Doldrums

Lost 1.4 pounds this week for a total loss of 22 pounds, but this comes after a 2-pound gain last week, so there's not much to celebrate.

At today's meeting, a woman shared that she's going through a really hard time right now and just getting to the meeting was a major chore because she's gaining weight. She sees the numbers on the scale increasing and she despairs of stopping the gain. She, like so many of us, has gained and lost and gained and lost our entire lives. She knows she's under a lot of stress and depressed and found it really hard to hear people describe their successes during "sharing time."

Aside: Does "sharing time" have a formal name? Every meeting starts with it and people tend to focus on their successes instead of their failures. I'm blabby so I have something to say almost every week, gain or lose. I usually start thinking about my weight-loss week on Friday (sometimes earlier) and what I've noticed about my week. For me, sharing something reinforces the observations I've made. I'm often the first one to speak because I'm not shy about speaking in public and I know that someone needs to prime the pump. Okay, back to this week's meeting.

That resulted in a fabulous discussion that included a hug for her, tears for others, and a recognition for me (that I voiced, of course) that I show up every week because regardless of how I'm doing, I know WW is a safe place to talk about what's going on and I'll hear at least one thing at the weekly meeting that resonates with me.

By the way, I always weigh in because

1. weigh-ins are between the weigher and me, no one else;
2. no one is ever judgmental about gains or losses (although I've heard from a woman who attended years ago that her weight and gain/loss was loudly proclaimed to others -- can that really have been company policy?), and;
3. the feedback makes a difference. If I gain, it always gives me pause and affects how I shop and plan for the next week.

This past week I was felled by a nasty cold and I'm sure that's why I lost weight. I felt so rotten that there were times when I just couldn't think of anything appealing to eat even though I was hungry.

I'm close to a major weight milestone for me (and have been for months) and I know I need to make a commitment to reaching that weight as a goal. The days are longer now, which always improves my mood, so maybe I can get serious about how to stay on plan long enough to see the scale hit the magic number.

Back on Track?

I lost 1.4 pounds this week and 2.4 pounds the week before, for a total loss of 22.6 pounds. I've erased that nasty three-pound gain from two weeks ago.

I was delighted to lose weight two weeks in a row. And everyone knew it! How could they not? I let out a big YES! with a fist pump. I heard someone say, "That must be good." No shrinking violet, I, when it comes to a success.

I haven't lost weight two weeks in a row since the end of November. I haven't been at this weight since before Christmas. I'd like to think that I've finally adjusted to Momentum, but I know better than to be cocky.

In fact, I think I started to have trouble the week I noticed that I'd lost weight six weeks in a row. Oh yeah, I definitely was cocky then.

Last week's meeting was run by a woman who'd lost 190 pounds. 190! She wasn't much of a leader but she was inspirational. She's probably new at it -- last week may well have been her first meeting -- and I always feel for new leaders who come to our meeting. Kaitlyn is an excellent leader, my current favorite. She's funny, informative, and motivational; definitely a tough act to follow.

But, last week's leader asked people to commit to a goal for the coming week. I committed to not engaging in comfort eating in the evening after some very, very long days I had last week. And I stuck to it. So, new-leader-whose-name-I-can't-remember, thank you!