The Power of Friends

Not long ago, I seemed  energetic and determined to start my "last diet".  I began WW with enthusiasm and hope.  I watched my  food intake diligently, began exercising in January and 100% avoided any and all "naughty" foods because they were my trigger foods.  And those were hard to say no to because they are all around me:   in my house, as a Mom of a 9 year old; in my Judaica class as students brought in snacks each week; and at various parties, restaurants, etc.  But I stayed away and said no. 

I was were confident that I was going to reach my goal once and for all without problem!!!  And best of all, I was joining WW with friends and there is power in numbers!

Well, somewhere along the last 6 weeks my motivation has been decreasing faster than the pounds are falling. The first 25 pounds (well, probably closer to 20 now) were relatively painless to lose.  Well, not painless, but my excitement and motivation were far stronger than the daily eating challenges.  And then I got really into working out - or so I thought, as I stopped it as quickly as I started it.  Allie's extra-curricular activities took on a schedule of their own and it became harder for me to figure out a time to go then just not go.

Then for various scheduling reasons my friends and I were no longer able to go to the same meeting times together and BOOM, I didn't track one day.  And then I ate something naughty.  And then I continued to eat and not track and not exercise.  And naughty food is my trigger and once I didn't track, didn't exercise and didn't make the best healthy choices I ate and ice cream sandwich and a frosting covered cookie and potato chips.

And then I freaked and said WTF?????

I realized I didn't want to go down this path and wanted to get back in the groove but needed help.  So, I immediately said to my friend Steffanie, I am willing to get up early on Saturday mornings and go to WW meetings together if you are - I really need you and am so much better together than on my own.  Fortunately she was feeling the same pain (although I don't think she binged like I did!) and totally agreeable to jump back on the proverbial diet "bandwagon".  And then my girlfriend  Erica was mutually happy to hear this and happy to go to Saturday meetings with us. . .

The one thing I have realized though is that while I have been lazy about tracking and not really knowing the amount of points I have consumed each day for the last few weeks, other than the other day, I have not gorged and binged and all my foods have mostly been healthy.

But it did start with one ice cream sandwich and it was downhill from there.

I know myself - I cannot still have that junk food and count it as my points and be okay with that.  It is my trigger food to enter a land of naughty eating.  So please don't tell me I can have just one and just count the points.  I obviously can't.

Maybe I was naive thinking this would happen without hiccups.  Maybe a better way to look at this is simply that this is life and I'm glad it was just a few weeks of being off track. I am also trying not to listen to the little bird tweeting in my ear "well, hello, if you have been not 100% the past few weeks and are STARTING FRESH tomorrow, eat everything you want today." 

Wherever today takes me food wise it will take me. . .but really excited about going to WW in the mornings and to the gym right after and getting back on track with the POWER OF FRIENDS right next to me!!