Weight Watchers Week 8 Update

Week 8: Down 14lbs (Hooray!)

In my opinion, late winter,, is the toughest time to be a Canadian. I know, it varies from coast to coast but, overall, this time of year can be downright ugly. The gloomy grey and the ongoing snowfall make me feel like curling up in front of the TV with a bag of chips and not coming out until spring blooms. This year, for the most part, I have resisted this urge. And, instead found ways/excuses to celebrate late winter.

For example, this time of year has more days off of school than any other. Between PD Days, Family Day, March Break and soon Easter I have had loads of time with the kids. This has been a great way to stay busy but has also offered some interesting challenges.

My celebrations, including 5 days in Barbados, often came with a dinner out. Weight Watchers 360 has shown me how to indulge occasionally as long as I plan for it.  Here is how I turned these grim and gloomy days into celebrations as I continue to work towards my weight loss goals:

Eating Out – We ate out a lot in the last few months and I adopted 5 key strategies that allow me to enjoy my meal without feeling guilty and suffering the consequences on the scale later on.

1) No fries. This is just smart. I have ordered a burger and enjoyed it thoroughly (I often also remove ½ the bun) but I can feel good about my choice because I had a side of salad instead of the fries. I saved up my Weight Watchers points for a dinner out and still made choices that didn’t sabotage my efforts.

2) Dressing on the side. Many salad entrees or even side salads come with all sorts of goodies, including the dressing, so my rule is to ask for most of it on the side. Therefore, I can control just how much I use and can accurately measure it for points.  I find that by doing it this way I often use very little of some of the toppings, including the dressing, and still have a delicious and satisfying meal.

3) Water. Always have a water glass and have it refilled many times throughout your meal! Not only will this help to fill you up but also, if you decide to indulge in a glass or two of wine, it will slow you down from drinking too many points (and getting tipsy!)

4) Stop when you’re full. I am SO guilty of eating and eating something because it is just so darn delicious and then regretting those last few (wafer, wafer) thin bites as soon as I’m done. I know I am full but I still crave more! This hedonic hunger thing is tough to overcome so eat a little slower, focus on what you are eating, enjoy it but stop when your body says enough. You will be satisfied but not stuffed.

5) NO dessert. This sounds harsh but, for me, it is the only way. I have occasionally indulged in a little ice cream or a cookie at home because I control the portion size but, at a restaurant, no way. If someone else has a dessert I may sneak a bite but I do not have the self-control to order a treat that is bound to be WAY bigger than a regular portion and only eat a few bites. Therefore, I save my treats for other things and don’t tempt fate.

So far these few rules have kept me honest and on track but still able to continue to work towards my goal. Avoiding eating out while trying to lose weight is not smart as it is not sustainable. Learning to understand your triggers and developing some rules will help you to be successful while still enjoying an evening out to celebrate!