That’s what I needed.
If you read fairly regularly you know I haven’t been weighing in. Honestly I’ve been avoiding the scale. Mostly because I noticed some old habit creeping back in. Not that I think I gained any significant amount of weight but I just assumed the scale wouldn’t be my friend and I just didn’t want to deal with it. I think a lot of us do that (well, I speak mostly for myself but, you know what I mean) We know we are starting to slip and instead of facing it we ignore it. Then before we know it we’ve gained back a significant amount of weight, then we get depressed, eat more, gain more and the cycle continues.
I know this cycle very well.
Well I’m not going to let it happen again! Especially not after 2 years.
So yesterday morning on my way to a client meeting (one of my first for the new company!!) I decided to stop in a Weight Watchers meeting and weigh in. Now I knew I couldn’t stay for the meeting but that was okay. I just needed to face the scale. I needed to be aware of the situation and hold myself accountable.
Well to my surprise I was DOWN!
I mean, I didn’t drop like 5 pounds in 6 weeks or anything but the scale was down 1.8 pounds!
Now I’m taking away 2 lessons from this.
- I’m not giving myself enough credit. I’ve learned a lot in the past 2 and half years and I know how to balance my diet. Even when I’m being “bad” (I hate that word) I’m not being as bad as I used to be. Years ago if I was on an eating binge I’d eat a whole Stromboli, a 12 inch Italian sub with the works or a half pound cheeseburger with a mound of fries and a brownie for dessert. Now I overeat my own homemade veggie pizza, Butternut Squash Fries with a Turkey Burger and a slice of VitaBrownie Pizza. The changes in my diet and food choices makes a HUGE difference!
- Ignorance is NOT bliss. If I didn’t weigh in I would have been sliding down a slippery slope like I described above. It’s amazing how mental weight loss and weight maintenance is for some of us. By ignoring the scale I’m giving myself some kind of blind permission to go off plan. Just by seeing the number (whether it’s up or down) keeps the importance of what I’m doing in my consciousness. I am a person that will always have to be somewhat conscious of my diet and my eating habits and I’m ok with that.
So even if I can’t make a meeting with my crazy shedule I’m comitting to weigh in weekly at a Weight Watchers location. I know some of you think I’m crazy becuse, let’s be honest I can weight myself in at home or at the gym but there is a higher level of accounability for me by going to this outside location for a weigh in and having it done by another perosn. It’s just what I’m familiar with and it keeps me connected to Weight Watchers as a lifetime member. Something I am very proud of. Plus I think I have a touch of OCD and since I started weigh in there officially I have to keep going. LOL
Hope you have a great weekend to enjoy. It’s too pretty outside here not to go out for a hike! I’m signing off!
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Roni started this blog in '05 to journal her weight loss. 70lbs later, she's committed to living a conscious, healthy life and hopes to inspire others along the way. Read more on the about page.Like the new look of Roni’s Weigh?
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that’s awesome, roni! you’re totally right, a lot of weight loss (and maintenance, i guess… never gotten there!) is mental! i do the same thing. if i stop weighing in, i end up thinking well it doesn’t matter so i might as well blow it, and hopefully some day my “bad” choices will still be healthy ones, like you do!
You’ve been sinking into your head a bit too, huh?
I hear you.
Even though our choices, since WWs, are different, the behavior is still troubling. It’s just as easy to over-eat on spaghetti squash and sugar-free fat-free pudding as it is on potato chips and cookies.
It’s the process of over-eating that guilts us, makes us doubt ourselves and sends us down a dark path.
I’m glad you bounced back. (Me too.)
Not sure you, as a lifetimer, can WI EVERY week, but I’d love to know if they let you.
I hope you enjoyed your hike. And, it goes without saying that I’m absurdly jealous that someone out there has nice enough weather to do my most favorite activity in the world.
Picture me pouting right now.
~ Joy
Though i have been weighing myself, I am in a similar stasis where my weight goes +- 2 pounds every week.
Unfortunately, I’m not yet fit, so this isn’t so acceptable.
you almost missed a pat on the back. I can totally relate to your post. I have often avoided the scale. It is like a license to keep backsliding. What I find most interesting about your post is that you note that you’re making better choices. Your “bad” food (I hate that too) isn’t – it is only mildly naughty! I think you should think of making the commitment to weigh in every week as a treat to yourself – since it is one of the concrete ways to celebrate your healthy eating habits.
Note to Joyce – as a lifer you absolutely can weigh in every week – but if you’re up over the 2 lbs they will make you pay. I’ve done it many times.
I can TOTALLY relate, Roni! I just had that same experience and wanted so desperately to skip today’s WI. But I went early and discovered that I lost 1lb!
Your post today rings so very true for me too. Glad it worked out well for you :-)
Congratulations!!!
You did it!!!
Your first step back!!!
I know what you mean about being accountable to an “official” person weighing you in. If it weren’t for going to WW once a week to weigh in, I know I wouldn’t lose a pound. Sure I can weigh myself at home, but I can always let myself slide if I want to. But not at WW. Their scales will tell me like it is.
P.S. I really love your blog.
Your post is so true, I’m so glad you had a loss, I just started my own ww blog.
I have to ask (if you don’t mind) but are you on the east coast? You mentioned beautiful weather today and Giant Food a couple of weeks ago – - both of which I’m familiar with (living right outside of Washington DC). Congrats on the weight loss, you’ve been working hard, despite the busy schedule!
I can relate to this in a big way. It’s amazing how your concept of indulgence changes after being on a steady eating plan. The littlest thing suddenly seems like an absolute deal breaker and you’re hyper aware of it – at least I am.
Sometimes the scale can be your friend! Reminds you just how far you’ve come on the journey :)
hope you are having a great weekend.
Im so with you on the ignorance is NOT bliss as I gained quite a fw ELLL BEES in college using that ploy.
M.
and yes I meant FEW not FW
:)
M.
Roni,
This week I had a similar situation. My family had to make an unscheduled trip out of town and we were gone for a week. While being out of town and in someone else’s house, it is very hard to stay on track; you don’t want to be too big of a burden. So while there, I “helped” with the cooking and no one complained. ;-)
When we got back home, I was a little nervous about weighing in. I just had a baby and started back and just didn’t want to see a positive number right after I hit my first 5 lbs mark. But after long deliberation with myself, I thought I would rather see a positive this week and know exactly how much I lose next week than skipping and not knowing.
In the end I only gained .2lbs. Heck that may have been from the big necklace I was wearing, ha. I feel proud of myself for being accountable and awareness.
Big pats on both of our backs!
P.S. I love reading your blog, I stay so motivated. HUGS!
Congratulations to you for making the decision to go in for the weigh-in! Not to mention the loss :-)
Hi Roni,
I’ve done that before, too – ignored it. But at least I’m aware of it now and I don’t need to continue that action anymore.
Congratulations on taking the step towards awareness, and then finding out that you’ve been worried over nothing! :)
You deserve every bit of that credit! Congratulations on getting back to that weight :)
Did I miss? What new company???
Not checking in with the scales and gaining weight sure can go hand in hand – in either order! Just last night, my scales went on the blink (I think the battery’s dead), right in time for my weekly weigh in. And immediately, my brain started thinking crazy things about how it doesn’t matter if I indulge in some extra eating or skip my morning workout! Because the scales won’t be able to tell me the effect! Luckily I saw these crazy thoughts for what they are. Scary!
http://lady-g-fitness.blogspot.com/
Well I am glad to hear that you did okay even though you were not all that accountable. I have little room to talk about accountability. It has been 1 week since I tracked anything on my blog. I have not WI’ed in two weeks either. So today I got back on track and wrote down what I ate (even if it was not healthy) and I plan to WI tomorrow. I think I will not be as lucky as you though. I will have probably gained a little. But that is okay. I have so many motivating people (you, my DH and DBF) to help me want to stay on track.