2.2 lbs Gone....
Well, my big "Hey I need to really exercise more because I eat fine" realization last week led me to my biggest loss since I started Weight Watchers.
Okay, so how WW's works is you get assigned a point level based on your age and weight. Mine is 29. You also get 49 extra points that you can use if you'd like throughout the week. They don't encourage you to use them, but it's a great way to give you limits and let you indulge without falling off the wagon completely. Since the biggest hurdle in weight loss is the mental aspect, I think it's a great strategy. Sort of a limit to the days you just can't do it any more.
They also added the option in January, after evaluating the plan for the past year, that if you're not happy with your weight loss, you can drop the points by 3. You also earn activity points based on low-medium-high levels and use them as needed.
So this past week, I dropped my points to 27, "earned" 46 activities points, "used" 35 of them and never touched the extra points and had activity points leftover. I did 2 spin classes, 1 zumba class, 1 tap dance class and worked out with my 10 minute trainer videos for a total of 30 minutes throughout the week. Per my heart rate monitor, my cardio capacity is improving and I lost weight.
Woo hoo! Well, not so fast....
Here's my fear-- if you followed my old weight loss blog my concern when I started this was that I would not be able to maintain a high activity level. I had lost weight 7 years ago through nothing other than tracking what I ate (which wasn't too bad at that time) and doing spin 2 times a week and step aerobics 3 times a week. Then I had my daughter, then the market crashed and I truly needed to be in the office more. I started to go at 5 am. Then my husband started teaching early bird classes and leaves at 5:30 am for work. And I'm sorry, 4 am isn't a reasonable option when I often get home after 6 from work. That is still night time to me.
So the fact that THIS week I was able to fit everything was great. However, while I would love to commit to this every week I can't. And if I say I can, then don't, I will get discouraged and quit. The all or nothing thing.
I read this fantastic book "If I'm So Smart Why Can't I Lose Weight?" and the author discusses being realistic about your MINIMUM commitment. Don't start with 5 hours a week if you aren't even fitting in an hour. I agree. I've done this more than once. She's right. That's how it goes.
When I was working out 5 days a week, I had no problem losing weight. The second I stopped, it all came back.
Hence my trepidation.
I absolutely can make 4-5 days work a priority for the next few weeks. Then my husband starts track. May is usually a nightmare. Summer should work, minus vacation. Then August is crazy with back to school. Then a few weeks that might work, then the holidays....
Do you see where I'm going?
I need something that will be realistic and consistent. Clearly, if I don't exercise, I can't lose the weight. I also know that aside from the scale, exercise provides so much more-- and I think I need to focus on that. Anything is better than nothing.
However, the fear of working so hard and gaining it back because I can't adjust to the real world, is scary.
Don't worry, I will keep plucking along-- I'm off to spin right now, in fact.
And even though the fear of gaining it all back (again) is there, I am hoping with Weight Watchers and their ongoing plans (you keep going even if you hit your goal weight-- and it's free if you stay within 5 pounds of your goal), it will be different this time.
I will exercise to be healthy. And if I happen to lose some weight great.
Okay, so how WW's works is you get assigned a point level based on your age and weight. Mine is 29. You also get 49 extra points that you can use if you'd like throughout the week. They don't encourage you to use them, but it's a great way to give you limits and let you indulge without falling off the wagon completely. Since the biggest hurdle in weight loss is the mental aspect, I think it's a great strategy. Sort of a limit to the days you just can't do it any more.
They also added the option in January, after evaluating the plan for the past year, that if you're not happy with your weight loss, you can drop the points by 3. You also earn activity points based on low-medium-high levels and use them as needed.
So this past week, I dropped my points to 27, "earned" 46 activities points, "used" 35 of them and never touched the extra points and had activity points leftover. I did 2 spin classes, 1 zumba class, 1 tap dance class and worked out with my 10 minute trainer videos for a total of 30 minutes throughout the week. Per my heart rate monitor, my cardio capacity is improving and I lost weight.
Woo hoo! Well, not so fast....
Here's my fear-- if you followed my old weight loss blog my concern when I started this was that I would not be able to maintain a high activity level. I had lost weight 7 years ago through nothing other than tracking what I ate (which wasn't too bad at that time) and doing spin 2 times a week and step aerobics 3 times a week. Then I had my daughter, then the market crashed and I truly needed to be in the office more. I started to go at 5 am. Then my husband started teaching early bird classes and leaves at 5:30 am for work. And I'm sorry, 4 am isn't a reasonable option when I often get home after 6 from work. That is still night time to me.
So the fact that THIS week I was able to fit everything was great. However, while I would love to commit to this every week I can't. And if I say I can, then don't, I will get discouraged and quit. The all or nothing thing.
I read this fantastic book "If I'm So Smart Why Can't I Lose Weight?" and the author discusses being realistic about your MINIMUM commitment. Don't start with 5 hours a week if you aren't even fitting in an hour. I agree. I've done this more than once. She's right. That's how it goes.
When I was working out 5 days a week, I had no problem losing weight. The second I stopped, it all came back.
Hence my trepidation.
I absolutely can make 4-5 days work a priority for the next few weeks. Then my husband starts track. May is usually a nightmare. Summer should work, minus vacation. Then August is crazy with back to school. Then a few weeks that might work, then the holidays....
Do you see where I'm going?
I need something that will be realistic and consistent. Clearly, if I don't exercise, I can't lose the weight. I also know that aside from the scale, exercise provides so much more-- and I think I need to focus on that. Anything is better than nothing.
However, the fear of working so hard and gaining it back because I can't adjust to the real world, is scary.
Don't worry, I will keep plucking along-- I'm off to spin right now, in fact.
And even though the fear of gaining it all back (again) is there, I am hoping with Weight Watchers and their ongoing plans (you keep going even if you hit your goal weight-- and it's free if you stay within 5 pounds of your goal), it will be different this time.
I will exercise to be healthy. And if I happen to lose some weight great.
Comments
It is what works here as well.
xo