Teaching an old dog new tricks ...

Yup, I'm the "old dog". Gotta learn some new tricks. Get out of my stubborn, set, "fat person" ways. This was the discussion at my Saturday morning WW meeting today. Old habits die hard. Our WW leader said it takes 6-8 weeks to develop a new habit.
Being positive, I looked at alot of habits I have changed for the better lately. I got my family on skim milk over the last 2 years. (we were 1% drinkers) I switched from canola oil to olive oil. I quit buying potato chips on a regular basis (we used to eat 3-4 bags in one weekend). I am learning to cook alot healthier, and my hunky hubby is totally into this ... he's cooking, too (I love that!) He and I are also cutting WAY back on diet pop ... asparatame to be exact. Nasty stuff. I also gave up alcohol ... I was never a big drinker, and I still enjoy a small glass of wine now and then ... but it's just not worth it to me to waste 3-4 points on a beer or mixed drink when I could be eating instead!! LOL Yup! Shove that Budweiser aside honey, bring on the buffet!! I am also exercising almost every day ... Wii Fit Plus is so fun, I'm able to do 45-60 minutes a day! And I'm walking outside, too. I'm moving way more than I used to! It's become a habit!

Our leader mentioned about how we can join WW for a second, third, or more time and get back into the same frame of mind that "oh, I've hit that plateau again, it's happening all over again". I'm like that. Past weight loss ventures would typically see me losing 10-12 pounds in the first 2-3 weeks, then slowing down, eventually coming to a halt around 20 pounds lost. Failing. Beating myself up. Hitting that familiar plateau. Jenny Craig was a bit better, I hit about 30 pounds then "gave up". Went right back to my old way of eating, I was so sick of crappy, processed, frozen and pre-packaged food. I lost my gallbladder a year later. Coincidence? Probably not.

So this old dog isn't giving up this time. I'm making a lifestyle change ... bad habits change to good habits ... gradually. My weight isn't coming off as quick this time ... just had my third weigh in this morning, lost another 1.6 pounds, for a grand total of 7.8 in 3 weeks. Not great, but not bad either. Healthy amount of weight to lose. I would like to lose 10 pounds a month, but I'm not going to beat myself up if I don't ... as long as that scale moves downward every week, I'm happy. And I'm not depriving myself. I don't feel that way at all. I'm still enjoying eating. And I'm losing weight at the same time.

This old dog is learning new tricks!!

Thanks for reading,
Janet xo