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This post was created as part of a relationship in which I was sponsored by Weight Watchers and given a free three month subscription to try their new Personal Coaching product and write about my experience. Though I was compensated for my time and commitment, all views, positive and negative, are my own. #WeightWatchers #WWSponsored
This is my fifth update for my Weight Watchers Personal Coaching ambassadorship and I’m going to be brutally honest with you guys. I fell off the wagon.
Sometime in the past two weeks I lost sight of my goal. At first it was just “Oh I’ll put my points in later”. Then it turned into “It’s just one day…I’ll do points tomorrow.” and soon I was eating whatever, whenever – and ignoring my Weight Watchers app like a crazy ex boyfriend.
DON’T LOOK AT ME LIKE THAT, TRACKER APP…
I thought I had it under control. I thought I knew everything I needed to know and I could just fly solo. I was wrong. All of that awesome progress I’d experienced in the beginning faded…fast. At first I was angry at myself. How could I slip up like that? I’d worked so hard and now I had failed. But, then I realized – it’s only a fail if I quit. This wasn’t a limited time offer. This wasn’t a one time deal. I could keep going. Sure, I will need to back up a little bit, but I’m not starting from scratch. I have information and, thanks to my Weight Watchers personal coach, I also have support without judgement (no matter how many times I fall short of my goal).
So how does it happen? It’s not a sudden moment where we just say, “I’m done.” – at least it wasn’t for me. There were steps, slips and stumbles. And, even though we can’t avoid some roadblocks, we can still prepare for them and recover from them.
1. LIFE HAPPENS
Your days are hectic. You’ve got kids to prepare for school, your own work, grocery shopping, baseball practice, dance class, a meeting with your five year old’s teacher and your in-laws are coming from dinner at five o’clock. Did you brush your teeth this morning? You couldn’t swear on a bible that you did, but you remember walking into the bathroom for…something…sometime.
When your day is a hurricane of appointments, responsibilities and tasks – you don’t always have time to plan a healthy meal for yourself, much less check and record points. You say you’ll do it later, but then later turns into tomorrow and you’ve totally forgotten what you had for breakfast 24 hours ago.
Success Tip: The Weight Watchers App has a great feature that lets you photograph your meal or snack. Then you can go back later, when you have time, and say “Oh yeah… that whole grain bagel with apple slices!” and enter your points on your tracker. Another great tip I learned from my coach : Prepare your snacks and small meals ahead of time. You can bag them in single portions and even write the point values on the bag for quick reference. Now grapes or low fat cheese cubes are just as easy to grab (and carry with you) as a snack cake or bag of chips.
PREP SNACKS FOR ON THE GO
2. QUICK RESULTS CAN MAKE YOU FORGET YOUR ORIGINAL GOAL
The beginning of any diet is magical. You go from watching the scale climb to suddenly taking a dip within a short period of time. You adjust to your new way of eating and, before you know it, you’re sailing happily through the weeks – overjoyed at each pound you lose. Then one day you realize – those jeans that haven’t fit since your last pregnancy? Yeah… they fit now. The weekend sweat pants? Well they’re almost too lose to wear. You aren’t at your goal yet, but you start getting comfortable and thinking to yourself, “This is already an improvement…I can relax a bit.” Danger, Will Robinson! Danger!
Success Tip: Make a list or inspiration board about all the reasons you set the goal you did. Health, energy, or whatever your motivation was before you started – don’t forget it. Put reminders on your fridge, the bathroom mirror or other places you see daily.
The big one: Talk honestly with your coach. If you notice you are starting to slack off and feel comfortable – tell him/her. They can’t effectively motivate you if you don’t tell them what you’re doing and how you’re feeling. Remember that these are people who have been where you are and they made the program work long term. You may not want to hear “Put down the cake. You aren’t there yet.” but in a few months you’ll be glad you did.
3. PLATEAUS ARE A BUMMER
pla·teau noun : a state of little or no change following a period of activity or progress.
No matter which method you use to get healthy, eat better or lose weight – plateaus are going to happen. It’s science and it stinks. You go from riding high in the clouds to glaring at your progress records because that line refuses to budge. Sometimes a few weeks of no change is enough to make you want to quit.
Success Tip: #1 Don’t be discouraged. This happens to anyone who makes changes with how their body processes food and exercise. Most of the time it will only last a few weeks while your metabolism adjusts to the lower calorie intake and changes to your eating schedule. #2 Remember: it’s not permanent. If you push through and stick with the program you will return to a gradual weight loss again. #3 “Coach it out” You have access to your coach any time you need it. Ask them how they handled their own plateaus and what they did to get through them. – that’s what they are there for.
WEIGHT WATCHERS PERSONAL COACHING AT YOUR FINGERTIPS
Weight Watchers Personal Coaching is easily accessible. If you need advice, encouragement or just want to check in and share progress with someone who understands and will cheer you on – you can do it right from your smart phone with the Weight Watchers App.
You can check in with your coach while you’re on the go and even get 24/7 support from other coaches if yours isn’t available. And they really do mean 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. So even if you’re craving pizza at 2 a.m. someone is there to talk you through it!
Look, we’re all human and we all struggle. Weight loss isn’t easy, but it doesn’t have to be complicated. With Weight Watchers there is always a chance to pick up where you left off so you can reach your goals for getting healthy. I’m looking forward to getting back on track – are you?
You can Tweet us too @RemakingJune
