Why I track

It's simple really. When I don't track, I lose track...

I wish I could be one of those people who can eat whatever the heck they want and not gain an ounce. I wish I could be like my lab partner in college who ate mini oreos for breakfast every morning and was still a stick. Unfortunately, I'm not one of those people, and never will be. I've been on Weight Watchers off and on over the past decade and every time I stop tracking my points, I start gaining weight. When I don't track, I stop thinking about what I'm eating or why I'm eating it. It's almost like Weight Watchers is a shield and without that protective shield, food just jumps right into my mouth. It's like magic, but not the fun Harry Potter kind. If I'm not consciously thinking about WHAT I'm eating then adding fries and a shake to my burger is no big deal. If I'm not thinking about WHY I'm eating then I start to eat for comfort, not nourishment. Food has always been comforting to me. Ice cream, pizza, a Snickers bar with a Dr. Pepper... these foods make me feel better when stress and anxiety are threatening to take over. When I'm being mindful about food I can take the time to think about whether I really NEED that triple layer chocolate fudge cake, or if it's my brain being a jerk - Sometimes my brain is like the worst kind of frenemy.

So, I track because it works for me, as long as I'm willing to put in the work for myself. I track because without tracking, I wouldn't have seen a 3.8 pound weight loss this week.

That's 3.8 pounds down just since starting the Beyond the Scale program, less than a week ago! THIS is why I take the time to count points. It's a lifestyle that definitely won't work for everyone, but it works for me.

Savannah