A Turning "Point"

So, the Vegan thing didn't work out. Suffice it to say, I didn't even last a whole day doing that.  Plus that whole thing with soy products and its effect on men kind of scared me off.  Well, that and the $60 I spent at Whole Foods for not as much food as you would think.  I don't even think it was a matter of lack of willpower.  I guess you can say I gave up a little too easily, but then again, it is kind of unrealistic to think that I could just give up animal products cold turkey (no pun intended) and what not.  I'm sorry, but I like meat and cheese too much...

So, I'll let the Vegans have that.

Anyways, today I went to my (fourth) first Weight Watchers meeting.  Ironically, the first time I did it seven years ago (has it been that long, already?) I was actually successful with it and was able to pretty much keep the weight off until freshman year of college.  Then the yo-yo-ing weight started after I gained my Freshman 15 and so on.  So I attempted to do it again twice during college, since it worked the first time, but it never worked out.  I just think life was a little too stressful to successfully do it at that time.  So, now that I'm in a place where I'm trying to regain control of my life, I figured I should include my body in that.  So here I am.  Spending a Saturday night looking up point values at different restaurants.

I actually have to say that I'm glad I can still eat at my favorite places, like Chick-Fil-A.  I'm glad that I can go in there and get a CFA Sandwich for 11 Points, and add a Coke Zero and a side of fruit for no additional points.  Or, I can go to McDonald's and order a 6-piece Chicken McNuggets Meal with sauce and substitute the fries for apple dippers with caramel, and of course, order a Diet Coke as my drink: all at the bargain Points usage of 9.  So, I can even go to fast food places and cut back.  To me, that's the true beauty of Weight Watchers.  It's realistic.  It knows that you're going to need to make that trip to the drive-thru every once in a while, and it's perfectly fine.  On WW, it's really all about making the right choices and exercising good portion control.  But if you're going out for dinner with your friends, it allows for it.  If you just can't pass up that occasional slice of Key Lime Pie, then, sure, why not?  If you just have to satisfy that Popeye's fix, go for it.  It's not designed to deprive.  It's designed so that you don't indulge in such pleasures often.  In other words, only eat it if you feel you're going to regret it later.

Another great thing about this experience is that I'll be doing it with my mom, which is the first time I've done Weight Watchers with a partner, so I think that will add another layer of accountability on top of the weekly group meetings.

So, this time, I'll actually keep everyone posted.

264 pounds today.  My first initial goal: 250 lbs.