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A few months ago, I joined Weight Watchers for the third time in four years.  I love the plan for many reasons; it’s easy, I can eat what I want, and I am held accountable.  On a whim, this time I started posting my weight loss each week to my personal Facebook page.  After my most recent post, my friend Haley (from the fantastic fashion blog Cardigan Junkie) asked me to share my secrets.  Though I don’t feel like I have any groundbreaking secrets to share, I’m going to write a series of posts on what I have done so far, and hopefully something I say will help someone else.

I really think there are many factors to weight loss.  When I ask someone how they succeeded, and they tell me, ‘oh well I don’t know, I just eat less and exercise more,’ I can’t help but think, no kidding! I could have read that in the latest Self magazine.  In fact, I probably did.  I really think it all boils down to what you eat, your activity level, how motivated you are, and how accountable you are (either to others or to yourself).

For a year after my son was born, I told myself I would eat healthier and lose the baby weight.  I knew how to do it, I had done it before.  But for a year, I maintained the same weight.  Why?  Because I need to be accountable to someone else.  I need to go to the meetings and step on the scale.  I need to get the pats on the back and the 5 pound stickers to put on my bookmark and the applause each week I meet a milestone.  When I have a bad week, I need the person behind the scale (who has been there and done that) to tell me not to worry, this week will be better, and give me a few new ideas to try.  My husband thinks I am crazy for this, but he is a lot more introverted than I am.  Different strokes for different folks, I guess!  I know people who ‘go it alone’ and do just fine, but this is what works for me.

Not only do meetings hold me accountable, stepping on that scale is huge motivation.  If the number is not to my liking, it motivates me to do better.  If I have a great week, it motivates me to continue.  That is another reason it is key for me to go to the meetings.  I am also motivated by wanting to be around for my kids.  I want to play with them and be able to run around, and not be embarrassed to take them to a water park.  Last year, I went to the pool with them twice. Maybe.  That is just not acceptable (to me)!  Kids need to be able to be kids, and I needed to step up and be more involved in activities with them.

Now you know why I feel I have been successful.  Next up, what in the world do I eat?  I’ll let you in on all of my secrets.