I Know How You Feel

I was never a skinny kid. Well, maybe in my Communion picture. But since then I've always been conscious of my weight. I try to tell myself that that's a good thing, because I've been healthy and active for so long, that it has become habit. I know you work hard at being healthy, too. That's why I tell you my story at the orientation, especially the fact that it took me 50 weeks to lose 35 pounds after my first daughter was born, even though I was running. And, I've been on Plan for 20 years in April. I know how you feel.

In the Weight Watchers meeting, it's the fact that we all have to follow the same rules that binds us all together. When a new member joins our group, she or he gets the same information, with the only difference being the Daily Points Target. Good Health Guidelines are the same. Filling Foods first rule is the same. Move more. Track. Portions count. You know what we do (I hope). What each individual has to work on differently is overcoming his or her obstacles to following the plan.


What I do know is that EVERY members thinks - "What can I eat on this menu?" EVERY members thinks, "What should I have for dinner?". No matter if you have 10 pounds to lose or 100 pounds to lose, we all have to put in the work. Whether you are at goal or just joining, we all have to do the SAME things every day! When a member asks for ideas in a meeting, no one thinks, "Well you've already lost 15 pounds, so you should know that!" We all want to help, because we all have been there.

I asked one of my very successful members, who has lost a lot of weight, if she felt different than those who have needed to lose less. She said before she joined our meeting, she didn't think that those with less to lose had as much stress about it as she does. Then she realized that everyone in the meeting needed to do the work to lose and maintain their weight loss and that it's not easy for any of us. But the rewards are worth it. The benefit of coming to the meeting is that she has gotten the support when she needed it and was able to give her words of wisdom when she had some.

So that's it. Listen to the rules of the WW plan. Figure out what you need to work on and keep at it. Ask questions and ask for ideas. Where do you think you'd find the answers? In the general population, where 66% of the people are overweight? Or in our WW meetings, where people are getting closer and closer to their healthy weight every week? I think I know where I'll find you!