Confessions of a Foodaholic!

From time to time I get asked some questions, and last week it was favour from my Weight Watchers (WW) Coach. “WW have asked us to find a member to talk to other members in the group about their journey/success and I thought of you!” Well after being given an opportunity to talk about my specialist subject (me), how could I refuse that.

The coach shared the questions they were given and I had great fun thinking about what I would say. After coming up with a my answers I thought actually, it might make for a good blog to share with others, so here it is, a Q&A with me!

Tell us a little bit about your weight health journey with Weight Watchers.

What was your motivation behind joining Weight Watchers?

I joined WW in September 2002, after my wedding, which is the wrong way to do it right?  At my wedding, one of my brothers and my Aunt had been going to a local WW to them and both looked amazing.  I would be lying if I said my motivation back then was not to do better than he had done!  After we got home from Honeymoon, Jane convinced me to give it a go and the rest is history.

What would you say has been the biggest health gain from the weight you’ve lost?

I guess the biggest one was dropping out of the Pre diabetic category which I had just crept into, but now I’m back in the safe zone.  Apart from that the obvious really, feeling better, doing more, less issues walking, swimming is faster. 

How much weight have you lost all together?

I really wish I could work out how much I have lost and put back on over the 21 years, but in this run which goes back to January 2022, I have lost 11 stone 1. 

Which behaviours/habits would you say you’ve changed the most to see this success?

There are a few. It starts with cooking. I do all the cooking in the house anyway, but in the last year I have changed it up and cook fresh every day. By this I don’t mean warming frozen foods or having much/any processed foods if possible. Added to that giving up crisps 1 year ago, and taking exercise seriously, swimming, gym and now running. 

How did you go about doing this?

Cooking was mainly to do with Pinch of Nom cookbooks, which I love. They are low fat and tasty, which makes me want to cook. Giving up crisps was originally connected to Lent last year, but after 47 days, I decided “why stop giving up?” if I can go without and that is what I have done.  Has it been easy? Hell no! but do I feel good about it? Yes.  Exercise, well I loved swimming, and as I lost more and more last year, it was getting quicker and I was able to swim further. After losing this amount you have to work on Toning which is where the gym came in, but then the running idea was just stupid!  

It’s a challenge, I’m doing the Race for Life after losing my brother in law to cancer last year, and while I could walk the 5k, that is not really a challenge, however, running it will be.  I started couch to 5k just after Christmas and it is going …. OK. 

How important was goal setting on your journey and why was that?

Oh my god, very.  I love setting goals, I have short, medium and long term goals on the go all the time. Firstly, I wanted to get back to my best lockdown weight, then it was my original WW start weight, then 10 stone, then my best WW weight when I went to Australia in 2003.

The longer term goal now is about a change of medication for my blood condition and get off Warfarin. However, as that one is becoming more achievable, I’m thinking about what I would really like to get to, and that might be around 250lb loss. 

Tell me about the role your Workshop and the Weight Watchers community has played in your success so far?

Group therapy as it is called by a few of us, is super important. Honestly, if I miss meetings it does kind of mess with my mental health, I have to know my progress. Not knowing in the old days meant being bad, so what!! But that is not the new me. I’m lucky to have made some very good friends in the meeting and we are there for each other. 

What have been the most important tools that you’ve used on your journey and why?

Understanding points and where I want to spend them.  In 2002, I basically stopped regular drinking, using points on beer never seemed worth it. Knowing how to fit zero pointed food in and what are the best choices to make for me, is the skill you need the most. 

What do you wish you could go back and say to yourself on the first day you joined Weight Watchers?

My 2002 self, I would say don’t go on holiday with Westie in 2003! I was at my lowest weight when we went and I put on about 13lbs in a week!  Honestly, it would be, while it is easy now at 30, it will be a lot harder at 50, keep the focus and get back in the pool as much as you can. 

How has your success rippled out to the other people in your life?

I am very lucky to get so much love and support from family and friends, I need someone to tell me I’m doing great. I’m not sure if it is ego or what, but it gives me the motivation to keep going.  

The last 12 months has been super hard on the family with the loss of Rich, but Jane is getting there and getting the focus and has joined the gym as well in the last week. I think Emily is the one for me, she loves Pinch of Nom and is a great cook, she is starting the gym and really learning and looking at monitoring her weight to ensure she never needs a journey like mine.  

Can you describe some of the biggest obstacles/challenges you faced on your journey and how did you overcome them?

There have been many over the 21 years however, I would say the biggest challenge we all struggle with, is losing sight of why you are doing it.  I have thought about my WHY so much and it now drives all my choices.  My son and I have football season tickets and it would be so easy to have a burger or pie at the match, but I know it will not help my journey, so I plan to have something healthy instead. You have to plan for anything that is coming so you are in charge. Even taking your own food to buffet which I have done. 

What advice would you give to a member joining Weight Watchers today?

It would have to be think about your WHY?  You need to be very very clear why you’re joining and what you want to achieve.  Then, whenever you need to make a choice, you think, “is this more or less important than my WHY?”  

Say you have to lose weight for operation in three months.  You’re driving home and hungry and stop at the petrol station.  There is a reduced pastie on the shelf. Is eating that, more or less important than the operation?  If less, what else could you get? A chicken salad sandwich might be a better choice.  This is an example, and I would say before you go on the trip, make something at home and have it in the car, then there is no need to stop and put temptation in your way. 

What have your family and friends thought about the improvements to your weight health?

I think my wife is pleased that my snoring isn’t as bad. Friends have been amazing, and see the level or exercise I am doing and are so complimentary it’s really lovely to get the love. 

What is the biggest difference in your life between pre-Weight Watchers and today?

If you ask my wife she would say I’m far more active.  She use to say I wouldn’t go back upstairs at night, if I had a bed downstairs.  Now, I don’t think about that and just do it.  

Also it is about planning, in the old days I might plan a day ahead, now it’s a week or two.  I would never normally think about planning food for football matches or stuff to take on a roadtrip.  I can be healthy for lunch and breakfast, meaning I could have a meal out with friends. 

How did you set up your spaces so that you were able to make the healthiest choices possible and what advice would you give to others looking to change their environment so it’s set up for success?

This is a hard one, with a family you can’t remove all temptation as they might want them, like a pack of crisps with a packed lunch.

However, for me I have set up my kitchen with gadgets and everything I need to support the cooking, which is really at the centre of everything for me.  Lots of kilner jars for cooking bits, from Panko Breadcrumbs to Orzo and Cornflower. My Airfryer, food blender, measuring spoons, mixing bowls, all the things to make cooking quick and easy.  I have my menu plan on the wall, so I know what tomorrows meal is and I get the cookbook I need out ready each night.