August 12, 2008
May’s Secrets to Weight Watchers
Last weekend, I bit the bullet and tried on my skinny jeans. My mom bought these for me in 2005 at Scoop NYC. I’m pretty sure she was just overcome with missing me to spend that much on a pair of pants and she still calls it “that crazy store you took me in.” Either way, they’re my prized possession and I haven’t been able to squeeze into them since I met my fiance oh so long ago.
I’m here to say…I’m back in them! I haven’t been this thin in AGES. Now, they really aren’t “street ready” yet. Sure, someone might wear them this tightly but NOT ME. So I still have a way to go, but I got in them and they were buttoned and they didn’t really even look that bad.
And so I thought I might let you in on some of my better dieting tips. What qualifies me to give these? MY HATRED OF DIETING. No, really. I never, ever, ever thought I’d be the type to go on Weight Watchers and I still have not darkened the gym doors in two and a half years. And yet, through portion control, lots of patience, and some nifty tricks, I’m making it work.
Tip 1: No, You’re Not Going to Be Skinny by Friday
One of the hardest things for me to accept was how long this was going to take. How long? MONTHS. Some weeks you lose two pounds, some weeks you gain back three, some weeks you lose half a pound and want to cry. But what’s important is that you stick with it and don’t deprive yourself to the point that it feels like punishment. Just remember, you’re not supposed to be starving. You’re just supposed to be making better decisions.
Tip 2: Figure Out a Way to Exercise
My picture is probably in that big book of psychological illnesses next to the title “Gymus Phobus.” I HATE the gym. I hate the throbbing music. I hate bobbing up and down while trying to watch TV. I hate classes where the peppy, size-2 teacher keeps telling you to “double-time it!” The entire time I’m there, I’m thinking: Life is too short for this, I should be living, I’m a hamster on a wheel. And yet exercise is important to a diet. And I have now found the solution to this problem: walking and the Wii Fit. I walk a mile to and from work every day and now I do cardio, yoga, and strength training on my Wii Fit. I may do a separate blog post about this wonderful machine. Let’s just say it’s kind of like living with an evil trainer…in the good way! There she is. Don’t be fooled by her seemingly harmless nature.
Tip 3: The Skinny Lady Sandwich
I’m doing Weight Watchers with a friend and we share food tips as we discover them. One thing I’m pretty sure I invented is the 2-point Skinny Lady Sandwich. It’s delicious, well-balanced, and oh-so-easy to make. Basically, you get these magic 1-point english muffins my mom (a WW lifetime member) told me about.
Then you whip up some Egg Beaters or egg whites and top the whole thing off with a small sliced tomato. Tomatoes are free! No points! And THAT is the Skinny Lady Sandwich. I promise it will change your life just a little bit.
You should also invest in this 1-point yogurt. You still need your calcium, my friends, but it can be costly (from a points perspective.) This stuff is the best, though I don’t usually buy WW food. This was my friend’s find and it’s really good.
Tip 4: Relax, It’s Just a Small Goof!
In the past when I tried to diet, I’d be very very good…until I was very very bad. And then I’d get to feeling a little defeatist about the matter and would totally fall off the wagon. Something WW has taught me is to not sweat it too much if I gobble down a donut. Just record the points and make better choices the rest of the day. Which leads me to my next tip…
Tip 5: Plan Ahead for Indulgences
Every Wednesday we have free bagels at work. Not just any bagels–the best bagels in the Bay Area, which is kind of like say the king of the idiots, but STILL. I miss NYC bagels and any diet that had me denying myself these steaming, slathered carb circles would never last. Instead, I plan ahead for my bagel. On Wednesday, I eat very lightly the rest of the day so it’s no big deal if I want to indulge. And this keeps me sane.
I hope your respective diets are going well. Remember, it takes a long time. Stick with it!
–May
Way to go May! I’m in “eating healthy” (I refuse to call it a diet) mode as well. I started this year after seeing both my parents have to monitor their blood sugar, triglycerides, and/or blood pressure. I got determined that I was not going to let that happen to me.
For me, it’s all about portion size, and not beating yourself up if you have something that is not-so-healthy. I used to eat a lot of food, and I always went back for seconds, soda was my drink of choice, and I ate something sugar-filled at least once a day. I worked on one thing at a time, cutting out soda first thing this year. Sugar snacks were next, and now I’m working on shopping more from the perimeter of the grocery store for fresh veggies and meats. I’ve been at it on and off for the last three months, and I’m five pounds better off! Not the fastest weight loss ever, but it’s a start in the right direction.
Good on ya, mate… I mean May!
This was so encouraging! Thank you!
I’ve been yo-yo-ing for about 15 years now. But this year has been different! The weight is coming off slowly, but staying off. Yay! I’ve got to find those english muffins. That does sound good.
Are you going to have to alter your wedding dress?
I’m currently eating a bagel with cream cheese and I wasn’t feeling guilty before, but now I am. Darn you! But I’m glad it’s going well for you. I remember those jeans. They look cute on you.
Hooray for the skinny jeans! Congratulations.
Also: I’m printing out this post and TACKING IT TO MY FRIDGE.
I suggest trying Spanx under the jeans - they just might make you “street ready” after all.
Congrats May! That’s so hard. And believe me, it only gets harder as you get older.
Sorry to be depressing.
Shoot. Now I want an ice cream sandwich to cheer me up.
I will be strong! Maybe I’ll give that yogurt a try.
Yeah, the hardest part for me is not being a defeated perfectionist. My thoughts most of the time:
“If I’m not going to be skinny by Friday then forget it.
“If I ate the yummy greasy cheese sticks then I’m a failure…so pass the loaded potato skins…oh and the sour cream!”
These are great tips, May, thanks!
You rock. And you were always so pretty (and skinny) that I never thought you needed to lose an ounce. But congrats regardless! Also, random, but the woman hosting our trip knows you and Anne!!!
Um, Camels and Chocolate, I am SO curious. What kind of trip are you going on? Who is this person who knows us? That was the most vague/intriguing comment in a while!
Camels and Chocolate is in the Caribbean on a press trip. This is why I’m ignoring her. PURE ENVY, I tell you.
Also, I’m pretty sure that this person who knows us must be one of my many long-lost Southern cousins.
That, or we’re big in the islands, mon.