Team You!

Do you find that you are spending so much of your time is spent taking care of others? As a wife and mother with a full time job, I know that "yes" would be my answer to that question. I had not been taking care of myself at all and my weight was out of control. Finally, I figured out that I had to take care of me too.

Your needs are important and worthwhile.

You can't do this alone. You need a support system. Who does that involve? Your family, friends, co-workers are all possible players to include on your team. My friend told me the other day that her husband is supportive...sometimes. He told her that they weren't going to switch to sugar-free syrup because he and the boys weren't going to suffer just because she was trying to lose weight. After I picked my chin up off the ground, I said, "Then buy both kinds of syrup and don't let that stop you." You will find that there are people out there, who should be supportive, but instead will sabotage your efforts by making you feel guilty.

Do you have someone in your life that says "Here, I made this just for you." If you don't feel that you can be assertive in this case, then the solution to the food giver is to smile and say, "Thank you. I'm going to save this for later." Then throw it away. They really don't care that you eat it...they just want to know that you took it.

I have had the best support system and would like to take this opportunity to thank all of them for being on my team! A day doesn't go by that I get a message from someone who tells me that I have inspired them to lose weight. What they don't know is that they have held me accountable and each of them have played a part on my team through their kind words.

Now, go hand out the pom-poms and let's gather your support system to rally around YOU today!

Two Weeks of Maintenance Update

Maintain...what does that mean? So, I looked it up. One of the meanings is "to carry on; continue." At the end of my first week, I lost 0.2 pounds. I said to her, "that is maintaining, right?" She said, "No, that is a loss." Now, it depends on how you look at it really. If you are trying to lose weight, then I would say celebrate that loss. However, when trying to maintain, I would say that is pretty darn close.

Another meaning of maintain is "to defend or hold against criticism or attack." Now that is powerful. The saboteurs are coming out. I've heard a few times in the past few weeks that now it is finally over and you can eat again. Well, you'll just gain it all back. It is as if they are watching me and waiting to say, "I told you so." So now more than ever, I need to defend. But I am also in need of defending against myself...my own stinkin' thinkin' that comes out from time to time. I have these four extra points that I'm supposed to be eating everyday in addition to my other daily points allowance. This can really play with your mind. It is so easy to fall back into bad habits. Which leads me to the next meaning...

...of the word is "to support a style of living." I've done a lot of thinking about that meaning. This wasn't a diet, but a live it! A way of life. A style of living and good healthy habits. I encourage all of you to look at weight loss as a life long journey and a way of living. It isn't temporary...it is forever. It is a challenge to maintain. I have a love affair with cookies and they are a "red light" food for me. I can't have them in my house. Now, I'm not talking about Oreos...I'm talking about fresh, baked cookies right out of the oven. I just can't do it in moderation no matter how many extra points.

Well, I lost 1.2 pounds this week at the scale. Not sure what is happening. I'm still trying to get into that maintenance mode and out of the weight loss mentality. It is hard, I'm not going to fool you. And I am scared. So, stay tuned as I journey through the maintenance avenue. I'm looking forward to becoming lifetime.

PS...Weight Watchers asked me today, if I'd be interested in working for them! What do you think I should do?