About Weight Loss

Let me preface this with saying that I try hard not to judge people or make assumptions. I am just a person like you and I don't claim to know you better than you know yourself.

Since I have struggled all my life with my weight, my sister recommended that I talk about it here. Especially since losing weight is something a lot of new moms have to deal with. I look around at people when I am walking with Willow at the mall and almost all the mom's I see are not healthy. Granted I have no idea what their lives are like and what (if anything) they are doing to be a healthy example for their children. The problem is that I see this "standard mom" stereotype all the time. In the grocery store, at the mall, at work, etc. It appears to me that being overweight in America, if you are a mom, is socially acceptable.

It's so easy for people to sit there and pass judgment on something that they know absolutely nothing about. They look at people and say things like "You have to lose weight? You know what you have to do so just DO IT!" They see people using aids like Alli (which I use regularly) and mistakenly think that people who use those things see them as a "Miracle Pill" when (at least for me) that is the furthest thing from the truth. (These are the same people who have used things like Alli themselves but got poor results for whatever reason so they now see them as an unnecessary crutch, even if it was good enough for them to try at one time)

How easy is it to sit back and tout "Well, everyone knows it's not easy to lose weight, you just have to suck it up and do it. Yes it's hard. Stop complaining about how hard it is, put down the coke, and eat right dammit!!" How very clueless, judgmental, and holier than thou are you to say such a thing?

Many people out there have had to struggle their whole lives with weight, or they had a baby and find it overwhelming to take care of both a new baby and themselves, so they let themselves go. I lost 80 pounds in 2005 using the Weight Watchers program, which I love and tell everyone about. I had gained some of the weight back but since having Willow I am within 5 pounds of by pre-pregnancy weight and like most people, I would like to lose more.

Although I can shop at the Gap and Old Navy and most of the regular stores, I am not where I would like to be when it concerns my health. I even considered a doctor monitored weight loss program, but decided against it since I had so much success with Weight Watchers in the past. I also have an INCREDIBLE support network of friends and, most important, my family (especially my husband).

I was reading an article entitled Craving chocolate? Ditch that diet mentality. This article talks about how dieting isn't about your stomach, it's about your head. This couldn't be truer for me as I am a stress and boredom eater. And since I have successfully followed the Weight Watcher's Program I am well aware that losing weight is all in your head. You have to want to WANT it. Not for your husband or kids but for YOURSELF. And until you do, you will not succeed.

Some tips (the ones in quotes are from the aforementioned article):

1) Find out how much you should be eating in a day. There are plenty of tools that are free on the Internet that can help you to at least get an idea of what your daily caloric intake should be. Or, you could always call and ask your doctor for help.

2) "Snack smarter It's not a cruel joke that our favorite noshes happen to be the bad boys of the food world. Our desire for all things decadent may date back thousands of years, to when high-calorie eats were dietary heroes."

3) "Schedule your splurges. It's not only imagination or a cliché: Food cravings during PMS may be brought on by your brain chemistry. To keep urges from taking over your life (that's what bosses are for), schedule a specific time to enjoy a reasonable portion of your favorite treat. If you know ahead of time that you will savor a sweet snack at 4 p.m., it should be easier to ignore your desire for it at noon."

4) MOST IMPORTANTLY BELIEVE IN YOURSELF. Don't let people who think they know it all tell you to put down the "(fill in the blank)" and JUST DO IT. It isn't that easy.

5) Get your friends and family to help you. If you don't have support, you will likely fail. That is one of the wonderful things about Weight Watchers. The meetings are wonderful and supportive and you are surrounded by people just like you who are struggling.

6) EXERCISE!! I know it can suck, especially if you haven't done it in a long time. I work out regularly at Curves and I absolutely LOVE it. And now that I exercise regularly, I love working out. Especially when I am stressed out. I can take it out on the machines and be better tuned mentally for my family.

I know it's a struggle EVERY. SINGLE. DAY. But I also know that if I can do it, anyone can.