How to lose 40 pounds
How I did it: To put this into perspective, I've been on Weight Watchers since early 2009. I'm currently on a quest to lose half my original body weight (yes, seriously obese here) and it's easier to break the whole terrific mass down into 10-pound increments--otherwise I'd give up before I'd begun.
This segment of the weight loss journey I almost threw in the towel after staying right around the same weight for over a month. There were a number of reasons why things weren't moving--I wasn't getting in any exercise, I was regularly plowing through my weekly point allowances, I was on vacation or living with people who were on vacation, and I just didn't stick to the plan. It was still frustrating and I began to wonder if I'd ever move off the plateau.
Hotter weather, of all things, helped me get back on track. I find that when I get overheated, my appetite tends to evaporate. This made it a lot easier to stick to the plan. I also spent time away from home in the afternoons, which defeated the bad habit of snacking in mid-afternoon.
Still have a long way to go, but I'm feeling a little more energized as I start to see more success.
Lessons & tips:
- Keep away from high-points snacks. If you're responsible for buying groceries (as I am), don't buy them for "your family," since you'll end up eating them anyway. Stick to low-fat items and fruit and veggies, which are both low in points and tasty.
- Go out and do stuff. I'm one of those people who eat to alleviate boredom, so I have to be especially careful of this tendency. One way to stave it off is to get out of the house--run errands, visit friends, keep mind and body engaged in activities other than food.
- Plateaus don't last forever. This is hard to remember when you're in the middle of one, but buckling down and remembering to track *everything* helps you realize very quickly why you're not making progress. I also would've gotten off the plateau more quickly if I'd gotten in more exercise.
Resources: Weight Watchers Online
