Great Expectations

Most of you know I am a runner. Today I ran a 1/2 marathon (13.1 miles). Many months ago I picked this as my "goal" race. The one I was hoping to run my best. I had great expectations. I even have a coach and he said I could do it. I had a race day plan.

It started well, but about 9 miles in, the wheels started to fall off. I ran as hard as I could. I listened to my body, but never stopped pushing. The clock appeared and I was slower than my goal, by a good margin. I was disappointed, but glad to be done. And, as I've been know to say, what is the rest of the story? I reflected. Used this as feedback. I had run more shorter races this year. I needed more distance races. I had run a long relay last weekend, which tired me out. I had decided this should be my goal race instead of a later one, which would have let me recover, so I could go away with my husband next week and not worry about running.

Would I change anything? No! For any goal, you must figure out what you are willing to give up. For me, I traded today's fast time for fun races and time with my husband. Should I give up running? Forget about a 1/2 marathon personal record? NO!!!!

The same goes for my Weight Watchers members. When they join they have lofty goals. That's fine. But then they follow the program REALISTICALLY, and lose the .5 to 2 pounds per week and think that's not enough. Instead of realizing that they are losing weight and living their lives, they get discouraged. They want to QUIT. Losing weight and living healthy is NOT a race. It is a lifestyle. I am not an Olympic runner. I run to push myself, but also to have fun. You want to lose weight, but you want to live your lives.

Never give up. If you are not reaching your goals, is it because they too demanding or are you not following through? Most of us want to be the best person we can be without sacrificing what's important in our lives.

Want to get motivated? See you in the meeting.

How Do You Feel

This week I've been asking my members, "Why are you trying to lose weight? I was very pleased with the answer, "Because I feel so much better when I am taking care of my health". That feeling starts during the first week, even though your weight goal may be so far away. You feel good, because you are putting good fuel in your body. You feel good, because you are moving your body. You feel good, because your pants fit!!!

Don't give up the confidence you feel when you are in control of you health. Don't let the cheesecake win! Don't sacrafice what you want most, for what you want in the moment.

Why is Losing Weight So Different?

We all juggle many responsibilities in our lives: work, play, family, homes and any other important aspect of everyday life. We realize that most of these things take time and LOTS of effort. But the one thing that makes everything possible, is one we tend to think of it as an afterthought - our health. Oh, sure when we are laying in bed with the flu, we realize how important "feeling well" is. But when the tissues are long gone, we don't think we have time to invest in our well being.

And then the day comes, when your body tells you (or your pants) that you've had enough and it's time to take action! That's when I meet many of you.

I am a Weight Watchers Leader.

You are pumped up! Excited! Ready to go! This is it! You sit through the orientation, maybe even take notes. You go home and get out your favorite recipes. You buy fruits and veggies. You dust off the Jane Fonda video. You come to my next meeting. You lose weight!!!

Then you realize you have to do it all over again. Not as exciting. You have a lot to lose. So many restaurants. Appletinis. Buffets. Sleeping late. Maybe you'll think about your health tomorrow.

How about now!

Just like you get up and go to work everyday and don't always want to, but you do. Just like when it's time to pay that mortgage, you'd rather spend it on a cruise, but you don't. Just like when your kids or (fill in any family member), drives you crazy and you think about leaving them at a rest stop, but you don't. Now, please don't stop investing in your health and body. The average mortgage is 30 years. The average weight loss is .5 to 2 pounds a week. Accept that and keep working.

Getting married, buying a house, having a kid deserves a celebration. Your spouse coming home from work, paying the mortage and your kid doing the dishes, does not. Joining Weight Watchers deserves a celebration. Eating 5 fruits and veggies does not. The most succesfull members make being healthy and attaining a healthy weight a priortity. She knows there will be good days and bad. Making it a SEAMLESS part of everyday life is the goal. Doing the little things day in and day out will make the most impact: smaller portions, taking the stairs, keeping a food journal, knowing the nutritional information of everything she eats. The small, consisten efforts, creates the most success. The tortoise beats the hare.

Becoming a Weight Watcher, instead of just doing Weight Watchers - now that's something to celebrate.