First off, I’ll just say that this is one of those threads / memes / topics that I haven’t really ever gotten into when it comes to blogging. I know Jason had some great success documenting his process, Joe Jaffe as well, so maybe I’m late to the game, but whatever. I’m adding my own secret sauce, if you will.
Cutting to the chase, though, and I’m happy to admit that as of this morning, I’ve lost 15 lbs. since July 13, 2008. Taking a tip from The Fiancee, I decided to, partially in support of her efforts and partially because I thought it was a good idea, join Weight Watchers – I’m really just using it to keep track of what I eat, and to have a grasp of what “costs” what when it comes to food. What I think has been the biggest thing for me is how easy it’s been to lose weight, without TOO dramatically hindering my ability to like food, which I do. I still eat ice cream – just not as much; I still drink soda – but have switched to something like Sprite Zero, Diet Dr Pepper, and so forth. I’ve never really been a fan of the “diet” versions of most of the colas and such I like, but from time to time I’ll give them a whirl.
That said, here’s the quick and dirty – I get a certain amount of “points” per day that I can eat on Weight Watchers’ “flex” plan. Additionally, I get a number of points that I can use throughout the week, on days I might go “over,” have dinner out, or something else. You don’t have to use those extra points, but you’re supposed to use all of your daily points. To give you some perspective, it’s all about calories, fat, and fiber – that’s how the points are figured out. The thing that gets you thin(ner) is the perspective, if you ask me. For instance, a can of regular soda, most of the beer I’d drink (I don’t do light beer), and a few other things I liked to have on a regular basis all have a value of 3 points. Sprite Zero? Zero points. Three buffalo wings? Nine points. A cup of penne pasta? Four points. And so on.
Let’s just say that the biggest difference – seriously – that I’ve made is that I’ve stopped dropping 9-15 points a day in random things. Beyond that, I’ve started to get my sugar cravings out of the way with one- or two point J-ello puddings, for instance. Some things are surprisingly high in points – most PB&J sandwiches I’d make run about 8 or 9 points. Heck, a hot dog might be five points, but the bun is typically three! Might not sound like a lot, but it should when that’s about a third of the points you’re supposed to take in during the day.
I’ve never really, in my life, gone on any sort of “diet,” weight loss regimen, or followed any sort of plan for eating. Weight Watchers says, publicly, that it’s not a diet, and I have worked with a few people who’ve handed PR for the brand, and they tell me much of the same. I’m not going to compare it to anything else or any other diet, because I’ve seen great results on a lot of people from a number of different areas, but what I will say is that having some level of consciousness about what I’m eating is pretty much the big hitch. I’ve gotten fast food at least once per week while I’ve been doing this, and while I might have tweaked what I’d normally get, I’m not forbidding myself from eating anything – hence my being pleased with the situation.
I’m pretty psyched about the whole thing and while my “goal” is to lose about another 6+ lbs, I’m thinking I can actually take it a little further, and I’m sure I’ll have to add a lot more fitness-related things to get to that second point. I’m just flat out surprised that it was so relatively easy – with its periodic frustrations (no really, I’d like another glass of red wine, please) – to change eating habits and not really doing anything different w/r/t the gym, running, and so on. If only everything else worked this way. For someone who isn’t really a process / order guy, I’m surprised to be bought into something, but I guess that’s the point, huh?