Beginner Luck

I truly believe anyone can lose weight in the first three weeks of any diet without doing anything more than eating less crap than they did the three weeks before they committed to losing weight.

No one says that. People say they are 'watching what they eat,' or they become evangelists for the latest diet craze (fewer these days, haven't you noticed?). Others will buy Alli on the sly or call an 800 number for an infomercial promise that performs or your money back.

Talk with me on week 4. Tell me how fabulous you feel now that you have lost so-and-so pounds probably rounded up to the next 5. Then talk to me on week 8, for what I am convinced is the end of the road for beginner's luck.

You need a serious plan to succeed consistently because luck will run out.

To be successful over the long term you will need a short-term plan to focus on taking off the weight, and the long-term plan works to keep the weight off. It isn't how much weight you lost again. It is how long have you kept it off this time. Good luck. No, good strategy.

We need to cut back on calories (hard to do), change behaviors (extremely hard to do) and make these changes permanent. Most fail, however the research and WW meetings show Weight Watchers members succeed in both the short & long term!

Successful Weight Watchers Members.....

1. Weigh-in at least once a week at a Weight Watchers meeting.

2. Keep a food journal most days.

3. Only eat foods we enjoy and determine the portion size with a food scale, measuring cup/spoon, or rely on portion controlled foods. We look up points for the portion on e-tools or in our Food Companion.

4. Pursue at least 30 minutes of activity most days of the week.

5. Identify and re-enforce positive behaviors contributing to our desired weight loss and maintenance outcomes.

I plan to write more on each of these five points. In the meantime, keep attending WW meetings. See you at the next meeting.