To Start A Journey, You Must Take the First Step

Before, not so long ago.

Changing my mind.

I have been heavy, big-boned, full-size, plump--whatever you want to call it--most of my life. I could give you 101 excuses why this is, but that's exactly what they are. Excuses. I've even lost weight before. It was very hard and I swore I'd never put the weight back on. But, I did. And now, it's even more of a challenge to get it off. But, I am up for the challenge.


The first step was getting help for something I couldn't do--no, wouldn't do!-for myself. My sister, who also has weight issues, suggested Weight Watchers. To be honest, I didn't want to go. My sister wanted to go and asked me to join her. Always the enabler to her co-dependency issues, I agreed to go once. I spent the entire meeting time telling myself I was only there for her and I wasn't going to stick to it. I convinced myself that I was not in the right frame of mind to do it. I would only play along, just to make her feel better.

Somewhere along the way, that changed.

Changing my diet.

My sister is a single mother of two teen-aged girls. She lives just a couple of doors down from me. She and the girls spend most evenings with us, having dinner with us, that I prepare. Which meant that any changes I made to my diet, would have a direct effect on her family as well as my own.

Prior to Weight Watchers, I would have told you I was eating fine. And, for the most part...I wasn't. One of the first things I needed to do to start my journey was realize that I could do better. A lot better. This meant staying away from the precious carbohydrates I loved so dearly. More fruit, veggies and fiber is what I really needed. 

In culinary school, this is really a challenge. I say 'no, thank you' a lot. I walk away (sometimes). I try to share with someone (thanks Sandy and Lucy!!). 

Must...Resist...Temptation...Ugh!!!

Foods are assigned a point value, so as long as I count the points for everything I eat, I can eat pretty much what I want. But, some sacrifices have to be made, as you're only allowed a certain number of points a day. So, if I want that ice cream cone for dessert (5 points, and when don't I?), I need to be able to find those points somewhere. Maybe that's working out a little longer, skipping bread at lunch or eating a smaller portion at dinner. 

Getting plenty of exercise.

How can I love and hate a place so much???

This is where my biggest issue is. I am inherently lazy. With my diet plan, I didn't HAVE to work out, but once the weight started coming off, I really felt the urge to. It was difficult at first, but persistence paid off. I can't do the same thing all of the time, so I switch it up often. Some days, I hit the gym. Others, I go for a walk. And thankfully, house cleaning and vacuuming are considered exercise! I try to get some form of exercise each day. This not only gives me more points for food, but also gives me more energy and helps me sleep better. This keeps me in a positive mindset, keeping me encouraged to stay on track.

Drink some water, then drink some more.

Ahhh...refreshing.

This is probably the toughest part of the actual diet. A good part of any healthy lifestyle is to drink plenty of water. I love drinking water, but after a while, it got boring (thank goodness for Crystal Light water enhancers!). As it turns out, drinking lots of water not only keeps you from getting dehydrated, it can actually help with weight loss!

"According to two studies, drinking 500 ml (17 oz) of water can temporarily boost metabolism by 24-30% ."(source)

I have found that I actually feel better when I drink more water. It keeps me full and prevents overeating and snacking.

 And so my journey begins.

Staying focused, staying positive, staying strong are all of my goals. I not only want to lose weight, but get into shape, get healthy and enjoy life!