* Approach Weight Watchers with a no excuses attitude. You CAN do this. But don't make excuses for not exercising or not staying on your target points. The only person you're hurting or cheating is YOU!
* If you have a tremendous urge to eat, (NOT true hunger!) get up and walk for 5 minutes without stopping. Go back to what you were doing for 5 more minutes. If the urge persists, get up and walk for 5 more minutes. Wait another 5 minutes. If you still have that urge after that time, either chew some sugarless gum, because likely, you just need that feeling of chewing to feel satisfied. Or allow yourself a 1 point or 0 point snack.
* Keep some 0 point items around for when urges like the above strike you. My secret weapon is Claussen dill pickle spears!
* Fruit, Fruit, FRUIT! Do you have ANY idea how great fruit is?! I had no idea! Sure I ate fruit before I started Weight Watchers. But I never realized I could love it so much. Do you realize you can eat 22 strawberries for 1 POINT?! Now THAT's a snack!
* Forgive yourself. You ARE going to have some days when things beyond your control make you eat outside your point allotment. Eat as healthy as you can, but if you go over, let it GO! Tomorrow is a new day. Don't worry about 1 meal of bad food hurting you IF you go straight back on program with the next meal and stay OP thereafter. That's why you have those flex points each week. They're there to help cushion for emergencies.
* Find support! SUPPORT is such a HUGE key factor! You *can* do it alone, but the more people you have in your corner rooting for you, the better! I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that over the past year of doing Weight Watchers, I would have quit if I hadn't had so many people rooting for me.
* Try new things! Recipes and exercise both! Try some foods you thought you didn't really like. This year, I have come to enjoy things that I always thought I didn't really like much. Branch out! You never know what wonderful food is out there waiting that is good for you and you just haven't tried it yet! Who knew I would learn to LOVE Tae Bo? Goodness gracious! It makes me feel like a million bucks when I'm done!
* Respect and value yourself! Do you have ANY idea how important you are to this world? It doesn't matter if you're 782 pounds or 122 pounds! You matter! Respect who you are now! You've got to love the beginning you, the changing you and the resulting you the same. The inside person isn't going to change with weight loss. Love who you are TODAY and do this to make THAT person healthier!
