I’m Chubbing Up
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!
Hi Beth,
What an inspiring post–and three cheers for you two for losing all that weight! It is definitely hard to stay in shape when your life revolves around food! I’m so glad it’s finally cooled down so I can get back to regularly scheduled workouts–with no excuses. : )
P.S. Wanted to make sure you heard that the latest Beauty Joy Food bookswap is being hosted at Cara and Amy’s other blog, Canopy Road. Sign-ups are going on now. Apologies if you already knew this. http://canopyroad.blogspot.com
Take care!
Comment by farmgirl — October 10, 2005 @ 8:54 am
Beth, I sure know how you feel. Since Feb of this year I had lost 40 pounds. Since Labor Day and succeeding at my year long goal of walking in the Rock ‘n Roll Half Marathon, I have put on 7 pounds. I haven’t been logging in on my WW plan but had decided this weekend it’s time to get up and get moving again. I belong to the on-line site but don’t do CORE. I eat all the brown foods already but wanted more flexibility with the FLEX plan. I have done great until this past month. The plan does work if you follow it, we both are living proof! Hang in there!
Comment by Vickie Brown — October 10, 2005 @ 9:03 am
Hang in there! I worry about this too, but I’ve realized there are a lot of substitutions you can make in recipes - whole wheat flour and grains, less butter, more vegetables, etc. and they still taste fantastic. I’m also a big fan of cooking light magazine recipes too. Plus, movement is a big part of keeping weight off AND staying healthy! Good luck and thanks for the inspiration!
Comment by Michelle — October 10, 2005 @ 11:09 am
Oh! P.s. The Cravings Chart link from Oct 8 isn’t working! It sounds interesting….
Comment by Michelle — October 10, 2005 @ 11:13 am
Great post, know I found/find WW life-changing too. If it weren’t for WW, I couldn’t cook like I do! For anyone following points, they’re included in every recipe at A Veggie Venture
Comment by Alanna — October 10, 2005 @ 12:54 pm
Thanks for all of the positive feedback, you guys! I almost didn’t publish this post because I thought, “Who’s going to care about my dumb diet?” But I should have known better because (almost) everyone has to worry about not chubbing up. Isn’t it hard to be passionate about great food and still trying to stay skinny?
Have a great week, everyone!
Comment by Beth — October 10, 2005 @ 1:33 pm
I find that it’s hard to be passionate about great food and not go crazy worrying about being thin.
Comment by Sara — October 10, 2005 @ 3:07 pm
I agree with Sara: I go crazy about my weight, although lately more about my health. Or…lack thereof. I stopped blogging for a long time (and wanted to switch out of food studies) because of some annoying weight issues. If I know what’s best, I won’t go insane about weight again, but…it’s so easy.
Comment by Robyn — October 10, 2005 @ 5:49 pm
Thank you for this post Beth. I have been thinking about something similiar for a while but also thought, it’s a food blog, everyone wants pictures of chocolate cake not tales of constant dieting! But I think I’ll write that post soon - too many of us are in the same boat, oddly enough a love of food does not equal a tiny, tiny waist!
Comment by plum — October 10, 2005 @ 7:48 pm
I lost 40 pounds on the South Beach Diet and have kept it off for 15 months, with about a 5 pound fluctuation depending on how strict I am being. When I looked at your list of core foods, I see a lot of similarities. I loved losing the weight, but the best benefit for me was that I was able to stop taking cholesterol lowering medication, which I had been on for 7 years previously. Taking control of your life is empowering, no matter how you do it. Good job. P.S. I think you look great in your picture.
Comment by Kalyn — October 10, 2005 @ 7:53 pm
I also have been doing the WW core diet (although I am no longer a member once I got used to it) and I have lost 30 lbs since March. I think I could have lost more if I never cheated, but still…I have lost a lot! And I also got to go off medication that I was on for high blood pressure, and my blood pressure is totally normal now. Yay!
Comment by Amy — October 11, 2005 @ 7:50 pm
See now, I am a big fan of the WW flex plan. I likes me my bonus points for chocolate, wine and cheese! I lost about 20 lbs (and seem to slooowly be putting back a pound here, a pound there out of sheer gluttony) but agree with you — WW teaches a healthy, satisfying, delectable AND maintainable lifestyle. Who owns stock in WW???
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