As a parent, the days are long…but the years are short.

I don’t have a lot of time tonight, (because I am dead-dog tired) but I just wanted to pop in to say….

I’m down another 1.6 lbs!   Woo-hoo! Bringing my 3-week total to -7.2 lbs.   Bringing me very close to being 25% of the way toward my goal of 30 lbs.

I’m still excited about the program because this is obviously something that actually works for me.   I like that there are no “forbidden foods”.   Because in all honesty, as soon as someone says “You can’t eat that”, then “that” becomes all I want to eat.

Some of the changes I’ve made include:

Portion control – this was by far my biggest downfall prior to WW.   Learning to be satisfied with enough, instead of too much.

Bring on the veggies – I’ve added a lot more broccoli and cauliflower to my menu.   I love it, and my kids love the broccoli.

“Cleaning” recipes – I’ve gone through some of my favorite recipes and cleaned them up by using more “fat free”, “low fat”, and “sugar free” ingredients when possible.

Hungry Girl – I purchased one of her books.   I’ve made her Chocolate Cake twice in the past week.   It’s soooo yummy, and the POINTS value is pretty low.   (Her recipe is to take a box of Devils Food Cake Mix or I used a Chocolate Cake Mix, then mix it with a can of pumpkin.   Don’t add eggs or oil or water – just pumpkin.   The batter will be pretty thick when it is mixed, but it will taste wonderful.   Bake it as the box directs for the type of cake pan you use.   Voila! Yummy cake, at about 4 points per piece. And I promise, you don’t taste the pumpkin at all.)   Now, if I could just get Hubby to slow down on the cake eating, it might actually last a couple of days.

So, I think it’s time to confess my dirty little secret.

I’m overweight.

Not like it’s a huge secret, I mean anyone who sees me – knows that I’m overweight, by a lot.   I don’t feel comfortable enough to share how much I weigh, or how much I could stand to lose – at least for now.   Maybe as I move forward with this in the weeks and months to come, I’ll feel confident enough to share.   But for now, let’s just say I could stand to lose a few pounds.

It’s not like this is a revelation.   I know it, and known it for years.   I’ve tried all sorts diets and schemes.   Some work, some don’t – all of them have required more effort than I was willing to put into it.   Ergo, none of them worked in the long run.

When we were on vacation a couple of weeks ago in San Antonio.   I was really overcome by the thought that I have to do something about my weight.   There was no major event that caused this.   I didn’t fall into the river.   I didn’t have any embarrassing moments.   I just realized as I was staring out at the skyline from our balcony that I don’t want to be like this anymore.   So, I set a goal to lose 30 pounds.   I don’t have a required time frame because I tend to take myself WAY too seriously and quit if I don’t meet all points of the goal.

So, 30 lbs. with a time frame of “get it done, but do it right, and don’t try to kill yourself in the process.”   I know I’m not going to be one of “The Biggest Loser”s and get it all done in 2 weeks.     But I also know that if I’m left to my own devices, nothing will happen.   Something had to change in order for me to move toward this 30 lb. goal.

And, that change is official – I have joined Weight Watchers.

I’ve been doing it for a week now, and for the first time ever – I really feel like I can do this.   I don’t ever remember feeling like this after one week on any other plan.   Sure there were some where I lost tons of weight, but I knew what I did to lose it couldn’t be done for the long haul.   But this WW thing, I really think I can do this!

I love that I can eat normal food, just smaller portions. I don’t have to buy any pre-packaged meals or eat only prescribed foods.   I like that I can still have my coffee the way that I like it, which is a little coffee with my cream.   I like that I don’t have to give any particular food items up.   I like that I’m learning (or rather, re-learning) proper portion sizes.   I like that I’m learning to pay attention to everything I eat.   I like that I have a buddy to go with me to the meetings.   I like that I’m moving toward a healthier me.   And, I like that it has an impact on my immediate family because I’m pretty sure Hubby’s going to end up losing a few pounds, too.

Tonight, I had my second weigh-in.   I lost 3.8 lbs. this week.   Can you believe it?!   Nearly 4 pounds the week of Halloween!   I’m so proud of myself, I think I could bust.