Questions Posted on the WW Board

This morning these questions were posted on the WW board for people who are at or near goal. I thought they were very good so I'm going to post them, and my answers here.

If you are at or near goal, I'd be interested to hear your answers. If you'd like them posted on the blog, let me know.

1. How long did it take?

I hit my goal of -92 pounds in 10 months, an average of 2 pounds a week lost. I hit my personal goal a month later for -102 pounds. I am currently -109.

2. How much did you lose?

109

3. Were you a "WW nazi" and stick to the program to a "T", or did you sometimes have some slip-ups?

WW to the extreme. For me, there is no such thing as off program. That does not mean that I never slipped up, but I rarely did and I never made the same mistake two times. I knew if I was going to do this it had to be all or nothing. There was no "halfway" about it. I tend to be an all or nothing kinda gal anyhow.

4. If you had slip-ups, what did you find to be your biggest saboteur and how did you overcome the demons (for lack of better word)?

Hmmm, mainly my biggest "issue" would be making mistakes more than anything else. That doesn't mean I wasn't tempted, but since I went into this with the right frame of mind the temptations would come...and then go. A few times I made mistakes of thinking something wasn't as high in points as it really was, or going a few over on accident, but that's about it.

I truly believe the key to success is going into this entire thing with a loving and respectful heart for yourself. You have to love yourself so much that it is impossible NOT to do what's right for your body. Self loathing is so common among those of us with obesity issues (and I still consider myself one of those people). When you go into it hating who you are and devaluing yourself because of your weight, your resolve falters. After all, why invest so much time and effort into someone who isn't worth a doggone thing?

So before you even start I believe that you need to first find it inside of yourself to love yourself exactly the way you are. Accept yourself as a person of value regardless of a silly little (or big) number on the scale. Doing this will help you to take care of a LOT of the issues that contributed to your obesity in the first place. After that the whole food and exercise thing becomes easy.

It's Just All So Confusing

Okay people, what the HELL is so difficult about the new WW Flex Points plan? I have seen so many people get their collective undies in a collective bunch that I'm just left scratching my head.

This isn't rocket science.

It isn't like they turned the world inside out.

It's just another way of counting points. Relax. Don't stress so much.

And if you are stressing, knock it off for gawd's sake! Get a REAL problem! I mean REALLY!

Sorrythat'sjustmyinnerchildspeakingandshe'scrankyrightnow

Hey, I just saw me on the news!

But I digress.

I have read SO many posts from people who say they don't get it, they can't handle it, etc.

First of all, if you really can't handle it because it gives you what you feel is too much freedom, go back to the Winning Points program. The WW police will not come banging down your door. Sarah F. will not kick you with a well-manicured foot to the groin. It's okay. I'm giving you permission.

Otherwise, just do the program the way you've always done it.

Here's a secret...you don't HAVE to eat your flex points. No! Really! You don't!

Once again, I promise no WW police.

Here's how I used to do the Winning Points Plan. It saw me through over 100 pounds of weight loss:

Point Range 30-35 (right now during the strike)
• Monday-Thursday I ate 30 points, banked 9.
• Friday I ate up to 39 points.
• Saturday I ate up to 49 points, using 10 from my bank.
• Sunday I ate up to 49 points, using 10 from my bank.

Okay, that worked for me. So here's how I do it now:

Flex Plan Target Points: 30
• Monday-Thursday I eat 30 points.
• Friday I eat up to 39 points, using any APs I earned first. Generally I earn up to 15 a day, but my average normally is 7-9 (and my normal target is 25, but with the walking every day I upped it 5 points)
• Saturday I eat up to 49 points, using my APs and some of my flex points.
• Sunday I eat up to 49 points, using my APs and some of my flex points.

Now I am not a Rhodes Scholar, this I will admit, but it sure looks like I've been able to do the SAME THING using the new plan over the old plan. Why is that so confusing?

So I say...take a deep breath and relax. You can do this and if it really is upsetting you, if you're the type who doesn't handle change well or it just isn't the right time, do what you need to do to keep in control. Just stop stressing about it! That's no good for anyone!

Hey! Is that the WW police behind you?

PSYCH!