AWARE [uh-wair]!

adjective
1.  having knowledge; conscious; cognizant: aware of danger.
2.  informed; alert; knowledgeable; sophisticated
(from www.dictionary.com)
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I often hear comments at the scale from people as to why they did not lose weight this week  - my jokey retort is sometimes "this is not confession; that's some other place".  It's a joke, I know, but I also feel desperately empathetic for the member each and every time I hear that because I KNOW how hard it is to lose the weight.  The problem is that we set our own bar as to our expectations from ourselves and then we feel humiliated when we don't meet the bar we have set ourselves.  Would you like to never have to "make confession" again at the scale?  YES?  Then read on!


Firstly, let me share something with you: we, the staffers who meet you every week are NOT HERE TO JUDGE, our job is to motivate, educate, inspire and help you to feel welcome.  If you share your wants and needs with us at the scale we are equipped to move you towards them.  So instead of "making confession" how would it be if next time you shared a realization of how a particular CHALLENGE in your path gave you some NEW AWARENESS in your week?
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I have a question for YOU:
How does AWARENESS relate to our goals of losing or maintaining weight?  Well, a buddy of mine; another WW leader sent me a quote the other day (and I can't find where I filed it right now), it went something like "overweight is not an eating problem, it's a mental problem".  Seems harsh when you first read it, but think about it - it brings us right into the realm of awareness:


You guessed it - tracking is it... BUT not just tracking what we consume.   ASK YOURSELF what else we you track and what information does it give you?  Here are 10 of the most popular and a couple of really creative ideas I heard in the meeting.


1.  Exercise - passively with the WW Pedometer or actively by figuring it out using the books or WW e-tools.  The benefits are MANY for tracking your movement, but "empowerment" is the #1 reason I was given this week.
2.  Mood - helps to prevent "emotional eating".
3.  Sleep - so important to get enough sleep, helps to make great decisions.
4.  Measurements - gives us another "measure of success" and takes some of the power away from the scale.
5.  Carbs - can be a really informative habit.
6.  Good Health Guidelines - particularly water to help prevent eating when we're really thirsty.
7.  Days to vacation - to focus the mind ahead of going away
8.  Hmmm - how to put this one?  "Satisfaction" - Okay - a story:  a member shared in the meeting this week that she will add a frowny face to her tracker if she ate something that did not sit well with her "taste buds" or "goals for the day"  i.e.  next to the "cheez-its" on her tracker.
and TWO from me:
9.  Things I say "NO" to - can be so helpful to understand that I am doing better than I think (to forgive myself) and also to motivate me to grow that list!
10.  Power foods - I like to eat at least 75% or more on a daily basis and so I am quite fastidious about keeping a track of them.


I would say PICK 3 of the ideas and work towards keeping your journal including the 3 you choose.  By the way this is not "letting you off the hook of tracking your food and beverage consumption", but it can definitely help move your weight management results closer to your goals.  I also totally understand and agree that some weeks food & beverage tracking is JUST NOT feasible, so, if you have formed a habit of tracking 2 or 3 other elements, such as the ones listed here, you may be able to still do that on those tougher weeks".
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In this upcoming week - lets talk FOOD  :)

I'm excited that both Weight Watchers and the USDA recognize that this is a time of opportunity for our country.  By promoting ways to create a leaner nation, we can, in turn, help to cut the health care costs linked to weight-related conditions, including type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure and some types of cancer.   This gives US an amazing opportunity to make such a difference to our own health and that of those around us that we influence of a daily basis, such as children and grandchildren, spouses, other family members and work colleagues.  


For me, what’s so exciting about the new plate icon is that it reinforces what our PointsPlus program puts into action.  


Come to the meeting so we can bat some ideas around as to how to improve nutrition while still being sure to incorporate the WEIGHT WATCHERS approach of not making this into a DIET, but an opportunity to REALLY make changes to our eating habits to change the way we LIVE-IT.


LIFETIME Members are especially invited this week - you are our role models and have amazing wisdom to bring to the meeting room.  We'd love to see you there.
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Have you heard the news?
Bragging rights ---- BIG TIME --- 
Were #1!

Weight Watchers Scores Highest in First-Ever U.S. News and World Reports Rankings of Weight Loss Programs.

Weight Watchers® is proud to have been recognized as the Best Diet Plan for Weight
Loss and the Best Commercial Diet Plan in the U.S. News & World Report first-ever Best Diets rankings, published online today. U.S. News & World Report determined its rankings by bringing together an independent panel of 22 scientific experts including nutritionists, dietitians, cardiologists, and diabetologists.

An ever-growing body of clinical research supports the Weight Watchers approach to weight loss, which is built on healthful eating, physical activity, behavior modification, and support. Based on the rankings, the experts recognized how effective the Weight Watchers approach is in helping consumers achieve short- and long-term weight loss. 
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ON SALE THIS WEEK IN THE MEETING ROOM
WEIGHT WATCHERS FRUITIES -
BUY 2 Duopacks and get 3rd one for FREE



ALL Flavors - 

BlackBerry
Strawberry
Cherry, and 
Cappuccino Creme Melt

CURRENT WEIGHT WATCHERS MAGAZINE ---  ON SALE FOR $3.50 (Meeting room only - full price on newsstands).  
USUALLY $3.95 (save 45c) 




while stocks last - sorry, no rain-checks.


WORKPLACE MEMBERS - DON'T FORGET TO SEND ME YOUR ORDER FOR PRODUCTS SO I CAN BRING THEM TO YOU IN A BAG WITH YOUR NAME ON!
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Before you go ....

ONE MORE THING:

“Strength is the ability to break a chocolate bar into four pieces with your bare hands - and then eat just one of those pieces"     Judith Viorst. (Contemporary American author, journalist and psychoanalyst researcher.)

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Thanks for visiting my blog - check back on Wednesday for the RECIPE of the WEEK.

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And, by the way - your comments are very welcome :)

Have a healthy week.