I laughed out loud when I read this post. Thanks to Weight Watchers and The FIRM exercise routines, I've managed to lose 85 pounds and SIX dress sizes. (HORAY!) I can't tell you how many people have come up to me and asked me, "How did you do it? What's your secret...?" As soon as I say the words "diet and exercise", their shoulders slump. Absolutely everyone is looking for that miracle that will make them shed pounds while eating whatever they want and doing absolutely nothing. I'm here to tell you...nature doesn't work that way.
It took me 2 years to take my weight off. I jumped on the wagon with all sorts of enthusiasm, then fell off the wagon...jumped back on...fell back off...I'm sure many of you can relate! I chose Weight Watchers because it's one of the safest "diets" out there. I hesitate to use the word "diet" at all because losing weight and keeping it off is truly a lifestyle change. The older I got, the more I realized I needed to exercise in order to not only lose weight, but keep it off as well. If I fall off my exercise wagon, my pants start getting tight and I know I need to buckle down and get back on track. I never want to see that size 16/18 ever again! I also have heart disease that runs in my family, and as a woman I'm much more susceptible to die at an early age because of it. Three more cheers for exercise which will significantly lessen that possibility for me!
Another thing that helped me was not weighing myself throughout my weight loss adventure. I don't even own a scale. I took my measurements when I started and periodically checked my progress every once in a while. I can't tell you how elated I was to see an inch gone here, two inches gone there...it was great! I'm happy to report a total loss of 35 inches. Also, muscle weighs more than fat so I didn't want to get discouraged by seeing either little or no weight loss after 2 weeks of exercise.
One piece of advice I'd like to give everyone struggling with weight issues is DO NOT beat yourself up when you cheat on your diet or fall off the wagon! Just acknowledge the fact that you "slipped", and get back on track the next day. Don't let your guilt drive you to give up altogether. Also, it takes a while to safely lose weight. I guarantee if you add exercise to watching what you eat, you will see results much faster than you anticipate. Imagine that wonderful feeling of buttoning a pair of pants only to have them fall halfway down your hips because they're TOO BIG!
GOOD LUCK TO EVERYONE OUT THERE!!!! YOU CAN DO IT!!!!