This month, I will have been a member of Weight Watchers for five years. I like saying that because it sounds like such an accomplishment. To newbies, it gives me an air of authority. "Five years!" they would say. "Wow, you must be really dedicated and know EVERYTHING!”
As much as I'd love to hold my head high and smirk and agree with their excitement and praise, doing so would make me a big ol' phony. The reality is, I've been a member since 2008, but I haven't been a committed member since 2011. And by committed, I mean giving myself up completely to the process, 24/7.
After initial success (I lost 100 pounds my first year and kept it off for two more! Huzzah!), I did what a lot of people do: I became a little too relaxed. I started to skip my weekly weigh-ins and meetings. I would miss a day or two of tracking my meals. I would blow off my daily walk. All the while telling myself, "I've got this! I'm invincible!"
WRONG.
Being too relaxed is a nice way of saying you're being lazy. And I've been lazy. I got so over-confident in my success, I just assumed knowing that I had done it once before would allow me to coast for a bit. How much could I really **** things up, right? Foolish boy. What it got me is 40 pounds heavier, winded, and cranky. I'm completely off my game when it comes to making informed choices. I've allowed myself to become completely out of control. I can have a peanut butter cup has given way to I can have ALL the peanut butter cups EVER MADE! Instead of taking a daily walk, I think about taking it. Just as soon as I eat all these peanut butter cups.
So much for being dedicated and knowing everything, right?
The only way to guarantee continued success at anything is to keep at it, 100%. If you don't, the results will not be the same. Period. If you give yourself permission to slack off, you're inviting failure. Trust me. That's where I've been these last two years. I've taken a long look in the mirror and recognize that while I am responsible for my accomplishments, I must also own up to and take responsibility for my mistakes. And for the record, let's not be afraid of the word failure. Let's acknowledge it for what it is. Failure: not achieving the desired end or ends. Doesn't mean you're ignorant. Doesn't mean you're a horrible, terrible person. You just didn't accomplish what you originally wanted to. End of story. Dry your eyes and put on your big boy (or big girl) pants and get over it. I say lovingly.
The nice thing about Weight Watchers (and about life, really) is that you can choose what direction you want to go in and turn things around. You can choose to succeed. You can choose how much effort you're willing to give. It's never too late to make a new commitment. That's where I'm at this very moment. I've accepted responsibility for my shortcomings, taking the lessons learned and observations made during my two years of rebellion and am vowing to give myself another chance. I deserve success. I deserve to be the best person I can be. As I said earlier, I've done this before. Of course I can do it again! It all comes down to actually doing it!
If you're not into the whole "kumbaya" thing about being a winner and how you deserve to succeed, fine. If you’ve been kicking yourself to make a change, consider this: h*ll, why not now? What have you got to lose (other than the chip on your shoulder, a gut and perhaps part of your big rear end, like me)? Do it because there's no reason not to. You can catch up with the winning attitude later.
This Month's Reality Check: Own up to who you are, all that you are and all that you're not, accept it, and move on from there! That's a perfect place to start.
