Week 11 - SInk or Swim

Wow. I'm either on fire or out to lunch with this Weight Watchers thing. This week I'm a woman a'fire. Yesterday was another good day. I expect big results Saturday. I've got some challenges coming up so I've got to get my butt in gear.

I've been thinking what has been different this time around with the program. First, I'm 9 years older. I was 21 the first time I started WWers. Myth or fact that it is easier for the young to lose weight? I know I gain weight so much easier on my 30 year old body than I did on my 20 year old body. I refuse to accept this is me now however. I've always considered this weight gain as temporary. I have no intention of it becoming permanent and accepting this as me now. Once I lose the mentality of a temporary gain, I lose my motivation.

The first time I joined, I was in a very bad time, place and stage of my life. I had just graduated college. Moved out of my home to live in Etobicoke and work in downtown Toronto. I hated my job. I hated being away from my family. I hated Toronto. I do miss the subway and their public transit system however. I thought every aspect of my life at that time was how it was and how it was going to stay. I felt the only thing I could change was the way I felt about myself and the way I looked. I controlled the one and only thing I could...my weight. Life around me may have been bleak but I attacked the program with a fury and loved it. I even had a couple co-workers (once I changed to a better job at a better ad agency) join because of the progress I made. I felt better about myself and even my job. Being away from my family was still horrible. I eventually had a quarter-life crisis and changed all that too! But that is another story for another blog all together :D

Money. At the time I joined for 6 months at a time (I still do) and it was a LOT of money for someone who was earning a piddly income. I didn't want the money to go to waste. If I was going to join a program, I was going to make damn sure I didn't just throw $300 out the door. That's the beauty of Weight Watchers. If you can make it to goal and stay there (within two pounds) you never have to pay again. I will get there again. Brad and I are by no means rolling in the money, we are however comfortable (who knows how much longer that will be in today's economy though). Sure I could have taken that money and put it toward a gym membership or blinds for the front picture window so I stop giving the neighbours a free show every night...but decided this would be a better use for my money. I'm all about spending...but spending wisely.

In the end, I'm glad I rejoined. I don't think I could have done this on my own again. Sometimes you just need a reminder why you're doing this and what is going on in your life to help assist with your "journey".

POINTS® Tracker entries
Tuesday, April 07, 2009

Morning
1 small banana(s) 1.5
1 cup(s) black coffee 0
1 cup(s) low-fat milk 2
2/3 cup(s) The Original Shredded Wheat 'n Bran, spoon-size 1.5
Subtotal 5

Midday
1 cup(s) spinach 0
2 tbsp Italian Salad Dressing 0
1/4 oz Mild marbled cheddar cheese 0.5
250 ml Knorr Autumn Vegetable Soup 2
Subtotal 2.5

Evening
1 Chicken Enchilada (homemade!) 9
Subtotal 9

Anytime
1 bar(s) Peanut butter bliss 1
8 fl oz Diet coke 0
64 oz water 0
200 ml Source Yogurt 2
Subtotal 3

Food POINTS values total used 17.5
Food POINTS values remaining 6.5

Exercise
20 min aerobics, high-intensity 3
Activity POINTS values earned 3