Well not really, but I have gained a couple pounds and I just don’t feel fit and trim. Earlier this year, my husband Daniel and I followed the Weight Watchers Core plan with much success. He lost over 20 lbs. and I lost about 12. Even though we haven’t strictly followed the diet since April, we haven’t gained back virtually any of the weight.

I can honestly say that this eating plan revolutionized the way I will eat on a daily basis for the rest of my life. If you’re not familiar with it, basically you can eat as much as you need to off of this list until you are full. You also get a certain number of Weight Watchers points to play with during the week. I signed up for 3 months of the online program for about $60 total. It was so worth it. I felt healthy and empowered while I was following this diet. I thought, “I won’t have to worry about how to lose weight for the rest of my life! I know a sure-fire, not-unpleasant way to do it now!”

The main changes I’ve maintained in my diet are:

• whole wheat products over refined (pasta, bread, crackers, pizza crusts, etc.)
• nonfat plain yogurt over flavored
• brown rice over white

My tastes changed while I was on this diet. I lost a taste for sweetness, which is something I never thought could happen to me. I prefer whole grains now. But since I’ve been off the plan, I’ve re-incorporated full-fat cheese and sweets and chips and crackers sometimes. I enjoy cocktails and french fries and empty calorie snacks. After all, you can’t be a very good food blogger if your food choices are so severely limited. I always wonder, how many of the food bloggers I come across are skinny? Isn’t it hard to balance a passion for food with a desire to stay healthy and strong?

I’m lucky, though, because I haven’t gained back the weight. Most people in my “real life” would say that I don’t need to lose weight at all. I’m tall (5′9″) and I’m in the lower part of the weight range for my height. So, why have I decided to hop back onto a modified version of the WW Core plan? It’s because I remember how healthy and in-control I felt when I adhered to it. It’s a very do-able and non-torturous plan to follow during the week. I think that I’ll still indulge on the weekends. In conjunction with 2-3 visits per week to the gym, I should be on track to continue my all-emcompassing passion for tasty, non-dietetic food, while still being able to fit into my new pair of Joe’s Jeans.

When I was first doing Core, I constantly proselytized the benefits of this eating plan. Don’t worry - I won’t do that here. But I just wanted to let you all know where my head is at lately. You may notice a few healthier recipes sprinkled into my daily posts. If anyone has any questions about the Core plan, let me know. But I’d also recommend joining WW for at least a few months so that you can maximize your efficiency. You can do it online - no meetings involved.

Trust me - if my husband and I can do this plan, anyone can!