On Thursday, March 11th, 2010, everything changed… NYC Nom Nom, lover of food, especially baking and butter, joined Weight Watchers. It was a big deal for me as while I was never a really bad eater, I had certainly put on weight and was having a complete inability to take it off (even after cutting out lots of foods, cutting portion sizes, and going to the gym 4-5 times per week). When my doctor suggested I try Weight Watchers, I’m not going to lie… I cried a little. Then when I marched myself to a meeting nearly 2 weeks later, I honestly felt like I was marching off to jail. Food jail.
The meeting felt exactly like what I expected… a cross between a AA meeting and a self-motivation class. But I could kind of see why it would be helpful to hear others’ stories and be able to get advice along the way. If I decided I hated it in my cynical New Yorker way, I could always step-down to the online only program and track points that way… but if I was going to food jail, I was going all the way!
I went home that night and I ate edamame. I had absolutely no idea how to do this and thought I would go through all my points in a heartbeat and starve. The next day at work, I didn’t eat until 3pm because I just didn’t know WHAT to eat. I wound up going to the grocery store around the corner to get a frozen meal so I would know exactly what the point value I was eating. I was pretty paralyzed by the fear.
That afternoon, I decided that was it. I was going to do this and I was going to do this 100%. I looked up some recommended Weight Watchers recipes that sounded up my alley and made a Fresh Direct order…
It is now about two and a half weeks later and I can honestly say that, so far, it has been easy. And delicious! Sure, meals require more forethought than before, but I have not been really hungry or felt at all deprived. In fact, the idea that I can have a (diet) dessert every night on the plan is motivating! I can choose between a roll with lunch or an ice cream cone with dinner. No brainer! I also have cooked some really delicious low-point recipes. Now I have to give a bit of a spoiler… I’m 8 pounds down! Pretty amazing really.
So the next few weeks will be a journey… this blog will feature recipes that I specifically will review based on how well they compare to “regular” food as I don’t think dieting should ever mean you can’t eat well. I’ll also be trying to eat differently when I go out. I’m sure this won’t be all successes… but I hope to make the most of it. I apologize to those of you who love the butter sauces and baked goods on this blog… but there will be a bit of a hiatus for those. I’m sure they will be back… some day… hopefully after another 20 pounds.
So without further ado, next week the Weight Watchers postings will begin!
