Down 19.8 Pounds in 8 Weeks

Well, as you can see from my results, some weeks are better than others, but I have lost almost 20 pounds in a little less than 2 months. So far, I have done this by staying close to my daily points allowance (with a few exceptions) and without a big increase in my activity level. I do work harder this time of year at work, so that may have helped a little. But I have done no real exercise – something I will be adding to the plan soon.

I had only 1 week with a slight gain, and still have an average loss of over 2 pounds per week. If I can continue at that rate, I will easily make my goal of losing 50 pounds in 6 months. In fact at my current rate, I will lose over 60 pounds in that time. However, as I lose weight it will become more difficult to lose 2 pounds per week. The heavier you are, the more you can lose in a week (at least healthily).

The main changes to my diet have been a great increase in the amount of fruits and vegetables I eat (at least 5 servings per day) and a great decrease in my consumption of high fat foods like burgers and fries, chips, cookies, etc. I eat the latter in moderation and will often have a low fat alternative like baked chips, weight watcher’s cookies or a Fiber One bar, etc.

Weight Watchers advertises that you can eat what you want on their program and still lose weight. This is true. As long as you stay within your daily points allowance, no food is off limits. Of course, the problem is that many foods that you have enjoyed in the past may be very high in points, so if you eat them, you cannot eat very much.

But the people at Weight Watchers have included in their program a feature that can help keep you from feeling deprived of your favorite foods. In addition to your daily points allowance, you are also given 35 weekly points that you can use (or not use) however you wish, without any guilt whatsoever. You can spread these points throughout the week if you want a few extra points each day, or you can use them all at one meal if you want.

You can also choose not to use them if you wish to lose weight at a faster pace, and can get along fine without them.

I usually save my weekly points for either Saturday or Sunday when I eat pretty much whatever I want for one meal. 35 points is a lot of points. You obviously don’t want to go completely wild. But with 35 points you can eat that pizza or big burger and fries, or whatever else you have been craving and still have points to spare. I do still try to eat a salad or other vegetable with this meal and watch that I don’t go over 35 points. But the weekly points do help keep me from feeling deprived and help me to stay on the plan.

This week has been a hectic week for me. I do not have an assigned route at the post office and am often assigned to routes that I am unfamiliar with. During this time of year that can be extra stressful because with the increased mail and parcel volume I have to work extra hard to finish the route in the allotted time.

Like many people, when I am under stress, I want to seek comfort in food. And this time of year, people are more than willing to offer it to me. Letter carriers are often given cookies, candy, and other assorted goodies at this time of year.

How I am dealing with this? First, I don’t eat candy or cookies. I will give them to coworkers or put them in the break room at the post office for others to take. If I am tempted to eat something that is given to me, I will instead eat a low point food from my bag – a piece of fruit or a fiber bar, for example.

What about eating binges? Stress can lead to eating binges, and that is something that should be avoided. However, occasionally even I will succumb to one. But I have rules for my binges. I will binge only on low point foods. Don’t go for the candy or Christmas cookies! Instead binge on foods that are 2 points or less per serving. Even if you end up going over your allotted points for the day, the damage is not nearly as bad as if you ate a dozen cookies, or a box of candy.

If you are at home and are tempted to binge, do something to take your mind off of it. Exercise is the best thing, but anything can help. Play a game, go online, call a friend, do some housework – anything that will get your mind off of food.

The holiday season can be stressful. Look for things other than food to relieve your stress. If and when you do succumb to an eating binge, do it with low point filling foods. This will help to prevent backsliding.