A couple of very social weeks...

It seems like ages since I have written in my blog, however, lots of things get put to one side when you are busy. Next week starts the 12 week countdown to christmas, where we all start to think about what weight we may have put on over the summer, and how we are going to shift it in time for christmas celebrations. The past two weeks have been challenging. My daughter was 16 and hubby, 40. We had celebrations which obviously included food and lots of things that would take me way over my daily points allowance. Then came Venice the following week. All of the events were great and I managed to keep an eye on exactly what I was eating, and although I ate too much, I pulled back some points by adding activity and looking at how I could bring in filling foods to help me stretch my daily points allowance further.
So, what has been happening in the world of being a leader over the past couple of weeks? We went back to basics and looked at the importance of re reading our plans from time to time to give us new motivations. This really helped a lot of my members as some had found out that they should be on a different amount of points than they thought. With peoples lives changing constantly, we are reminded that we need to check our points quiz at least once a month so we can stay in control. Satisfaction is important in our programme and therefore the trap that some fall into is eating for the sake of it and not actually eating when we are hungry...take daily treats for example...how many of us have the odd bar or two because thats what we always do? Why do we need it? Does it stop us from bingeing? Are the points that we use on treats worth it? Listening to our body's signals can lead to greater weight loss success as we actually only eat when we need to. Taking the trip in Venice really helped me in that way as I found that where I was wandering about and busy, I didn't really think about food until my tummy started grumbling. This proves to me that I do eat through boredom when I am at home. This week I am going to concentrate on sticking to 3 meals a day and really filling up at those meal times, this enabling me to not pick in between. If we used our points allowance correctly, we wouldn't need to pick. We would enjoy our meals more, particularly if we planned ahead and tried new recipes. With the weather changing, I feel drawn to the new winter warmers cookbook, which has so many recipes that I can use my slow cooker for. This will save me time in the evening when I get in from work, hungry and prone to just cooking something quick and easy. If we put the ground work in now, we can lose a clothes size for christmas without too much effort. Walking is so important for our plan as it increases our heart rate, gives us a sense of well-being, and can be done for as long as we want, with as much or as little effort as we want...and its free. Walking changes all of the time as the scenery changes with the seasons. You can walk as a group and add fun to the equation. I am trekking in Iceland next year for the bhf and can't wait to start training for what will be a challenging trek over volcanic areas in the country. It is a sponsored event and anyone wishing to sponsor me online can go to www.justgiving.com/karenbird
Have a good week...patience and believing in yourself are your keys to success...xx

MOTIVATION M.O.T. Thats what we need!!!

Ok, So this week has been a challenging one...my own meetings, plus a couple of others including a 70 mile round trip for 23 members. Lovely group though and I'll do anything to help.
The thing is with our plan, we need to make time for it and ourselves to keep us motivated. I gained a pound this week...not surprising as I took my eye off the ball. Focussed on kids going back to school, getting ready for september campaign and forgot to plan my meals in advance. I went to a bbq on Saturday and didn't do too bad, but must have gone above my points. Just felt a bit disappointed with myself.
So, how to get re-motivated then...I'm not one to stay de-motivated if I have a bad week, just need a plan to get back on track...
I have myself a new track book and have gone on line to the mp website and looked up motivation. It took me to the habits quiz...great if you are looking to make some changes but are not sure which ones to focus on first. Mine was to look after myself. I have created a timetable balancing my work, family and "me" time. I thrive on being organised and I think it bodes well to be the same within our plan. Hopefully, I will get some more exercise now the kids are back at school. (don't like doing dvds in front of them!) The key to staying motivated is to give yourself direction and organisation. Reward yourself as well...and i'm not talking food! A nice relaxing cd or going to see a film, a new item of clothing to show off inch loss, that kind of thing. I have two weeks until I go to Venice for the weekend, my target is 3lb.
To my members reading this...get the right support...I'm here waiting to help and full of revitalised motivation!!! Time for a kick up the bum!!! I'll be waiting with my size 5s! ... just turn around and show me the booty!!! (lol) What changes do you want to make? Our lifestyles are throwing challenges all of the time so be prepared. That way, it won't knock you off balance.

Have a good week and next week, i'll be going back to basics...mmm..zero point soup!!!

Kaz xx

Excuses, excuses!

Hello,
It's two weeks since i've been back from my holiday. My weigh in this week was half a pound off this week. I am surprised I lost anything this week as I have been so busy covering meetings, i have had no time to plan what i'm wearing, let alone what i'm eating...lol!
Isn't it funny how we feel the need to confess? What excuses do we use all of the time? I use the busy excuse/ lack of time to plan ahead. Although, I don't really like the word "excuse", I prefer the word, "reason". I have reasons why my plan hasn't been on track, even if that reason is because I ate too much! This week so far is that very reason...I went to a bbq on saturday and my will power didn't kick in til late evening! The hostess with the mostess made these fantastic lamb burgers, I had two...don't even know why! Couldn't decide what pudding to have, so I had a bit of everything, very tiny portions but still more than I should have. The point is, sometimes your will power takes the back burner and you weaken. Sunday, I went for a picnic with my girls. I was very good, pointing everything I took and even pointed the solero I had half way round mote park. Monday...went out for lunch, shared a starter with hubby, not too bad, didn't have a pudding, good, but still feel guilty about what I ate on saturday. In my meetings this week, we are talking about excuses...I have reasons for my weight this week, not good ones but still reasons. The definition of the word excuse is believing you did something because you felt you had no choice, when actually, you did have a choice. We all have choices in everything. It's will power and lack of planning ahead that makes us go for the not so good choices, this is a reason. Reasons offer solutions. For the rest of this week, the solution to having a successful weight loss this week is to cut some points each day, but still having the minimum 16 and increasing my activity. I bought the new ds game with carol vorderman. Its fun, probably not really acurate but as i'm playing, its getting me more active...and that my friends is what its all about! No more excuses! Bye for now...Karen xx

How did I do this week?

Ok... It's been a week since my first weigh in after holiday...the verdict....3lb off this week. I am really pleased. I'm feeling quite positive.
So, how did I do it?
Firstly, I had my daughters birthday over the weekend. We had a family party. I did the food. While I was preparing, I wrote down the points on a piece of paper of the things I wanted to eat. I'm so glad I worked out the points of the birthday cake I got her...5.5 for 1/15 of the cake...omg!
Needless to say, I CHOSE not to have any. Instead, I had 1/2 a strawberry cream scone...yes I wrote the points down! It really helped knowing in advance...for one, the guests who were there didn't realise I was counting, and two, I stayed in control...it's all about will power guys!
For the rest of the week, I have cut down a little on bread and have really stuck to my points allowance. I was only more active in the respect that I have been working, so that probably helped a bit.
The biggest thing this week that has helped me though is my members. They were all keen to know how much weight I had put on...(they all know me very well!) But also, they were interested in how I planned to lose it. They were so encouraging and supportive, just as I am with them. It felt like a group of friends talking about weight loss. Very inspiring. So, to end this post, I want to say thanks to all of my members this week for your support...I hope I can return the favour!!!
This week, I am going to try some new recipes from the new cookbook and get active...shorne park, sunday...xx

What is it about weight watchers that I love?

Members often ask me, what is it about weight watchers that I love? How do I maintain?
Well, if I take you back to the first times I joined, my attitude was that I was on a diet...That word...DIET! die with a t on the end. I felt that I had to give all of the foods and drink i enjoy up in order to be successful. Consequently, I wasn't very successful, in fact I was miserable. I had 20 points and I just used them up each day without thinking about what I was eating...a means to an end. I never stayed to the talks, so I didn't learn anything. My first couple of leaders said as long as you stick to your points, you will be fine...RUBBISH! As a leader, my thinking is that you have to have fun with your plan and let in merge into your everyday life. Food and drink is a necessity yes, but our plan is not about lettuce and water. Its about making small changes to your lifestyle in order to enjoy yourself and become healthier and more confident in making those changes. It is not easy to lose weight, and as a leader, it is one of the hardest issues to talk about. Why? Because you can go and talk about giving up smoking, alcohol, gambling etc, but we need food and drink to survive. We need to learn to use it in the best way possible. Lifestyle...do we exercise enough? How much is enough? I have a member (actually more than one!) who hates the thought of exercise. I don't like exercise in the respect of slogging my gutts out for little benefit. What I do enjoy is walking. This is one of the best forms of exercise. Any amount with improve your lifestyle and small steps lead to big successes. I suggested to this member that she aim to take a five minute walk each day to start with. See how she goes. Well, the following week she came in and had lost a pound. I asked her what she had done. She had done her 5 min walk a day. I asked how she felt. She said that the walk took her only to the end of the road, but the fresh air and the thought that she was trying something new and positive made her feel more positive. Therefore, she enjoyed her plan and food. Now she goes for a 20 min walk each day and her weight and confidence has improved tremendously...So there you have it. I love weight watchers because it encourages small changes that improve your total well-being, be it physically or mentally. I maintain because I don't put the pressure on myself of looking at weight watchers as a diet. If I put weight on, I look at small changes I can make to get me back on track. The trick is to stay positive and believe in yourself! Have a good day! Karen xx

So, here we go!

So, hello and here starts my blog.
I first became a weight watchers member when my eldest daughter was young. I had reached just over 12 stone and being only 5ft, you can imagine what I looked like. I didn't feel myself getting bigger. They say children can be brutally honest...what made me join? My friends children commenting on the fact I had a big bum...all the time! It made me feel really self conscious and unhappy. I thought it was time to do something about it. So I joined my local group with my mum. Didn't really like the leader much, needed inspiration and didn't really get it from her. Gave up a while later. Tried a few fad diets along the way, but weight watchers got me back...again! This time, my leader Emma was great. She was funny and encouraging. I lost a fair bit with her but didn't tend to stay to the talks. I was going with a friend at the time and it was always a bit of a rush. I gave up again because I always felt as though I was in competition. I really believe that you need to have the right kind of support. If you want to join with a friend or relative, make sure they will support you in losses and gains. No-one likes perfection! I always followed the points system as it kept me in control of portion sizes. The last time I joined was again with Emma, but at a different meeting. I had a stone to lose to reach my goal weight and I started helping in the meetings, weighing other members. This way, I managed to listen to the talk and hear from other members how they were doing and what they found hard. With 6lb to go, I was approached by my now ASM, Marie who asked me if I had thought about becoming a leader. I said that I wanted to get to goal before making the choice. I started training in other meetings and found it so interesting and knew that this was what I wanted to do. Marie was great, someone who listened and answered any questions however silly. Ireached my goal weight on 9th May 2007. I went to boot camp and was trained in the "arts of being a good leader" The night before my presentation, my Dad was taken into hospital ill. I worried all night, but still managed to do my presentation and pass. I then found out my Dad would be fine. I left my current job and took up 7 meetings. And here I am today...two years down the line, still loving what I do. My leader always said to me you will get out of it what you put in...I agree. I work really hard. In my first year as a leader, I achieved diamond leader status. I was so proud of myself. I always give 110%. Message to my members, I will always help if I can, but you have to tell me you need my help, I can't read minds! I believe to be successful with your weight watchers plan, you have to look at it as a way of life changes. I don't give things up, I shouldn't have to. Following this rather long post, I will add the things that work for me, how I overcome issues and get back on track after weight gain, the things that I encounter in my meetings and the fun I have. Thanks for reading...feel free to comment! Karen xx