Woof Woof Mama

If you’re just joining us, the hubby and I have been losing weight together on the Nutrisystem program. Each week, we post a new update and share tips,  info about our experiences, let you know about the program, and tell you how much we’ve lost so far.

We’re still plugging along with our weight loss program and since I’ve been a bit down about how slow my progress has been recently, I thought I’d take a step back and really look at the big picture. I’ve lost 31 lbs and the hubby has lost 55…that’s reassurance that what we’re doing IS working and a great source of encouragement for me to keep doing what we’ve been doing even if I’m not losing weight every week.

I’m more convinced that ever that this whole weight loss thing really is as much mental as it is about the food, and since we’ve got the food covered with great Nutrisystem meals, it frees me up to focus on everything else that’s in my control. To give myself (and anyone else who can use it) a little encouragement and inspiration, I’ve made a list of what I know works and what I could be doing better.

1)Follow the Eating Plan – This seems obvious, but every now and then I catch myself changing the rules or negotiating with myself about what I can and should be eating. It can be easy to get complacent or not pay attention to portion sizes but the plan has been working and it’s important to make sure that every now and then I do a reality check to make sure I’m measuring and logging the extras since even something as simple as an extra handful of almonds can have an impact if it becomes a daily thing (guilty as charged)!

2)Exercise  – Another one that seems obvious and probably the biggest difference between the hubby’s results and mine. He really pushes himself every day to run and workout hard. I’ve been going easier on myself to avoid injury (I’m prone to hurting myself and then not being able to do anything due to knee and shoulder problems) so I’ve stuck to basic walking and have only recently started to add some other cardio workouts using exercise DVD’s at home. I need to keep pushing myself and am finding it a little easier as I keep losing more weight since there’s not as much stress on my joints!

3)Focus on Smaller Goals – It’s so easy to get discouraged looking at how far I still have to go to reach my overall weight loss goal but I keep reminding myself to focus on mini goals. These include things like “lose 5 pounds per month” and “add 30 minutes to your weekly workout total”. Less overwhelming that way.

4)Drink More Water – I was going to include this in my mini goals but I really have not been drinking nearly enough water so it needs its own item…I just forget. I know it’s important and should be such an easy part of the plan, so I’m going to set hourly reminders on my phone and computer and see if that helps.

5)Keep Calm and Carry On – Patience and persistence are the secret sauce of weight loss. It’s amazing how after so many weeks and months, I still get that voice in my head telling me it’s not working and I should just give up and go back to my old ways of eating. Intellectually, I know that what we’re doing is obviously working, and I have to block out the negative thoughts and doubts,  and just keep going!

Do you have tips or stories about what’s worked for you? We’d love to hear about your own weight loss experiences, challenges and goals, so leave a comment and share them. We’re also happy to answer questions, so ask away!  If you missed any of our previous Nutrisystem posts, just visit the links in the table below or click here to catch up!

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