An Anchor and a Goal

It has been 3 months since my baby boy was born and I am nowhere near where I thought I would be with my weight. I guess I underestimated how challenging it would be to get back to my goal weight after my pregnancy. I think I was looking at my weight-loss this time the way I looked at it prior to having a child. That is a HUGE No No. I forgot about the fact that my time isn't "MY" time anymore. I also forgot how important getting enough sleep each night is for weight-loss. Let's just say, I've had to make LOTS of adjustments. It's ok. I made a promise to myself that I will accept change (as hard as that is for a control freak planner like me.)

I am a mother who works outside the home so I have to make the most of MY time, when I have it. My schedule used to be a lot more flexible before becoming a mother. I could literally decide on a whim when I would exercise. Now, I have to have a Plan A, Plan B and C and they all have to be approved by my partner (husband) and my boss (my son). Very rarely does my boss approve. So how have I combatted this? I listen to my INNER SKINNY CHICK when she says to include your family in your fitness efforts. Go on walks/runs together. It's much more fun that way and the whole family is likely to approve.

Another thing that keeps me focused is the fact that I have an "anchor" and a "goal." These are two things that my INNER SKINNY CHICK will tell you is absolutely necessary for you to be successful at losing weight and keeping it off. An anchor is something that represents a time in your life that was positive. Maybe you accomplished something amazing or completed an impossible task. You may have even beaten the odds and overcame an illness. Whatever that positive experience is, find a symbol that represents that time, that's your anchor. Place your anchor somewhere that's visible to you. That way when you are challenged and times get rough, and believe me they will, you will have a reminder of just how awesome you are! My anchor is right here on this page to the right if you scroll down just a little bit. It's the picture of me in that "hot" grey dress that I wore in the commercial and print ads for Weight Watchers. The dress itself is my anchor because it represents a time for me when I was at my goal-weight and feeling FABULOUS! It also represents me sharing my story of how I was able to start somewhere and finish somewhere else. I may not have started out as healthy, but I finished as the healthiest version of me.

To make your anchor even more effective, my INNER SKINNY CHICK says to have a goal. Goals are so important. If you were to interview some of the most successful people, they all would say that they have one thing in common...they had a goal and sometimes more than one. Goals are so important because they provide a way for you to measure your success. You can say you want to be successful at living a healthier lifestyle and losing weight, but how can you do that if you have no metrics in place to measure that success? My goal just so happens to be tied to my anchor. My goal is to be able to wear my "commercial" dress again. (How "fitting!" HA HA HA) So, you know what I have done, I have hung my dress on the doorknob of my hall closet in my house. Every time I leave my bedroom, the first thing I see is my dress. This keeps my mind "anchored" to my "goal." (See what I did there?)

What's your anchor? Have you set a goal? Do it TODAY! I can't wait until I can share a photo of myself in that dress holding my baby boy on my hip. I think I will feel even more accomplished than I did the first time around.

Back for the Second Time

Hello everyone! I'm back! I know, I can't stay away this long. How long has it been? Well, about 10 or 11 months. You know what's happened in that time? I had a baby!!! Yup, that's right a beautiful baby boy. My first baby. What a blessing! I am so excited to be a mom and I am so ready for the journey.



 My baby, EJ, all dressed to go on a run with Mommy

(If you want to read more about my adventures with EJ visit The Mommy Diaries: Book of EJ)

 



Some of you may be thinking, "Wow, that's so awesome, but what about her weight-loss?' Or maybe, "Is she still a "skinny chick?" Ok so maybe you aren't thinking that and those are just the voices inside of my head. But, I still feel obligated to answer those questions. What about my weight-loss, well let's see...I gained about 35 pounds during my pregnancy which was within the healthy amount of weight-gain for pregnancy according to doctors.



 

Here I am at 39 weeks and 3 days (about ready to pop)

 



I can honestly say that I am pleasantly surprised about how great I looked and felt during my pregnancy. You always hear those horror stories about women who have gained an obscene amount of weight during their pregnancies and are virtually unrecognizable. I was prepared for that to be me. As someone who has struggled with her weight, I always tend to think the worst in that area. But, like I said, thankfully that was not the case. I made sure of it too, because when I first learned that I was pregnant I listened to my INNER SKINNY CHICK and she told me to continue with my normal habits and routines. Do not use pregnancy as a pass to forget all that you have learned and the lifestyle that you have grown accustomed to. So that's exactly what I did. I continued to remain active. (As active as I could later in the pregnancy.) But, most importantly, I made the decision that I would NOT STOP journaling all of the food that I ate daily. When people found out that I was doing this, they thought that I was crazy. "What?," they would say. "But, you're eating for two. You can have what ever you want." I quickly reminded them that I was eating for two, but not two adults! They had no choice but to agree with that. I worked really hard to keep journaling throughout my entire pregnancy. I am proud to say that I accomplished that.

 

So where am I now? Am I still a "skinny chick?" Well, it has been almost 10 weeks since I had my adorable little man and I still have about 10-15 pounds to lose. I have to admit, it has been a lot harder this time around to lose the weight. I knew that it wouldn't just "fall off," but I thought, given how careful I had been with my eating, that I wouldn't have to work this hard. I started going back to Weight Watchers meetings 3 weeks after my baby was born. I knew that Weight Watchers was the only thing that was going to work for me, since it worked so well for me before. I had to go back to basics. This time around my weight-loss journey has been a lot slower. Granted, I didn't have as much weight to lose this time, but it seems to be taking FOREVER. I lose weight one week and gain a little the next. This seems to be a pattern for me. Although, overall I am losing weight, it is just a very frustrating process. It's even more frustrating when you know you have lost this weight before and NONE of your old clothes fit and you are left with wearing maternity pants until the weight comes off.

 

I knew that once I got clearance from my doctor to begin activity, that would surely ramp up my weight-loss efforts. Not so much. Still very, very slow. I made a commitment to myself that I would register for the Peachtree Road Race (an annual 10K race in Atlanta that happens on July 4th). I have done that and begun my training. I knew this, too, was going to be challenging. I hadn't run in almost a year and in a couple of months my goal was to able to run 6.2 miles. Am I insane?? I guess I thought that since I ran a 1/2 marathon for the first time in 2012 and I did that in the same year that I ran my first 10K that this would be no different. I am on my way in my training, but not without my challenges and bumps in the road. There have been days where I have wanted to give up and say there is no way I will be ready in July. The great thing is I have an accountability partner, my husband, who is training with me. We trained together for the 1/2 marathon so it seemed only right for us to do this together as well. He keeps me focused and helps me keep everything in perspective. I am a new mom, it's only been 10 weeks since the birth of my son, and I just started back at work. I have to listen to my INNER SKINNY CHICK when she says to be patient with myself. This weight took 9 months to gain, it will not come off overnight.

 

 My husband and I at the finish line of the Atlanta Half Marathon on Thanksgiving Day 2012

 







The Scale: Friend or Foe

Over the past couple of weeks I have been having a personal battle with my scale. It just doesn't seem to be saying what I would like it to say. And I have to confess, this is the first time in over 2 years that this has happened. So you can imagine my surprise when I found myself questioning the numbers that I saw on the scale. "What in the world did I do?" "I seem to be doing the same things." "How was my activity this week?" "How many times did I eat out?" These are just a few of the questions that I ask myself to evaluate my week. But, when all the answers to these questions are in line with what you normally do to be successful...then WHAT?

MY INNER SKINNY CHICK says: Sometimes the number on the scale has nothing to do with how successful you have been in your journey to healthy living. As much as this doesn't make sense to most of us, including myself at times, there are lots of other reasons that the number on the scale may not match our efforts. For instance, in my case, I am dealing with some health issues that caused my weight to be up a couple of pounds. Although, I know this to be true, it still seemed to discourage me. There are many other reasons that the scale could be up. For example, did you consume a meal with lots of sodium recently? How about activity; did you try something new that's got you really sore? Maybe your doctor has got you on a different medication. It might even be a hormonal issue. All these reasons could result in water retention which could show as weight gain on the scale.

So how do we stay positive during these times and keep ourselves from spiraling out of control? Here's what works for me. MY INNER SKINNY CHICK says: Establish a non-scale related goal for yourself each week. That way if the scale doesn't say what you would like it to, you are still successful if you achieved your goal. It also helps to think about the things that you have been doing well and what you are proud of. For me, I tried Zumba for the first time last week and it was AMAZING. I have also been doing yoga every morning and have deepened my practice. I have increased my intake of vegetables, which has always been a struggle for me. And even though the scale is up, my clothes are still fitting nicely. See, I found a way to reframe my situation to accentuate the positive things that I have accomplished. This really works and keeps me motivated to keep on going. Remember, this is your journey; no one else's. You are in control of how you react to situations that arise in your life. You can either let them keep you down or fight until the end.

Moving Forward: One Tiny Step at a Time

It seems like we're all in a rush, especially when it comes to weight-loss. We've got this mindset of, "Let's see how much weight I can lose in the shortest amount of time." Is it really fair to expect this of ourselves when, in most cases, we didn't put the weight on in a short amount of time? When people find out that I have lost 40 pounds, the first thing they ask me is, "How long did it take for you to lose the weight?" I always find this question interesting because I wonder if it will make a difference for them how I answer the question. If I said it took me 10 years, would those inquiring change their mind about the importance for them to adopt a healthy lifestyle? Would it make me less credible? I really don't know.

What I do know is that we are focusing on the wrong thing. My INNER SKINNY CHICK says: Instead of stressing over how long it is taking you to LOSE weight, why not focus on how LONG you are going to keep the weight OFF.  If this is our mindset from day one, I think that most of us would have a whole different approach to our weight-loss. Instead of trying the latest fad that promises quick results with minimal effort, we would try a plan that makes sense for us in everyday living and incorporates flexibility for our ever-changing lives. I think (and this is just my opinion) that the reason why most of us don't adopt this mindset is because it implies that we will be making a commitment to live healthy for an extended period of time, maybe even for life. This concept may seem daunting for the vast majority of us. How can we possibly go from "couch potato" to "health nut?" Well, I will tell you that if you go into it expecting for this transformation to happen over night, you will just be shooting yourself in the foot. Change--real life-change--takes TIME. If you are looking to lose weight and keep it off, time is going to be your best friend. 

I know this is probably not what you want to hear. Hey, I didn't want to hear it either when I first started out. But, in order to make changes that stick, time is definitely on your side. So, how do we go about this time-consuming change? Well, I'm so glad you asked. My INNER SKINNY CHICK says: Setting manageable goals throughout your journey will get you one step closer to a total lifestyle change. Ah, yes; GOAL-SETTING. This is probably the most powerful skill that you can learn. I will share with you the 3 things that I consider when setting goals for myself. These are characteristics for effective goals no matter what area of life you wish to use them.

1. Make sure your goals are SIMPLE. 

Simplicity is the key. The smaller the goal the better. Small goals are more attainable and are things that you can actually do or achieve. Have you ever made a New Year's resolution? How many times did you actually keep it? More often then not, these resolutions are broken, sometimes even before the end of January. This is typically due to the grand nature of the goal. It's so HUGE that you can't possibly keep it. Stack the deck in your favor. Set yourself up to succeed. A goal met is a WIN no matter how small it is. The small things add up over time to true life-change. 

2. Keep your goals SPECIFIC. 

It's nice to say that you want to run or walk. But, how far? How long? How often? Answering these questions will make your goal more specific, therefore measurable. How will we know if we have actually met our goal if there are no specifics? It's a lot easier to know if I've met my goal if I say, "I want to walk 3 times a week for 30 minutes" then if I just say, "I want to walk." 

3. Be REALISTIC. 

Going back to our goal of walking, do you think it's realistic for me to set a goal to walk 5 miles if I have never even walked 1 mile? Probably not. If we set goals that are unrealistic for ourselves, we may not be able to meet them and this will do nothing but discourage us. When you are setting goals ask yourself this question, "Is this doable for me?"  It's so important to add the "for me" part. The goal may be doable, but for someone else. What good will that do you? It must be realistic and doable for YOU. 

So there you have it. SIMPLE, SPECIFIC and REALISTIC. If your goals have these characteristics, you're on your way to behavioral changes with staying power. Again, I want to reiterate, this will take TIME. But, what happens when you set a goal and achieve it? Most of us feel excited, proud and empowered to go further. You may even set another goal. Before you know it, you will notice a change in yourself and you'll wonder, "Hey, when did that happen?"

Cupcake WARS

A cupcake. You would not believe how much of an impact this simple treat has had on my weight-loss journey. It's quite interesting because before I began losing weight, I really was never moved or tempted by cupcakes. I would much rather have indulged in a piece of cake, preferably Carrot, Red Velvet or a refreshing piece of Key Lime Pie. Cupcakes were a tease to me. Little did I know, this was all about to change. 

I can remember the day my battle began with cupcakes. It was a battle that I would ultimately win, however it doesn't seem that way in the beginning. It was in February of 2011. I was about 3 months into my weight-loss journey with Weight Watchers and I had been doing rather well. I had begun to figure out a way to stick to my daily target of points and not feel particularly deprived, all while losing weight at a healthy rate each week. It was my employee's birthday and I decided, as a treat, I would bring her cupcakes to celebrate her day. Keep in mind, this was MY decision to buy the cupcakes. 

When the time came to open the box, everyone dove right in and grabbed their treat while I retreated to my office and indulged in my 2 point WW mini bar. I smiled to myself as I celebrated my victory of passing on the cupcakes. Then, out of nowhere my employee, who's birthday it was, came into my office with something in her hand. I could smell it as soon as she entered my space. What was she doing? How could she enter my sacred space with such a sinful indulgence? Is she really trying to see me fail? I couldn't think straight. And then it happened; the perfectly frosted cake of deliciousness was placed on my desk with a loud thud. Okay, so it really didn't make a thud, but it sure felt like it. 

Panic began to surge through my body. I could feel my will power beginning to melt away with every passing moment. I heard her say the words, "You forgot your cupcake." Then the battle began. "Oh, I'm not going to have a cupcake," I said. "I really don't want one." As I heard the lie come out my mouth, my desire begin to increase and I could feel myself beginning to salivate. "Do it for me," she said. "It's my birthday. It's not like you eat like this ALL the time." We began to go back and forth arguing our cases to the death. Finally she said, "Fine. I'm leaving this here for you." As she turned and walked out of my office and shut the door, I believe my heart stopped at that moment.

I sat there just staring at the cupcake. I started to take deep breaths, thinking to myself, "I don't really want this cupcake. If I just sit here long enough, it will pass." I began to tap my fingers on my desk and bite my pen. All the while the cupcake seemed to grow larger by the second.Then it happened...I tore into that cake like I hadn't eaten in at least a month. When my employee came back to check on me, the only evidence that was left of my battle with the cupcake was a few crumbs on my desk. She smiled at me with a knowing look and left.

I was thinking about the decision that I had made. I felt so guilty and pathetic. I felt as if I had set myself back and all the progress that I had made on my weight-loss journey up until this moment didn't mean a thing. Then I remembered something that I heard at my Weight Watchers meeting that week. Some members had mentioned that they were using their 49 extra points allowance to have treats throughout the week. I had prided myself in the fact that I had NEVER used any of my extra points. I had been able stay within my daily points without ever having to use any extra. I decided to figure out how many points my cupcake cost me. After determining that I had spent 14 points, I knew that if I wanted to eat for the rest of the week I was going to have to use some of those extra points. So I accounted for my cupcake. Believe it or not, I actually felt better. I had acknowledged what I had eaten.

That week when I attended my Weight Watchers meeting, I was extremely nervous about stepping on the scale because I knew about my battle with the cupcake. I held my breath, "Here goes." To my surprise...I had lost weight! I couldn't believe it. I was so shocked. I shared my cupcake story with my leader and the other members in the group. As I was describing what happened, I realized that what I was feeling was a result of deprivation. MY INNER SKINNY CHICK says: The way you lose your weight is the way that you will have to maintain your weight-loss. If you lose weight by deprivation, and not treating yourself along the way, you will have to maintain your loss by doing the same.

From that point on, I have used my extra allowance to treat myself every week, even with CUPCAKES! I actually celebrated my birthday a few weeks ago and I planned to treat myself to a gourmet cupcake that was AMAZING!

The key to losing weight and keeping it off is not a life of deprivation or eliminating the foods that you love. It's about managing those foods and enjoying them in moderation.

Do you have your own story like my cupcake story? What are some of the foods that you love to treat yourself with?

 

ME AT CAMI CAKES (GOURMET CUPCAKE SHOP) 

http://camicakes.com/

 

THE SWEET POTATO CUPCAKE THAT I CHOSE

I'm Back!!!

It has been several months since my last blog post. I had taken a break because I honestly was feeling like no one was really interested in what I had to say. When I started this blog about a year and a half ago, I really had no idea what the outcome would be. I thought that what I had to say would be relevant to some people, and they may even be inspired by it. I also thought it may serve as an outlet for me to express what I was really feeling, somewhat like a journal or diary.

I was posting pretty consistently for a while and then I started to feel like I was wasting my time. Were people really interested in what I had to say?? Or, was it just a collection of my close friends and family members stopping by to see what I had written? So, I thought, "to heck with it." I just stopped posting. I felt like blogs that were accentuating negative feelings and emotions were getting more readership. My blog was "too positive." No one wants to hear from someone who is actually being successful at weight-loss. Where's the drama in that? This made me think my blog was like the people who are replaced on reality TV shows because they are "boring." (Whatever that means...)

Well, guess what....I'm not going to let any of that stop me. I'M BACK! With all of my positive, happy, inspirational glory. If you need to feel good about yourself, feel encouraged or inspired, this is the place for you. I may even make you laugh a time or two. So get ready, MORE POSTS TO COME!

Embrace the Journey

As a Weight Watchers meeting Leader, I am constantly learning from my members. You would probably think, "Aren't you the Leader? Shouldn't you be leading them??" Well, yes, and I do. However, from time to time there are things that are said in the meeting room that touch me and inspire me so much. This past Saturday was one of those times. I have a Facebook group that I started for all of the members who attend my meetings. This gives them a place to inspire, motivate and encourage each other in between meetings. I lead 12 meetings a week all over the metro Atlanta area. There are over 70 members who actively post in this group. Most of them have never even met each other. I am always so touched to see how they inspire one another. I would like to share the post by my member, Kimberly, who truly inspires me and said the most profound thing this past Saturday:

I wanted to share something here with y'all. I did share this thought with my WW class with encouragement from our wonderful leader, Renee. I hope it will make you think about your own weight loss journey.
Last week I received my 50 pound loss. I mentioned to my husband later that night about a bracelet I had seen that I wanted as a reward for that milestone. We jumped into the car and raced over to the nearest Brighton store and purchased my "reward."
The reason why this bracelet is so special to me is because it has the words, " Enjoy the Journey" written on it. I had remembered how Renee is stressing the fact that losing weight is a weight loss journey. So, I began to think about what that phrase, "Enjoy the Journey" means to me.
Sometimes during our journey we have good weigh-ins & g

ood weeks and of course, those bad moments we would rather forget. Having this bracelet has reminded me that I have come far from where I once was 50 pounds ago. I can feel confident going into stores, a ring fits much better, eating in a restaurant, an old pair of jeans fit me again or even stepping out of that box we may put ourselves in and getting a fresh new haircut. This bracelet with that wonderful phrase reminds me to look at the good things I have completed and pay attention to the positive changes I have applied to my life. So, even though we have those weak moments...don't let those take you so far down you can't pick yourself up....and lose track of why you began WW in the first place. Just take a moment to, "Enjoy YOUR Journey!"

 

Thank you so much, Kimberly for sharing this. I truly believe that this message will inspire so many. 

 

 

If you are a Weight Watcher member and would like to join our Facebook Group, just search "Beyond the WW Flipchart" on Facebook and request to join the group.  

 

 

 

Skinny Chick in Africa

Some of you may know that I had the opportunity of a lifetime to travel to Ngaamba, Kenya (a village outside of Nairobi) this past July for a mission trip. I have been back home now for a little over 2 1/2 months and it has taken this long for me to be able to express the awesome experience in words. 

I will say that one of the most outstanding aspects of this trip, for me, was the fact that I got to share this experience with my husband, Jamal. 

I have been asked on many occasions to describe my trip. I've been asked things like, "How was it?" or "I want to know all about it." Again, it has been so difficult to sum it up in just a few sentences or even in one conversation. I have been thinking long and hard about what I would say when I got the chance to share my story. So here goes...

We traveled to Kenya through Globalx, which a missions ministry offered through our church, North Point Community Church. http://goglobalx.org We partnered with an organization called The 410 Bridge http://www.410bridge.org. We were led throughout our whole 10-day excursion by an awesome guide, a native Kenyan, Abraham, who works with 410 Bridge. 

Our mission was to spread God's love to the children at Kalembwani Primary School. We did this by teaching them lessons through Bible stories, arts and crafts and sports.

I have to admit I was extremely nervous about all of this. I had never traveled to Africa or been that far away from home. And believe me, it is far. That is really put into perspective when you have traveled for over 24 hours to get to your destination. I could not sleep at all on the trip there. I was filled with lots of anxiety about not knowing what to expect upon our arrival.

All of my nerves were eased when we arrived in Nairobi. We were greeted by our most-amazing guide Abraham, who made us feel as if Kenya was our home. We traveled about 3 more hours to reach the Miriam Hotel in Sultan Hamud. We rested and set out on our journey the next morning.

From this point forward, I have to say that what I experienced was nothing like anything I have ever encountered in my life. We were greeted by the children and their mothers singing to us in perfect harmony. The sound was so moving, that it brought tears to my eyes. This is the feeling that set the tone for our trip. The Kenyans possess something that most of us try hard to emulate. It goes beyond just happiness and pride. Although, I will say they are some the most happy people I have ever met. To me, happiness is a temporary and conditional emotion. For instance, lots of us have been happy due to certain conditions in our lives. What the Kenyans possess goes way beyond that, they have JOY. This is an emotion that comes from within. It is not conditional, it just IS.

No matter what the Kenyans were facing whether it was the lack of running water, lack of electricity or even lack of shoes, nothing took away that unmistakable JOY.

I set out with a mission to help the people of Ngaamba, Kenya. However, I came home changed. They helped me to understand that happiness isn't conditional. JOY is something that rests within each of us. We can tap into it, and when we do, it is contagious. The thing to remember is that it does not get triggered by material things like a house, a job or even how much money you are worth. It is simply triggered by the truth that we all have a purpose and our life here on Earth is for a reason. We are all connected, whether you live in a small village in Kenya or a huge metropolis like Atlanta. I can still feel the JOY of the Kenyans and now I can say I have my own.

To experience this JOY in pictures feel free to click this link:
http://photos1.walmart.com/walmart/thumbnailshare/AlbumID=7864696001/a=7854960_7854960/otsc=SHR/otsi=SALBlink/COBRAND_NAME=walmart/

The Battle: Thin vs. Healthy

I recently asked this question to my members in one of my Weight Watchers meetings, "Do most people want to be "thin" or "healthy?" The overwhelming response was healthy. However, I had to disagree with them. I believe that most people, if they're being honest with themselves, just want to be thin and if "healthy" happens, it happens.

Being healthy takes work, commitment, time and it is continuous. This is not something that you can just take a pill for or do a 14-day cleanse to become. Healthy is a lifestyle. This requires the breaking of old habits and forming new ones.

On the flip side, being "thin" is a condition. Conditions can be temporary. There are many things that you can do to be thin. Most of which would not be considered healthy. Let's just look at some of the things people in our culture are doing just to become "thin." You can eat pre-packaged food that is sent to you in the mail, you can stick a feeding tube up your nose and live without solid foods for 10 days, you can take pills, you can cut out carbs, you can cut out fat or any other macro nutrient of your choice, you can drink shakes, you can have surgery, you can take laxatives and the list goes on and on. I will agree that doing the majority of these things will probably make you thin, but how long will you stay that way? What message are you sending to your body?

Some of the things I listed that people are willing to do to become thin may sound rather surprising or extreme. However, people ARE doing these things. LOTS of people. Why? Why are we willing to sacrifice our health for a temporary condition? The answer: It's EASY. Most people, if they are honest, will tell you that they want to take the easiest path possible to be thin. I heard a recent report that said more people would rather be thin than be wealthy. WOW that says a whole lot. It also says a lot about our culture that being "thin" is so glorified that the extreme measures that people are willing to take to become thin are now becoming the norm.

People, I urge you to reconsider these extreme measures and seriously contemplate what it really means to long for this "quick-fix" for weight-loss. Those of us, myself included, who have/had a weight problem, had the problem due to other issues in our lives. We chose food as a way to handle them. Whether you use food to celebrate, soothe your pain or relieve boredom, it's all the same. Learning how to manage food and make the best food choices is key. Adding in activity into our daily lives, instead of watching others be active on reality TV will make a huge impact on our health. Understanding that losing 20 pounds in a month is not a healthy rate of weight-loss will help considerably.

I understand that what I am saying may be hard to hear for lots of people. We want results and we want them FAST. I am here to tell you that if you adopt a healthy lifestyle, it may not happen over night, but the weight will come off and it will STAY off. After all, isn't maintaining your weight-loss more of a WIN than how long it took you to lose the weight?

In Good Times and In Bad

You know that feeling you get when you are just starting your weight-loss journey? The one where you are so dedicated. You have cleaned out your pantry and fridge and gotten rid of all the junk. You joined a gym and are exercising most days of the week. You are on it. Nothing can stop you...until it does. The "thing" that happens, whatever it may be, can put your weight-loss journey to a screeching halt.

We've all experienced this, or if you haven't, it's almost guaranteed that you will. How we react in these situations is what separates a success story from just another yo-yo dieter. My Inner Skinny Chick says: The key to getting through the challenges, set-backs, and speed bumps is to anticipate them before they occur.  I'm not saying to go into your weight-loss journey with a negative attitude, just understand that a journey without challenges just doesn't exist.

Most weight-loss journeys have a common formula: We start out with great expectations for our progress and we see results. Then the challenges arise. These challenges come in all different forms. They can range from a busy schedule, to a summer vacation, to an injury/illness, a weight-loss plateau or even stress/emotional difficulties. This is the turning point in our journey. We now have a choice; will we rise above our challenges and persevere OR will we allow these seasons of difficulty to define us and ultimately derail any progress we have made?

If you choose to persevere, then you are on to the next step of the process; character building. This is where the behavioral changes begin to emerge. You start to see yourself in a completely different light. You are a winner. You have gotten through the challenging season of your journey and are victorious. At this point any other challenges that arise don't seem as big. You are using your victory over your last challenge as proof that you can conquer anything. Before you know it, you have reached your ultimate goal and you are the author of a success story that is inspiring others.

I know, from experience, that this is a lot easier said than done. There are times that seem so hard, so draining and challenging. You begin to wonder, "What's the point?" When you find yourself in this place, choose to persevere. You will be a much better person for it. You will feel better about yourself and you never know who your story will inspire in the future.

One Year Later

BEFORE/AFTER

1 YEAR AT GOAL WEIGHT-40 POUNDS LOST!

Well, it's been a whole year since I reached my goal weight. Happy Anniversary too me!! I am actually more proud today than I was on the day I reached my goal. I didn't think that would be possible, but it is. One year ago, today when I stood on the scale before my weekly Weight Watchers meeting and they told me I had reached my goal, I think I was in a state of shock. Did I do it? Did I really just lose a total of 32 pounds? Then after they gave me the good news, they said the dreaded word...maintenance.

To be honest, this really FREAKED me out. So now after I have spent the last 6 months losing weight, you are honestly telling me I get to eat MORE food and maintain my weight??!! This was very frightening. I didn't want all of my hard work to go to waste and I didn't want to look like a failure to myself and to all of my friends and family that supported me throughout this journey. 

My leader could see my face and recognized the familiar look of "maintenance panic." She quickly gave me the advice that I give to my members now who are headed into maintenance: Take it one day at a time, just like you did when you first started to lose weight. There is an adjustment period. You will learn where your body is comfortable and how much food (points) to eat in a day to maintain your goal weight. 

I did just that. Now after a year of maintaining my goal weight, my life looks totally different. Well, first of all, I am now a Weight Watchers leader myself. I spend the bulk of my days helping, advising, motivating and inspiring members to reach their weight-loss goals. I am also one of the "faces" of Weight Watchers. People have seen my face and read my story online, on TV commercials, in newspapers and in meeting rooms across the country. 

I think that the thing that I am most proud of is my athletic ability. I am stronger now than I have ever been. I am currently training to run a half-marathon in the fall. This is something that I NEVER would have thought would be possible for me, but now it is. I look at myself in the mirror when I am at the gym and I see a toned, defined body and I think, "Who is this person?" It's me. It really is me. All I can say is WOW!

Weight Watchers has truly changed my life. Not just the way I look, but the way I think. Most people don't understand that truly making a lifestyle change, not just losing weight takes a state of mind. This is not something that will just happen. People ask me all the time, "Does Weight Watchers really work?" I say to them, "Yes, if you really do it. If you kinda do it, it kinda works. If you don't put anything into it, it will not work." It's all about taking control over your life and putting yourself in the driver's seat. I just have one question for you, "How bad do you want it?"

Human Nature

I had a meltdown. I repeat, I had a meltdown. It all stemmed from a dinner out last Friday night at a trendy boutique burger restaurant. I had a burger that was AMAZING and sweet potato tots with some sweet cinnamon cream dipping sauce. DELICIOUS! As always, I had planned this meal out. I knew how many PointsPlus I had left (sort of...if we're being completely honest). The portion sizes at this place are actually pretty small. The burger that I had was only 5 1/2 oz. (They actually put that on their menu, which is great). I also paired my meal with water, which I have been drinking non-stop since the weather has gotten warmer and running in Atlanta in the heat is not an easy feat...gotta stay hydrated at all costs. And I shared the sweet potato tots with my husband. So why the meltdown, you ask? I know, this seems like a very innocent, well-planned meal out on a Friday night.

THE GUILT....it was the guilt. An overwhelming sense of guilt that I felt after eating my meal and actually enjoying it. Not just enjoying it a little, but REALLY enjoying it. I had that butterfly feeling in my stomach that I had gotten prior to me losing weight, that gives you that feel-good, comforting feeling that you get when you eat your favorite food. It was like I had gone back in time to when I was eating out all the time, not caring or even being concerned about what I was putting in my body. I couldn't believe that this one meal could take me back to this place. It was as if I was an alcoholic who had walked back into a bar and had a drink after a long time of sobriety.

To make matters worse, as I looked around the restaurant, the majority of the patrons there looked the way I used to look before Weight Watchers. Then the panic began. I was asking myself, "Am I headed back down this road? Why did THIS meal spur these feelings? Am I falling off? Am I failing myself and my members?"

After leaving the restaurant, my husband and I got in the car and on the drive home I started to explain to him what I was feeling. I thought that he was going to agree that maybe the burger place wasn't a good choice for dinner, confirming the guilty feelings I had toward our meal. Instead, he said something to me that he always reminds me of...Renee, you're HUMAN!

When ever he says this to me, it hits me like a ton of bricks and brings me back to reality. I go through my week as if a I am a machine. Every day I am tracking food, prepping meals and figuring out what my activity plan or training plan is for that week. I have done this for so long, that it truly is second nature to me. I rarely let myself go. I rarely allow myself to let my feelings or emotions guide me. I have to be honest, I am afraid to do that. I am afraid that if I let go and actually "feel" I will be right back where I started. But, can I truly live my life that way? My Inner Skinny Chick says: Don't forget, we are all human beings with feelings and emotions, not robots. There are times when you need to treat yourself. Don't forget to enjoy life and the things (food) that you enjoy. Just plan for it and use moderation. Don't apologize or even feel guilty for enjoying life.

I have to continue to remind myself of this. After all, who wouldn't enjoy a great burger with sweet potato tots? Enjoying the things you love is just HUMAN NATURE.

Now What?

One of the questions that I get asked most frequently is, "What's harder: Losing weight or Maintaining your weight-loss?" I think it depends on how you look at it. Losing weight is a very motivating and inspiring process. If you follow what ever wight-loss plan you are on and stick to it, you should see a loss on the scale. While losing my weight with Weight Watchers, there was nothing more euphoric to me than stepping on the scale and seeing a loss week after week. That was a definite reward for my efforts throughout the week. However, once I reached my goal-weight the "high" that I would experience week after week was gone. So the question is, "Now what?"

Getting back to the original question, which is harder weight-loss or weight-maintenance; I really think they are both difficult in their own right. Weight-loss is difficult because it is a commitment to a change. It requires breaking old habits and adopting new ones. Some of the old habits may be more difficult to break than we really think. Weight-loss also involves lots of self-realization that can be down right painful. There are also plenty of setbacks and challenges to overcome while on your weight-loss journey. But, the great thing about weight-loss is that you get to see validation for your efforts in the form of a lower number on the scale, clothing fitting better or dropping sizes, increased level of activity, and improved health. This validation is positive reinforcement and drives you to continue.

Weight-maintenance is difficult because nothing is really "physically" changing. You have gotten to the point where your weight has stabilized and you are maintaining the loss that you have achieved. The compliments start to fade and people start to get used to you being the "Skinny Chick." And then, heaven forbid, people start to treat you like you've always been skinny. They may say things like, "You don't look like you would ever need Weight Watchers" or "Do people actually take you seriously when you say that you lost weight on Weight Watchers?" Not to mention the fact that you look at yourself in the mirror and you still see the "old" you. You also have the people around you who know that you have reached your goal and they ask you, "So now can you go back to eating regularly again?"

There is so much emphasis placed on weight-loss and the emotions surrounding it. Not to many people actually talk about the emotions around weight-maintenance and how to deal with those. It is so tempting to think, "Well, I'm at my goal now...I can splurge on this or that. One more piece of pizza won't make that much difference." The truth is, just like we had to commit to a change to lose weight, we have to commit to a lifestyle of maintaining our weight-loss. It begins with the realization that what ever it was that we did to lose weight, we must do the same thing to maintain the loss. If we go back to our "old ways," we will go back to looking like our "old" self. Here are some tips that have really helped me stay focused while maintaining my weight-loss:

1. Create a new goal each week to focus on. This can be anything from a specific activity goal or something food related like increasing your amount of protein or vegetables. 

2. Track what you eat ALL the time! Tracking is what got me here. Tracking is what's going to keep me here. 

3. Continue to attend your weekly Weight Watchers meeting. The meetings offer support and accountability for Lifetime members as well. You can also weigh-in every week if you like, even though you are only required to weigh once a month. 

Here are some other tips I found in the March/April issue of Weight Watchers magazine:

4 Maintenance Musts
Here are the top 4 secrets of more than 10,000 successful dieters:

90% Exercise, on average, 1 hour per day
78% Eat breakfast every day
75% Weigh themselves at least once a week
62% Watch less than 10 hours of TV a week

Source: The National Weight Control Registry's ongoing study of adults who lost more than 30 pounds and have kept that weight off for at least a year.

Hilarious!

This commercial is SO hilarious. I just had to post this. What happens if you can't afford a weight-loss plan? What do you do? Watch and learn:

What are your thoughts on this? Would it work for you?

Lights, Camera, Action!

As most of you know, back in August of last year (2011) I submitted my weight-loss success story to Weight Watchers. They LOVE to hear about member successes. At this time, they were looking to cast "real people" who had reached their goal-weight on the Weight Watchers PointsPlus plan in their next commercial ad campaign. I, along with 8 others, was selected to participate in the Weight Watchers commercial and print ad campaign---BELIEVE. Here are some of the print ads that I am featured in along with our group commercial with Jennifer Hudson.

MY MEETING ROOM POSTER

This is located in the meeting rooms at newly designed Weight Watchers stores across the country.

MY WINDOW BANNER

This is hanging in the windows of newly designed Weight Watchers stores across the country.

MAGAZINE AD

 Featured in Weight Watchers magazine, US Weekly, Life&Style and InTouch

GROUP TV COMMERCIAL

MEET THE CAST: BEHIND THE SCENES

I encourage you all to share your successes! You never know who you could be inspiring. This could be YOU one day!

We're Gonna Make a Change

Life is all about change and evolving or growing as a person. The longer you live, the more changes you experience. So is it safe to assume that all you have to do is let time pass and you will see change in your life? If you are referring to changes in technology or progression in society, then maybe the answer is "Yes." But, if you are talking about change from within or a "lifestyle" change, the answer is "No."

This fact remains: In order for one to actually see behavioral changes in their life, their BEHAVIOR must change. You can't keep engaging in the same behaviors and expect a different result. My Inner Skinny Chick says: In order to live the type of lifestyle no one else seems to be living, you've got to do the the things no one else seems to be doing.

At the beginning of each of my Weight Watchers meetings, I check in with my members about their past week and ask them if there was anything that they were proud of that they accomplished that doesn't have anything to do with the number they saw on the scale. I ask them this for two reasons:

1. Focusing on non-scale victories takes the "weight" off the scale. There are many factors that can affect the number you see on the scale. It should not be the only indicator of a successful week. 
2. Giving yourself a specific goal for the week like, I will try a new work-out, I will cook a new recipe or I will bring my lunch everyday this week, helps "lock-in" healthy habits that are necessary for true "lifestyle" change.

Why not spend our time thinking of different weekly goals we can set for ourselves instead of obsessing over the number on the scale. You'll be surprised. If you do this, you will begin to form habits and change your behavior. The icing on the cake is that the number on the scale will naturally begin to drop as these changes are implemented into your life.

What "non-scale" victories are you proud of? Have you seen a change in your behavior by implementing any goals for yourself?

"You must be the change you wish to see in the world." 
-Mahatma Gandhi

Fighting the "Skinny Chick"

Why is it that we hear what our inner Skinny Chick is telling us and we refuse to listen? Why do we eat to soothe our stresses and pain when we know it will compromise our weight-loss and weight-maintenance efforts? Why do we fight the "Skinny Chick?"

I have asked this question throughout the week to my members in my Weight Watchers meetings, as this week we are talking about taming stress. The overwhelming response has been, "We eat to find comfort and to feel better, for the moment." I am sure most of us can relate to this. The thing that I find most interesting is the "for the moment" part. It is truly that. After that moment passes, how do we feel? Most of us, myself included, experience a feeling of overpowering guilt. We are upset at ourselves for giving in to our food temptations, for not choosing our health and well-being first and for fighting the "Skinny Chick."

For some of us, our fight with our inner "Skinny Chick" looks a little different. Some of us have gotten to a point in our weight-loss journey where we can see the light at the end of the tunnel and our "outer Skinny Chick" is beginning to emerge. This is scary for a lot of us. Once the "outer Skinny Chick" is present, everyone can see her. There is a different set of standards that, we not only have for ourselves, but others have for us as well. We don't want our "outer Skinny Chick" to emerge and then suffer the embarrassment of gaining the weight back. So what do we do? We hide our "outer Skinny Chick" by doing the things we know will not make us successful. It is a form of self-sabotage. If we do this, we don't have to worry about feeling as though we have failed. We can still keep our "Skinny Chick" on the inside.

There is also another group of us that may have not come to the point that we are ready to listen to our "inner Skinny Chick" at all. We may not even believe that there IS a "Skinny Chick" inside of us. We lash out and attack all things and all people that we consider "Skinny." We have convinced ourselves that the unhealthy version of ourselves is it, and it will never change. We have done such a great job of this, that we say things like, "Everyone in my family is over-weight" or "I like food that tastes good" or "I don't have time to exercise and I don't like to sweat." We begin to truly believe these things and accept that not being the healthiest version of ourselves is okay.

I know that these fights are hard to acknowledge, however they are so real for so many of us. The first step is to own up to the fact that sometimes we do fight our "Skinny Chick." She can be really annoying at times. She also can seem like she wants to spoil our fun and keep us from truly living our life. I agree. It does SEEM like this at times. However, it is exactly the opposite. You actually "hear" your "inner Skinny Chick" because deep down inside you know what it takes for you to be healthy. You know that above all else you want to BE healthy and that YOU are worth it.

Just like in any relationship, there are fights, arguments and even set-backs. Your relationship with your "inner/outer Skinny Chick" is no different. There are going to be times when you just don't listen at all. You will fight her to the core. However, the fact still remains that she will always be there, no matter how hard you try to hide her. She will ALWAYS give you another chance. She will NEVER fight you!

Super Bowl Party Starters

So, my husband and I are having a few people over on Sunday to watch the Super Bowl. This is a very special occasion...his favorite team, The Giants, are playing. (Re-match from 2007). I want to make sure that we have lots of great snacks to keep the party going. However, I don't want to go overboard, like we know is so easy to do during these types of events. My inner Skinny Chick says: Take your favorite recipes and lighten them up. This way you don't have to worry about going overboard on the things you love. 

So here are some great Super Bowl party starters that are sure to be the talk of the party; aside from the Giants winning the game, of course. Enjoy!

BAKED SWEET POTATO CHIPS

http://www.weightwatchers.com/food/rcp/RecipePage.aspx?recipeId=50409

CRISPY CHIPOTLE POTATO SKINS

http://www.weightwatchers.com/food/rcp/RecipePage.aspx?recipeId=100501

LAYERED MEXICAN BEAN DIP

http://www.weightwatchers.com/food/rcp/RecipePage.aspx?recipeId=105431

JALAPENO POPPERS

http://www.weightwatchers.com/food/rcp/RecipePage.aspx?recipeId=90601

CLASSIC GUACAMOLE

http://www.weightwatchers.com/food/rcp/RecipePage.aspx?recipeid=99671

BUFFALO WINGS WITH BLUE CHEESE DIP

http://www.weightwatchers.com/food/rcp/RecipePage.aspx?recipeid=84571

BEEF, BLUE CHEESE AND SPINACH QUESADILLAS

 http://www.weightwatchers.com/food/rcp/RecipePage.aspx?recipeId=89571

We Love Losing in Atlanta!

SKINNY CHICK NECOL 

LOST 45 POUNDS

AFTER LOSING 45 POUNDS

(She did it all with Weight Watchers) 

Another After Photo

Necol lives in the Atlanta area and was also featured in the Atlanta Journal Constitution for her weight-loss success. I actually read her article back in November 2011 and that inspired me to submit mine to the newspaper. She is now a "Notes from a Skinny Chick" follower. Necol, you are such an inspiration! Let's keep LOSING, ATLANTA!

A Day in the Life of a Skinny Chick

I feel like it has been forever since I have been able to actually write in my "Skinny Chick" diary. I have really missed it. I have been extremely busy lately. I have to admit that, while I do not like neglecting my blog and missing out on the therapy it provides me, I am really excited about how my life is changing from day to day.

As some of you may know, my day is mostly comprised of leading Weight Watchers meetings. I now have 4 of my own meetings that I lead. Two of them are At Work meetings (where I bring Weight Watchers to businesses and facilitate meetings over lunch) and two of them are traditional meetings in a Weight Watchers center. I also am a receptionist for two meetings. That is six meetings a week. I also sub for other leaders at least once a week, sometimes more.

I am loving how busy I am and I am so PROUD of all of my members. One of the meetings I lead is at an elementary school and there are 20 people who attend this meeting. This week, they are going into their 3rd week on the plan. After 2 weeks they have lost a total of over 100 POUNDS!! I am SO PROUD of them!

The meetings that I lead at the Weight Watchers centers have been successful as well. I have been able to grow those meetings from under 20 attendees to over 40 attendees per week and still GROWING! There are LOTS of "BELIEVERS" in metro Atlanta! Atlanta, let's show the rest of the country how to get HEALTHY!

Here are some pics of me in action at a Weight Watchers center:

STONE MOUNTAIN, GA WW CENTER

I have also been blessed to work with my church, Gwinnett Church, assisting in our UpStreet environment (elementary school ministry). This has been an AWESOME experience. Gwinnett Church is a new campus of North Point Ministries that just launched this past October. It is amazing to do God's work and be there to help from the ground up. Here is a picture of my husband and I at Gwinnett Church's first ever GroupLink event.

WE ARE GROUP LEADERS

My husband and I are leading a married couples small group. Our first meeting is this coming Tuesday! We are so excited! 

So, as you can see, 2012 is getting off to a great start! I LOVE serving others and giving back what the Lord has blessed me with. I feel that it is my responsibility to pour the knowledge that I have been given into others so that they may "pay it forward" in the same manner. 

Make 2012 count! Be an inspiration and ask yourself, "When was the last time I made a difference in someone's life?"