Like a Pro

After having tried many, many weight-loss plans, I guess I'm a bit of an expert. Sadly, that doesn't mean that I'm at a healthy weight now. I first realized I was overweiht when I was about eight -- because the meaner kids at school pointed it out to me. I hadn't thought much about it. My mom was extremely overweight so maybe it just seemed like the norm. It was kind of like the emperor and his "new clothes". I didn't pay much attention to my own body shape until other people started commenting, and it soon became all I could think about. To her credit, my mother took me with her to join Weight Watchers when I was twelve. I won't say losing weight didn't involve any effort, but it sure easier back then. What I learned about nutrition stuck with me. For the most part, I did a good job of staying in shape until a few years ago. This time, the numbers on the scale have kept going up, no matter what I do. Today, I went to my first Weight Watchers meeting in probably forty years. A lot has changed. I know it will be hard, and I will feel deprived for a while. But I will also feel better in a variety of ways.

I chose in-person meetings as opposed to online tracking because I like the idea of community and sharing. Like any good fat girl, I ate like a pig yesterday knowing I would have my first weigh-in today. (Here's where the pro part comes in, and please realize that most of this is meant facetiously.) I had intended to eat normally -- which doesn't involve as much food as you might think if you saw me -- but I had microwaved a diet pizza of some kind for lunch, and it was as nasty as it sounds. I took just a few bites and discovered I did have a taste for pizza, just not that kind. So I went to the Domino's website. (I was on the clock all day so I couldn't go to the store.) There were several specials; the one that made the most sense was the "any two for $5.99 each" deal. I chose my medium thin-crust pizza with spinach and onions. Hmm. What would be my other item? The jalepeno chicken bites sounded pretty good. Then the dessert pop-up appeared: "Wouldn't you like to finish off your meal with some chocolate lava cake?" or something like that. Why, yes! Yes, I would. So I placed my order and planned it to arrive on my afternoon break.

I'd like to say that I had a little bit of everything and froze or threw out the rest, but that's not what happened. By the time I went to bed, all of it was gone. A little for lunch, some for dinner, a bedtime snack. After all, I was starting WW today and I couldn't leave it around to tempt me! And wasn't it better that I go in weighing more? Here's my reasoning: Next week, if I stick to the plan, I will have lost more than I would have if I hadn't had a huge, rambling meal yesterday. I also wore long pants, a long-sleeved shirt, and shoes I couldn't easily take off. All of those things add weight. If I'd have more time, I would have also enjoyed a leisurely breakfast just to boost it a bit more. Next week, I'll have eaten sensibly, and I'll wear lighter-weight clothes. It will seem like I've lost twice as much weight! Now, if you're really dedicated, you can cut your hair for a weight-loss bonus. I won't do that. I've seen people strip down to their underwear to see even the tiniest drop on the scale. I won't do that either, at least not until I've lost forty or so pounds.

So far today, I've stayed on track. It's been easy because I've been running around with errands and other business. Tonight will be the real test. And then tomorrow. And then the next day. It's a journey.