2011 A Year For Chance

Here is a summary of my Weight Watchers meeting January 4, 2011.

Obstacle or opportunity?
For people who are reading this having been to their first meeting ever — or at least the first in a very long time — you’ve already very recently committed to changing certain habits in order to live a healthier lifestyle. You’ve already made the big change! And it’s a great time to do it: As you’re learning the program at the same time as everyone else, you needn’t worry about asking “the dumb questions,” because everyone will be glad you did!

For people who are reading this having followed the POINTS® program and are worried that you’ve been doing things “wrong,” or that you’re going to have to work hard to reassess your new, post-Weight Watchers habits, just remember that by being here, you’ve already done this once before. You’ve already looked at your habits and realized where changes need to be made, and made them.

Use this new Plan, then, as an excuse to go back to basics. Because of the way that PointsPlus values are calculated now, it’s more important than ever not to guesstimate at PointsPlus values, and to accurately measure your portions. Look at the foods and meals you eat most often and find out how the PointsPlus values differ from the POINTS values. If they’re the same, then you know you’ve found some real PointsPlus value bargains. If they’re a little higher, then remember that you have a great deal more PointsPlus values to use per day, so you shouldn’t feel bad about eating these foods. And if they’re a lot more PointsPlus values (a 4oz. glass of wine, for example, has doubled from 2 POINTS values to 4 PointsPlus values), then you know you should try to limit these items, or find a lower PointsPlus values version that will scratch the itch, but more easily keep you within your daily PointsPlus Target. (But don’t forget that delicious weekly PointsPlus Allowance of 49!)

A change for the better
Remember, no two people are the same, and no two people should follow the same weight-loss plan. You have to figure out what works for you. But whatever challenges you face, achieving each of these types of change can help:

Environment. The first changes you need to make are to your environment. You need to change the foods you eat and store in your kitchen, car, and workplace. Take stock of (and maybe increase) your activity routine and perhaps adjust your surroundings in order to foster weight loss.

Behaviors. Step two is to adjust your behaviors to better accommodate your new weight-loss plan. Maybe going down the candy aisle at the grocery store is tempting you. Simply avoid that aisle.

Capabilities. The third step is to learn and reinforce the resources you need to lose weight like motivation, perseverance and willpower. The best place to build these resources is in the meeting room. We are all here supporting each other.

Beliefs. Step four is to believe in yourself and your ability to lose weight now and keep that weight off well into the future.

Identity. The final step is to ensure that you can see yourself at your weight goal and beyond. Your self-image is the most important part of change, since change comes from within. If you don't see yourself as capable of being successful at weight loss, you are not likely to achieve your goals.

Change can happen, and needs to happen, in order for you to really find success in your weight-loss efforts. Accepting all of these life changes could very well be the most difficult challenge of weight loss. But with a belief in yourself and a positive self image, you can get there!