As many of you already know, I have been on the Weight Watchers Canada program for a few months now 🙂 I began tracking SmartPoints using the WW app in January, but officially started classes on February 1st. This past Friday, when I weighed in, I was awarded with a little charm for my WW ‘charm holder’ celebrating the fact that I have lost 25 lbs on the program so far 🙂

I’m going to come right out & say it: I’m pretty proud of myself.

I’m proud of myself because even though I find the program easy to follow, I am proud of myself for continuously making the CHOICE to follow it.  I am proud of myself for doing the work of planning, shopping, preparing and tracking. That takes time & energy and life has not stopped to pave the way for me to focus solely on taking better care of myself.  It’s not like suddenly my schedule has not let up in any way nor has an hour been added to the 168 hours that we have in every week to allow me the time to get to WW, weigh in and stay for my session.  I just decided that this was a priority, thats all.  That’s what it took. Just like when I decided to try to leave the office a bi earlier to take care of personal things. I just had to decide to do it.

If one of my kids had a weekly appointment that was related to their well-bering in any way, I would adjust my schedule to accommodate it, I would cancel or move meetings if necessary, I would do anything and everything needed to make sure that my child would get the care that they need. I similarly decided that I needed to do this for my own health & well-being and just like that, with one simple decision it became a priority that I would be at WW at the time I chose would best fit into my week.

Have I ever missed a class?  Yes.  There are some weeks when I REALLY cannot stay…BUT I still go in to get weighed each week ( even when I am afraid of what the scale may show). If I cannot go on my regular day, I make a point to go in the day before. I also plan to stay for class.  It’s in my schedule and that is that.

At 25 lbs, I’ll tell you that people have been noticing the change.  Some were noticing at 10 lbs…then at 20, but now I am getting a lot of comments and questions. How much did you lose? How does it work? Are you always hungry? How long have you been doing it?

A few weeks ago, when I told people that I had lost 20 lbs in 4 months, they were floored.  The thing is though, it doesn’t come off all at once. It comes off 1-2 lbs at a time.  Some weeks I only lose .2 or .4 of a lb. My attitude?  It’s .4 in the right direction…and it adds up.

Are there weeks when I gain?

There was one…after my hubby threw me a surprise party and I binged- not at the party- the next day…on the leftover prepared salads, of all things!  BUT they aren’t a points-friendly choice and they are a weakness for me.  The next time we had leftovers like that in the house I gave them away to avoid a repeat incident 😉

Speaking of lifestyle changes, the biggest change is likely the fact that I have to keep track of what I am eating, but honestly?  It’s a good thing! We should all be aware of what we put into our bodies. In fact, if I had to guess at what makes the program so successful, it would be the fact that it actually instills in members an awareness of what they are eating and whether or not it is a good choice.

I learn to make choices that I can live with and that way I am able to comfortably live my life while on the program.  Is giving away leftovers after a party living my life the exact same way as I did before?  Not exactly. Although I have always been one to share my leftovers, I would have still had enough leftover to binge on in an unhealthy way.  I made a healthy lifestyle adjustment- Enjoy the salads at the party, but when the party is over- pass the leftovers along to someone who would love to have them and avoid a repeat incident of the day-after-bingefest.

Just like budgeting money, I decide where I want to spend my points.  Just like when I spend money, I try to make the most sensible choices on ‘purchases’ that I will enjoy and that will last for a while (or keep me feeling satisfied).  That said, just like with money choices, once in a while it’s OK to indulge in something that is less than sensible, as long as you are aware that you cannot do it everyday, and as long as you adjust your spending for the next little while to make up for it. Just like with money – it’s the small savings that add up to the big savings.  It’s the cumulative effect of all of the .2, .4 and 1-2 lbs losses that add up to 25 lbs lost in less than 5 months 🙂

So there it is, when I got my little charm, I felt like celebrating and I felt like sharing so that’s what I am doing 🙂

If you’re in a place where you’re feeling that you need to take better care of yourself, (whether that means walking more, making healthier food choices, remembering that you are a person too and haven’t gone out with a friend in 10 months, or anything else…) then I wish you a day where you make a decision to just do it. I’ve got 25 lbs that says that you’ll be happy that you did 😉

AND – If the very thing you’re contemplating is actually joining Weight Watchers Canada, then feel click here, you’ll get a free month..and so will I;)

Wishing you all a happy #WellnessWednesday!

Tanya