Slow and Steady wins the race

We've all heard the old tale about the tortoise and the hare. The rabbit, built for speed, and an obvious favorite, did not win the race. It was, in fact, the lowly tortoise that won the race. The tortoise, who took his time, but stayed the coarse, and eventually beat that crazy rabbit.
I'm finding that this is the mantra of WW. Like, many diets, they highly encourage you to only lose 1-2 lbs per week or no more than 1% of your body weight (whichever is greater). I've always heard this, but really paid no attention to it. Pfffft! only losing 1-2 lbs a week was for losers or those who were so close to their goal that that was all that was reasonable. Serious losers, those who watch what they eat to the gram, those who exercise an hour+ each day, those who are hard core, they, they can lose up to 4-6 lbs per week, maybe more. I know - I've done it. Yet it doesn't work in the end. Because I'm fat again.
So, this time, I'm taking the role of the tortoise. It's hard. Those big loses previously, really kept me motivated. But maybe, just maybe, they are on to something here. It's a lifestyle change, not a diet. I'm not hurrying up to do this, so I can get back to my real life after I've lost my weight. Hello! Getting back to 'real life' gets you back where you started. I need to change the way I eat - something I can maintain for the rest of my life. This is what I'm trying to learn w/ WW.
So, all of that being said. I lost 3 lbs this week, which is just about right for me. I was hoping for more. But I've got to remember, I'm the tortoise in all of this.

Maybe Chuck is right....

We'll get to Chuck in a minute.

So, 2012 did not start the way it should have or the way I was hoping.

I could make a ton of excuses....
-my ankle still hurts,
-work has been busy and stressful,
-side business has been busier than usual for this time of year,
-my kids have too much damn homework that I have to help with,
-and on and on and on.
But one thing I'm learning at my current place of work, is that excuses just don't cut it.

Either you got it done, or you didn't.

When I last posted, I was about to get my Achilles tendon scraped, hoping to alleviate some pain in my heel. Yeah, well, all that did was relieve me of $500 for my co-pay. My heel is marginally better, but not much. I'm kind of back to the mindset that I just need to exercise, work through the pain, and it will eventually heal itself. It did this last time. In 2008, I was having similar pain, and the more I exercised (being careful with it), and the more weight I lost, the problem basically went away. So, I'm working through it.

But yeah, the gym, that hasn't been happening. I think I've only been 6-8 times since the first of the year. Not good. I just can't seem to balance work, and home and stuff and get to the gym. I know it's a matter of priorities and a measure of self discipline to get myself out of bed in the morning, TURN OFF THE ALARM, and go the gym. It's been crazy. Many mornings I've had my bag packed the night before and been ready to go, and that alarm goes off at 5:30, and i will hit the snooze button multiple times for an hour. Getting up and going to the gym truly falls into the 'habit' category for me. The more I do it, the more my body gets into a routine. I made it there 2 days last week. I also made it this morning, and I'm hoping to keep the habit going.

So, now to Chuck. Yes, I found some inspiration in the Round Mound of Rebound. The Weight Watchers commercials started coming on at the beginning of the year, and they were pushing their WW for Men program with Charles Barkley and other men pitching the product. I normally don't get drawn in by celebrity endorsements (I wouldn't be surprised if he didn't even use the program), but it piqued my interest. I'd always steered clear of WW because it was a chick thing. When I lived in Florida, my company had a WW group that met at our facility. I sent an email to the coordinator, and she told me "well, you can come to the meetings, but we've never had a man attend before." Sure, men have done WW, but not very many. But now, they were actively pitching it to guys. So, I looked into it, and it seemed pretty good. I could do their program online, and I didn't have to go to meetings. I was especially attracted to Points Plus system. Holy cow, you mean that I get to eat more because I'm a bigger dude? Yes, the system takes into account gender, as well as your current weight, etc. Next big +, they have all of those Smart Ones dinners and food at the store. Cool, no more guess work. When I'm having a brain fart, and I don't know what to eat, they give me a whole host of options, and I just have to choose one that stays within my points. And finally, online tools. They have the apps for my iPhone for entering and tracking what I eat. The cherry on top, no sign up fee if I commit for 3 months. Done!

I started a week ago on Sunday. It was weird for the first couple of days. You mean I can have carbs? But I can't have carbs if I want to lose weight. I can have this piece of pizza? Yes, yes you can. You just have to do things in moderation and stick to your points for the day. I got my allotted points for each day, and I was able to stay within them with little or no problem. What it did show me is that, if unchecked, I really do overeat each day - hence I gain weight. Anyway, after a week on the program, I'm happy to report that I lost 7 lbs! (and I only went to the gym twice, and I ate carbs!). Bottom line, there is nothing magical about WW's program, but in reality it is about making healthier choices, eating good foods, having the flexibility to eat what you like, but in moderation, and tracking what you are eating - it totally makes a difference. In all of my years of losing weight, I do my best when I am tracking my eating.
Here's to a new journey. New goals, new attitude, new chance at getting my life back.

Thanks Chuck!