[40love]

Good Morning. Love 3fc. I am (and have been) 10 lbs over what I would like for over 10 years. I am 48, active, have two young boys. My problem is that I cut down on my running five years ago because it hurt my knees too much. So power walking has been my main excercise which doesn't burn as many calories and can be pretty dull. (the ipod helps!) I just want to lose this spare tire around my waist and get more fit and look better.

The problem is eating too much. Do any of you featherweights do weight watchers? I am thinking that being in a group may help. Do you love it? Is it worth it? How about the flex plan, does that work for you? I am wanting to change my eating habits but I don't want weight watchers to define me. (i.e. I don't want to be talking about points all the time and become some ww guru....I just want to have my "normal" life and incorporate smart choices)
Actually I need four people to hold me down when I get the crazed need for sugar!

I recently bought and totally loved the BestLife diet book by Bob Greene. It made so much sense to me and wasn't at all restrictive like Atkins or South Beach. But after 4-5 weeks I fell off the wagon and started looking for a new religion! I absolutely LOVE to cook and feel like I have accomplished something when the meal is healthy-ish. I have switched from white rice to brown, low cal salad dressing, wheat rolls when we have them -- and I try to watch portions (my biggest problem).

Thanks for reading my blog and I hope to hear back from you with a tip or two. Have a great day and Happy day before Valentines Day!

[srmb60]

Please feel free to come and join us in our weekly thread.
http://www.3fatchicks.com/forum/show...=104434&page=3

I dunno about weight watchers ... there are threads tho' and they support each other very well.

[alinnell]

Welcome 40love!
While I'm not in Weight Watchers, a lot of people like it because you have to go to the meetings for weigh in and it makes them more accountable than if they were doing it on their own. Kudos to you for knowing what you need to do to lose the weight. Personally, I'm a calorie counter and I do well with that.

[sweet_talker]

I haven't been to a ww meeting, but I have a book for points and stuff. ww has good ideas and the flex plan is good for fitting into your own eating routines...

but if you don't want become a "ww guru" or be talking about points all the time, I don't know. It's not that you have to talk about the points...it's that you have to be aware of the points you're consuming, and if you're not aware of how many points a food has then it makes life more difficult (that's where the "guru" thing of knowing how many points are in what comes in...) I strongly believe that ww can be a valuable tool for anyone who wants to commit to counting points daily. It's very similar to counting calories, I prefer counting calories, actually. Weight watchers isn't difficult once you get started, and it does help you become more conscious of your portion sizes, fibre and fat intake. Just my 2 cents

[Marianne031474]

Hiya!

I am also doing Weight Watchers, and I am doing really well with it this time! I have tried it so many times, but I finally think I am dedicated. I have also been doing the video Walk Away the Pounds and I am really enjoying it! I am hoping to meet some friends to help me through this! I hope to hear from you soon!

[40love]

Thanks cookie monster, alinnel and marrianne -- I realized today that I hadn't food journaled in awhile. I thought it was maybe a week, but after I checked I saw that it has been 20 days! My, how good habits can go by the wayside. So after reading your ideas on calorie counting I think I will hold off on joining WW and get back to fitday and being accountable on my own for now. Also, How often do you weigh?

I do think that stress and/or hormones can really sabotage my efforts.
I was with my little work out group yesterday and I confessed to finding a giant bag of m&m's in the pantry (a leftover christmas gift) and I helped myself heartily, even put them in a pretty bowl on the kitchen counter! Then the next morning I placed the remaining candy in a zip-lock bag for my husband to take to work, not wanting the temptation any longer. Later that day I suspected that maybed he just put them in his office. Sure enough, there they were. (naturally, he has no weight issues) And once again, a few giant handfuls were scarfed. My workout friend asked if I was pre-menstrual.....and I realized I was....no excuse, but a definete reality.

How do you counteract stuff like that? I can undo alot of good in a hurry. I just wonder what you do in those situations. You know you are out of control yet you continue eating junk until you feel bad physically and emotionally. And believe me, I don't need to be pms-ing to fall off the wagon. It can be for no apparent reason.

Thank you so much for reading and writing. I appreciate your thoughts. It really helps.