It's NOT my losses???

What sustains my journey?

Do my weight losses sustain my journey? Do my weight losses spur me on toward continued healthy choices when it comes to food and exercise? Or does my commitment sustain my journey? Does my commitment sustain my weight loss? Does my commitment spur those scales toward positive responses?

That’s where I am today. What sustains my journey????

Saturday was a very good day as far as results from the scales. Down 5.8 pounds!

Excellent! Who wouldn’t be excited and thrilled with that response from the scales?

So………………what now?

What happens today, tomorrow and the next day?

I have to continue to remind myself that it wasn’t what happened in that one moment when I stepped on those scales and the dear person who was weighing me looked at the number a couple of times, then wrote it down with a smile. She then excitedly looked at me and said, “You lost 5.8 pounds this week. Great job!!”

I just lost 5.8 pounds!! Cool, very cool!!!!

But wait. No. I didn’t JUST lose 5.8 pounds!! My loss didn’t happen in that one moment that I stepped on those scales and she announced to me that I had lost 5.8 pounds.

So, when did my loss happen?

Did my loss happen on Friday afternoon when I choose NOT to have theater-popcorn at the movies? Did my loss happen on Thursday evening when I choose NOT to drive through Sonic and get a blast or McDonald’s and get a flurry? Did my loss happen on Thursday and Friday morning when I choose NOT to eat the two pieces of iced cake someone brought to the office? Did my loss happen on Monday or Tuesday when I choose NOT to add more dressing to my salad?

Can I have those things--popcorn, blasts, flurries, iced cake, dressing--on Weight Watchers®? Yes. Absolutely! I can have them. However, they are not always beneficial to my journey. They are not always the best choice that I can make at that point in time.

So, I repeat……………when did my loss happen?

My loss didn’t necessarily happen when I choose to cook last Sunday afternoon to prepare meals for the week at work. My loss didn’t necessarily happen when I choose to come home and cook dinner rather than eat a processed meal. My loss didn’t necessarily happen when I choose to not order that crab shell from Captain D’s on Thursday evening with my tilapia meal. It didn’t necessarily happen when I made sure I got my three daily dairy servings. My loss didn’t necessarily happen when I choose to walk to a co-worker’s office to ask her a question rather than emailing or phoning her. My loss didn’t necessarily happen when I pushed extra hard in the pool this past week.

AGAIN, I repeat……………..WHEN did my weight loss happen?

Just when did those 5.8 pounds drop off my body?

Reality is that my loss happened at precisely the moment that I made the commitment to control portions, track everything I ate every day, stay on target each day with my PointsPlus® values and push harder in the swimming pool and move my body more.

So, for the final time......WHEN DID MY LOSS HAPPEN?

I believe that it happened a week BEFORE I stepped on those scales this past Saturday. I believe it happened the moment I made the commitment to make the best choices of what I decided to feed my body and to push harder in the pool.

The bottom line truth, at least for me, is that it’s not my losses that will sustain my commitment -- it’s my commitment that will sustain my losses.

‘Twas the Night Before Weigh-In...............The Choice is Still Mine!

By: Cynthia Oxford, 11/2010
‘Twas the night before weigh-in, when all thru my mind,
Why, oh why do the scales hold and bind?
My mood, my motivation, my determination and my joy
Week after week, tend to be their main toy.

I’ve done what I could this week,
I stayed strong and did not freak!
No potato chips, no cake, not even ice cream I’ve enjoyed,
There were days I wanted all, but resistance I employed!

YES! I resisted the temptations! I kept a strong head!
I will not fret over tomorrow’s weigh-in results, I’ll climb into bed.
Then into my mind, these thoughts come with a roar
I repeated again and again all my great accomplishments galore!

I will work hard through my mind’s mire and muck!
I will NOT be discouraged, though the scales seem stuck
I quieted my thoughts and snuggled down to sleep,
And forced my mind to think of anything but sweets.


My mood on the brink of the report of the scales,
Gives thoughts of rejoicing or weeping the details.
Did I lose, did I gain,
did I at least maintain?

I’ve eaten well and exercised, even if the scales don’t downward budge.
I’ve had a good week, the scales are not my judge!
Why oh why do weigh-in results hold such power;
Over my mood, over my week, I will not resort to cower!

My victories are great, I begin to repeat--
No more BP meds, no more walking stick, moved up the car seat,
Smaller sizes in pants, shirts, swimsuits and more
Won’t give those details, don’t want to be a bore.

I love the night before weigh-in, as I think back over my week;
I’ve fought a good fight, my POINTS® were kept meek.
Again, I repeat, THE SCALES ARE NOT MY JUDGE!!
As I face a new week, and with my POINTS® will not fudge!

Those who know me best, have verified
My life has changed. That fact cannot be denied.
From inactivity and fast food, I’m completely refraining;
Healthy eating and exercising choices I’m sustaining;
As the weeks are passing, my life I am regaining.

So on the nights before weigh-in, as off to sleep I drift;
I think of Weight Watchers® and my new life as a gift.
Dear friend, don’t give up, don’t ever back down;
The choice, after all, is ours and a healthy life is the crown.