My Weight Loss Journey – Month 1

A month ago I shared that I joined Weight Watchers for the last time-- I say the last time since I'm determined to get to my goal! I thought about posting weekly updates to help me with accountability, but decided to wait and post a monthly update instead. After all, I’m in this for the long haul. Weekly updates could get old real fast.

Just a brief tutorial on Weight Watchers for those of you not familiar with the program: Each individual is assigned a daily point total of food they can eat. The point total is based on your current weight and your activity level. Each food is assigned a point value which is calculated using calories, fat and fiber. As you lose weight, your daily total points decrease. Along with eating a certain amount of points each day, you need to eat a defined number of foods from certain food groups—liquids, milk, vegetables, whole grains, healthy oils etc. I have to say, I’ve always been a fruit/vegetable eater, and eating the 5 servings a day every few days is no big deal, but trying to get them all in everyday can be a challenge! I track what I eat on WW e-tools. For me tracking is the key to continued success, that and measuring everything.

I’m happy to report that I’m very pleased with my determination, resolve and results for the first month. Make no mistake, I understand I’m in the ‘honeymoon’ phase of this journey, but I’ll take it anywhere and everywhere I can get it!

I would have to say the first week had its challenges—not in my dedication or determination, but in the fact that I was hungry on some days when I’d already eaten all my points worth of food. I certainly learned quickly that my portion sizes were out of control – which I already knew but chose to ignore. Denial—not a good thing. Luckily, there were only a few days of feeling hungry. By week four, there were three days I was significantly below my daily points total at the end of the day and couldn’t eat any more- which isn’t good either. Not eating your full points value can slow your metabolism and put your body into survival mode.

Foods that got me through-- Ore Ida Country Style Hashbrowns (1 1/2 points for 2 cups and it's very filling), and Fiber One bars (2 pts each and they gave me the sweet taste when I needed it).

So, without further ado, here are my month 1 results:

                    Weekly        Total
Week 1      -2.4 lbs      -2.4 lbs
Week 2      -3.2 lbs      -5.6 lbs
Week 3      -1.8 lbs      -7.4 lbs
Week 4      -1.0 lbs      -8.4 lbs

I’m also tracking my lost inches. My original measurements were taken in the spring prior to starting H2O aerobics, so the results are not just from the last month.

Neck     - ¼ inch
Bicep    - 1 ¼ inch
Chest    - 1 inch
Waist    - 2 ½ inches
Hips      - 2 ¼ inches
Thigh     - ½ inch
Calves   - ¾ inch

TOTAL INCHES LOST: 8 ½ inches

All I can say for my first month is WOOHOO!!!!!!