Lifetimer

[scrapgarden]

Congrats to all who have decided to be healthier. I'm pre-diabetic and when my blood sugars started going up a few years ago, and with diabetes on both side of my family, I knew I had to do something. I was 30 pounds overweight and gradually creeping up even more. So to WW I went. I reached my goal and became a lifetimer. I have now been at my goal or slightly below for 4 years. Some things that helped me get it off and KEEP it off:

1. Understand that you are NOT on a DIET. You are learning how to change your eating habits.
2. For most of us it is how much we eat, not so much what we eat. Large portions equal lots of calories.
3. Get a smaller dinner plate and fill it up. After cleaning your plate you are still dying for another serving of something. Allow yourself an additional spoonful of whatever.
4. Eat the foods you like. If it is something that is just ho hum to you, Don't eat it. If some one (like my father does) puts it on your plate anyway, leave it there. Don't eat it to be polite.
5. Sweat the small stuff. Leave the butter off of toast if you plan to have jelly. Ditto pancakes or waffles or biscuits or rolls or any number of things. Don't do doubling up. Baked potatoes are particularly notorious for doubling up.
6. Gaining was a long process and so is losing.
5. Keeping it off is also a long process.
7. Don't miss weigh-ins, even if you are up or the weigh-in is at home.
8. Eat out if you want. You are so hungry for a 1/4 pounder. Take some one to lunch or dinner with you and split it. Remember, it is not so much the hamburger that does it to you, but how much and how often. Split your order with your companion at all restaurants, not just a few. Most servers are very helpful about telling you which orders on their menu will split well. Sometimes there is a small charge, but usually not very much. Treat yourself to dessert, but do it at the local cafe. Don't bake or bring home a whole pecan pie to eat!

After a while you forget that your small dinner plate is not as big as it used to be and you will notice that you don't load it up. You are content with a small wedge of pie or 1-2 cookies.

I didn't intend for this to be so long, but will post it anyway. It is not easy to change the habits of a lifetime and maybe this will spark a new idea for someone and help them attain to their goal.

Lynne

[Bon]

These are really good tips. One thing not mentioned that I find to be so important is exercise. As soon as I started moving more I was able to find success. I just got a Wii for Christmas! Whoo-hoo!