Online Journal of a Chicago Weight Watcher

Weight Loss Tip #1

A commenter asked for weight loss tips, and I thought I'd post one for those interested parties. This is usually my fail-safe strategy, and has been at the heart of my success, I believe.

Ask yourself this question: If I absolutely had to, could I do anything for 10 minutes? The answer, I am positive, is yes. I mean, if you really had to do something, anything, for 10 minutes- you could. Then extrapolate it... if you really had to do something, couldn't you do it for a day? A week? Two weeks? Then do the program! Sometimes you'll only be able to say, I can do this for a day, but I can't do it for a week. Sometimes you'll think you can only do it for 10 minutes, but not a day! That's ok, but do it for that 10 minutes. Then ask yourself again- can I do this for 10 minutes? Note, not for another 10 minutes, but starting now. Can I do this for 10 minutes starting now? You can! If you think for one minute that you can't, prove yourself wrong!

I think I may have learned that from my parents. My mom always used to tell me that I could do anything I put my mind to- and she was right... about me, and about you! Your mind is the greatest weight-loss tool you have. I really psyched myself out when I started looking at the program as something I'd have to do FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE. That's too harsh for me. I had to break myself into it, and look at shorter time spans. With this strategy, I'll never look at the program as this neverending tunnel- I'll see 2 week periods, 1 week periods, 10 minute periods, all adding up to a lifetime of maintenance. This is also why Weight Watchers concentrates on short term and long term goals. The first goal of a new Weight Watcher is losing 10% of your body weight, which for me was around 19 pounds. That was a whole lot easier to envision than the 52 pounds I had to go before I was at my final goal.

So, tell me- couldn't you do anything if it really counted?

I thought so!

posted by Becky @ 11:28 PM