I seem to do better when I'm "on the road." Whether that's for vacation, business, or even on a cruise, I seem to have a much easier time losing or maintaining my weight while away from home, rather than in my house.

So, if you're saying, "Oh, well, that explains it. It's easier for him while he travels; it's not that way for me. No need to read on..." that would be the wrong approach too. The reason I do better when I'm on the road is because I have come up with some simple tools that hold me in place. Follow these give tips and you'll do well.