No matter the plan... we all Blog to Lose!
Another attempt at Weight Watchers
After some months of trying to find other ways to deal with my weight issues, I weighed myself and found what I already knew--I had gained nearly all of the weight back that I had lost last year on Weight Watchers.
I immediately rejoined and am back on track, but I feel less than enthusiastic. This is my seventh time joining WW and I can't count how many attempts to lose weight other ways this makes.
I feel convinced that if I don't figure out my overeating and how it relates to my emotions and feelings, I will be destined to repeat this pattern of losing and gaining for a life time. My 70 year old mother who has been dieting my whole life just rejoined WW herself and I feel sad to think that I might also be consumed with weight issues for the remainder of my life.
I hope that I am not sounding too much like a whiner... it's not my intention. I just need some support around feeling a little tired and hopeless about ever "beating" this obsession with my weight and body image.
I immediately rejoined and am back on track, but I feel less than enthusiastic. This is my seventh time joining WW and I can't count how many attempts to lose weight other ways this makes.
I feel convinced that if I don't figure out my overeating and how it relates to my emotions and feelings, I will be destined to repeat this pattern of losing and gaining for a life time. My 70 year old mother who has been dieting my whole life just rejoined WW herself and I feel sad to think that I might also be consumed with weight issues for the remainder of my life.
I hope that I am not sounding too much like a whiner... it's not my intention. I just need some support around feeling a little tired and hopeless about ever "beating" this obsession with my weight and body image.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by cow2wow on -
Susan, i know how you feel too. I am a stay-at-home mom of 2 and I joined WW 2 yrs. ago and lost 40 pounds and ended up quitting after my Grandmother passed away. I have not rejoined because i am too embarrassed to show them that i gained it all back plus some. Also, with gas and food prices so high i just can't bring myself to spend the money every week to go, even though i know I should do it for me. I am trying to do it at home on my own with all my old materials. Wish me luck i need all the help i can get! Ha!Ha! I am also here for any support or nudging you need just give me a holler!
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Permalink Reply by Susan on -
I know what you mean about the first visit back to a meeting after having gained weight. I even considered trying to lose on my own and going back when it wasn't so high, but I know that the meetings help, so I am going with a friend tonight for my weigh in. I joined last Friday (bought a monthly pass online) and have been tracking with the e-tools on my own, but tonight is my first meeting back since gaining the weight. Ugh. It's totally understandable why you would quit for a while after the death of your Grandmother. That is such a loss and very important in your life, so not losing weight and needing food makes so much sense. Thanks for the encouragement and for feeling my pain!
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Permalink Reply by wannabeaskinimini89 on -
Girl I know exactly how you feel. I did south beach diet and lost 25lbs and then gained it ALL back and then did Weight Watchers and now I've gained just about all of it back again. I feel like a Yo-Yo. I think what I hate the most about these diets is the thought that if I really want to be skinny, I have to eat this way for THE REST of my life. You can't just stop and stay the same weight, unfortunately. It's depressing knowing that you can't eat what you want all the time!! I think thats my biggest problem. But I am doing weight watchers again, online. Hopefully this time I can keep it off! Good luck! I know you can do it!
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Permalink Reply by Charlie Hills on -
Well, you've already discovered one very important point: Weight Watchers doesn't work. [Charlie braces for attack.] Yes, yes, I know that billions of pounds have been lost on WW. But think about it: do you read more stories about how someone lost 100 pounds and kept it off forever? Or more stories about how, "this is my seventh time joining and I gained all the weight back every time."
Now I'm not picking on WW. Just insert any diet above and it all holds true. My point isn't to rag on diets but to show them for what they are: tools. For a full explanation of what I mean, click here.
Anyway, you're here for support, not more whining. First of all, the good news is that feelings can change faster than the weather. You may be down now, but tomorrow might be better. Take stock in the fact that what you're feeling is not an alien concept at all. Every single one of us feels it, probably bunches of times every year.
Will you be dieting your entire life? Well, the sad truth is, yes you probably will. It's taken me twenty years to just begin to realize this. (The denial phase is a loooooong one.) But this is the way I look at it: if I don't keep at it, the alternative is a thousand times worse.
So I will continue to diet. Forever. I will lose weight. I will gain weight. I'll have long, long stretches where everything goes well. I will have episodes of pizza. I'll be happy, I'll be sad, I'll be hopeful, I'll be depressed.
This isn't weight loss. This is life. And life isn't perfect.
The sooner we accept that, the better off we'll all be. :)
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Permalink Reply by HungryHippos on -
That's tough. It happens though. I've done it before too. I think the most important thing is just to look back and see what got you on track. For me, the first time, it was a lifestyle change. When I met my husband, I just wanted to have fun and eat. I stopped weighing, and before I knew it, I had gained so much that it just seemed like too much to battle. Then this last time, I only gained 20, so while it was depressing, it wasn't good. This second time it was job stress, but I never dreamed that I would gain that much because I wasn't off plan that long. I again stopped weighing. My plan this time is that even when I mess up, I am still going to weigh. I am hoping this will get my attention before it is too late. I do think it is something that we're going to have to deal with for the rest of our lives.
I've just been focusing on planning. Since stress is a big factor, I made a list of other ways to deal with stress rather than by eating.
In an odd way, I'm treating food as an "addiction." I'm going cold turkey on Mexican food because probably pretty much like an alcoholic, I can't just have one. I'll eat there one time and before I know it, a few days later I'm back. I'm not even going to go there at all. Hopefully, one day long down the road, I can tackle the Mexican food monster, but for now, I know I'm not ready.
There's also a bright side to this. You know how to do it and you know it can be done. You're aware that you have this problem, and maybe with a lot of planning, you can overcome it one final time.
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Permalink Reply by Cheri B on -
You are not alone! I lost count of how many times I've rejoined. For me, this time I've decided to be a life time member. When you and I reach goal, and we will, we have to continue to stay a part of the ww program. We can't just walk away and think everything is going to be fine. We've found out that that's not the case. I have decided that I am no different than a reformed alcoholic. And what do they do....go to meetings. And they continue going to meetings. It really is all about the support you get when you attend the meetings. It helps you to realize that you are not alone. You don't sound like a whiner! I understand your comment about feeling less than enthusiastic. It is not easy to have to take the weight off again and again. But GOAL feels soooo good, doesn't it. And this time let's stay at goal when we get there, ok?
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Permalink Reply by Susan on
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I have no problem losing the initial weight. I usually get to about 5-10 pounds from goal and then lose steam. I am trying to figure out how to keep up the momentum and not let my enthusiasm fizzle out.
Thanks for the support.
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Permalink Reply by Arlene on -
I lost 110 pounds on Atkins over 2 years, then proceeded to regain 70 of it over the next 2 years, like Hungry Hippos, mainly because I wanted to have fun with the Boyfriend ... and often, our fun involves eating (and eating carbs!)
WW is working for me, but very slowly. I've been doing it for almost a year and have lost just a little under 43 pounds. (In the first year on Atkins, I lost 100 pounds ...)
A lot of people join and rejoin again. I guess you have to be ready ... I mean, Atkins wasn't my first diet. It was just the one that worked for me — for a while, anyway. Now, WW is doing the trick. You have to find what works for you ... something you can stick to, and something you believe in.
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Permalink Reply by LadyBOT on -
One thing that I have been trying to practice this time around is not giving up. What I mean is, we are all going to screw up a little (I know I do). When I have an off day, or week, or month. . I can't just say "screw it" and pig out and stop caring. I realize now that I am way better off trying to get back on track as soon as I notice I am slipping, rather than just saying, "oh well, it's already been a week, who cares".
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Permalink Reply by Susan on
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I do find it difficult to get back on track after having been off. I am still searching for ways to keep on track! Thanks for the supportive words.
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Permalink Reply by Andria on -
It's not hopeless until you give up. I don't think it matters so much if you ever get to the point where you reach goal. I DO think it matters that you keep trying. You're worth it.
You can do this. I think your mom is amazing. She's not giving up on having the healthiest body she can - that's great!
Best of luck to you!
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Permalink Reply by Azad on -
I can't tell you how many times I've joined and subsequently quit weight watchers. Actually I can because I have saved all my books from my past failed attempts (but I don't have them with me now).
All I can tell you is that it only needs to "stick" once to work. This is by far my most successful venture and I finally feel like I've broken through and this is it for me, for life.
I don't think the battle will truly ever end. I do think it gets easier as things become more habitual. I am nervous of about maintenance though, that is a whole different issue!
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