Similar to what Wino Miranda was talking about in her recent post of plateaus and bad habits, recently, I realized that I'd completely abandoned tracking. I guess I thought I knew what I was doing and could handle it all on my own, in my mind, without the help of writing anything down. I was wrong.
What was once a .4 loss away from my 10% goal became a 1.2 loss, and then slipped further away to 2 pounds. Who knows what this week will bring, I am guessing not much better! Bottom line, I was sabotaging my weight loss by abandoning the one thing that was getting me to goal in the first place - tracking.
Realizing this, I started to become disenchanted with the program ... thinking there was no turning back now and I would continue to gain and gain until I was back up that 20 pounds I had lost over the last few months.
Until this past weekend.
Call it being in the right place at the right time or call it, simply, attending a regularly scheduled meeting (admittedly we've been skipping meetings due to conflicts or sushi hunger), but the WW meeting I went to on Saturday with Wino Suz led by Liz (Jennifer Hudson's leader, pictured above) was exactly the inspiration I needed to get my a** back on track with this program.
Hi, I'm Jen and I've Stopped Tracking.
I had all but abandoned this crucial step in the system and, what happened? I found myself slipping further and further from my goals. Coincidence? I think not.
You see, like Liz said, the tracker is like a boyfriend or a girlfriend. You start out blissfully happy - together all the time, holding hands, the feeling that you've found the one - after all, he/she's giving you everything you ever wanted! But, as you start to spend more and more time together, you start to get bored. You start to feel like he/she's asking to much of you, so you start to withdraw. You don't call as much anymore and sometimes, you'll go out with friends and leave your tracker at home. Heck, after your evening, you might not even tell your tracker where you've been or what you've been doing. Your tracker wants too much from you - he/she wants a commitment. A long term together forever commitment and that's just too much to take. So, you break up. You toss the tracker aside and think you'll find someone else who's better for you.
The thing is, you won't. The tracker is the one for you. It's your better half, the secret to your success on this journey to weight loss happiness.
I'm already in a committed, loving relationship, but I'll be honest ... as of today, the love affair with my tracker is in full force again.
Gotta agree with you there...tracking is the key. I need to get back to it. Not gonna beat myself up about it, just gonna get right back to it....after I get back from my vow renewal, after 20 years, in Vegas, Baby! I shoulda coulda lost for the ceremony, but no tracking. Won't go crazy and say I'm gonna do it in Vegas, but dammit, when I get back it is my renewal gift to myself.
ReplyDeleteCongrats on the 20 years, queentata! In my opinion, Vegas is no place for points - have fun, splurge a little! After all, you'll have another 20 years before the next ceremony to lose :)
ReplyDeleteHere I am, catching up on the blog when lo and behold, I recognize that photo.
ReplyDeleteJen, 'twas fab to see you that weekend and I'm so glad I was at that meeting too.
Liz's "your tracker is your boyfriend/girlfriend" analogy was just what I needed to hear when I needed to hear it.
I'd been hiding my "boyfriend" away in shame for a few months, but now he has a prominent spot on my coffee table, always at the ready to hear about everything I'm doing.
Sometimes I want to dump him, but at the end of the day, I know this is one commitment I can't.
:)M