Well, I went to my first WW meeting yesterday. I felt like I already knew the program from hanging out and reading things online last year.
I don't know, it almost feels like a failure going to a meeting, admitting that I can't just pull my act together on my own. I'm trying to remember this slogan I read from another support group: "Only you can do it, but you don't have to do it alone." Something like that. It still seems like if I need the support of a meeting I'm going to be doomed to failure afterwards, it's more the meeting succeeding than me, if I succeed. I don't know. I'm just in a weird state of mind.
Someone made Lifetime at the meeting. It was pretty cool, they called her the Turtle. She'd been going since February 2000, and lost 20 pounds to make her goal weight. Definitely an example of "slow but steady wins the race!"
Anyway, so I've got these points. I'm going to try eating on the high side (or even a few over) for the first week, to see if I lose. I'm not trying to lose fast. A pound of week is what I want. Also, I made an appointment with my doctor for next week, to see about seeing a dietician. I've been having horrid cravings for the past year, and my eating has been all flip-flopped. I gained 30 pounds in the last year. I'm thinking I need an overhaul of my eating, some guidance, something. It's funny, I know all the individual parts I need to know about nutrition. I just have a hard time making them fit into a big picture.
Hopefully I'll be able to get a referral to a dietician, maybe once a month, as something covered by insurance. I was able to do that before and it helped, I lost 90 pounds in a year! But then I stopped seeing the dietician and 30 pounds of it rolled back on.
Hi Scuttle,
I am sort of in the same boat. I gain weight easily and have gained about 15 pounds in the last 6 months. I actually made lifetime last September at a weight higher than I wanted thinking I would still lose the last 10 pounds. Well I lost 5 or so then gained 15! So I am about 7 over my WW goal. Talk about being a turtle though, the weight that I went to goal at was the same weight I had been at for 6 months- while being on program within my points range! So now I am starting over. I am trying to eat a few points over my range as you suggested to see what happens. I started last week with no loss yet . I still think slow is the way to go though. I am hoping that by doing that I can maintain at a higher point range.
I think you are doing the smart thing- WW and your doctor. WW is the best way to go as far as eating sensibly and balanced. Just to warn you though, a friend of mine went to a dietician and they had her eating mostly protein and greatly limited her calories- she lost 10 pounds in a week! stuff like that makes me nervous, I did something like that when I was 18 and my metabolism hasn't been the same since (I'm 31).
Please don’t feel bad about going to meetings! Everybody needs support, we are all in the same boat. As far as afterwards, they intend for you to go every month for life so that there is no afterwards.
About your cravings, you should try reducing your intake of refined sugars. It is really hard to do but once you do it you will notice a huge reduction in cravings.
Good luck and hangout here, there is so much good info and support.
Keep us posted,
Carla
Ps keeping 60 pounds off is a huge accomplishment- congratulations!
Way to go on joining WW! And please don't feel like you're a failure for 'not being able to do it on your own.' The truth is, you *will* be doing this on your own, to a degree. I mean, no one is telling you what to eat, what not to eat, what time of day to eat, etc. Alone, you will come up with a plan that works for you. WW just gives you the tools and feedback to do so. But the actual plan *you* follow? That's all up to you. The meetings are just a time for you see your progress, get feedback on gains and losses, tips, and motivation (amazing what a motivator it is to see someone else get Lifetime!)
It is definitely the second hardest meeting to attend. Did I say 2nd hardest? Yup - I sure did! The hardest meeting is the one you walk into the 2nd, 3rd or 4th time you join WW and you are 20 lbs heavier than you were the last time you were there because you were sure you could do it on your own!
Scuttle, if doing on our own was as easy as it sounds we'd all be the ideal weight and WW would be out of business!
Don't feel like a failure for going to a meeting. Recognize that it takes courage to say, "Hey - I need help!" and then to stand on a scale and let a total stranger know how much you weigh!
Scuttle - I know how difficult it is to get going again. I applaud you for stepping into the meeting; but I'm worried that you are already planning to eat over your points. Please don't do that. You can eat enough points within your range to be trulys satisfied. If you go over and don't lose, you might get discouraged and give up. Give the program chance to work by doing it the way it has been set up. Best of luck to you.
Actually, I ate over my range by accident (well, cravings) yesterday. But it's still my plan to try eating a few points over the range. If I don't lose, then yes, I'll lower the points. But I also compute out the nutrition and calories for what I eat. And I know, calorie-wise, what had me losing two years ago, and want to try that again. No sense slowing down my metabolism for no good reason. I ate 1600 calories (about 30ish points, probably) and lost at this weight range two years ago.
First WW meeting
. I still think slow is the way to go though. I am hoping that by doing that I can maintain at a higher point range.
