Pounds, Kilos or Stones to go with that Coffee?

Or, Calories and Kilajoules?
Last year, I lost almost 70 pounds on Weight Watchers. It was a tough process, but very necessary. Under the WW program, once you attain your healthy goal weight, you are considered to be in the 'maintenance phase' which effectively refers to the rest of your life. They don't call it a diet, and it really isn't. It's a change of lifestyle, a way of living and particularly making choices about the foods you eat and the level of activity that you try to achieve. So, the program never really ends. You are a Lifetime Member of Weight Watchers, and able to attend meetings (at no charge, so long as you report regularly and maintain your goal weight) for continued support.

I have wondered how I would fare here in New Zealand at watching my weight, particularly during this in-between period when there was no scale in sight, my exercise routine was erratic, and I was eating and drinking some very tasty foods and without a clue as to my caloric intake. Let's be honest: I have many clues and know for certain they are loaded with calories. But, despite a share of excess, Stacey and I are generally pretty good at eating healthy these days. To be sure, she is more dedicated than I am, both in regards to her daily salad intake, as well as getting exercise. But, I do try, and so was not totally sure how I had done in recent weeks. What would I weigh? Did I gain a lot? I didn't feel any different, which was a good sign. Since losing weight, I have become very attuned to how I feel in my clothes. But still, I have had a lot of those tasty coffees...and had not been drinking all my water like I should. Hmmmmm...

This past week our shipment arrived from the U.S., and it contained the dreaded scale. It was time to find out if I had gone off the deep end. Amazingly, I stood on the scale to see a reading of 168 pounds (3 over my goal of 165). I was frankly shocked, and relieved. Just need to shave those few pounds off and I'm back where I was! Maybe I hadn't been doing so bad after all. MAYBE the guidelines of the program have actually stuck!

Well, when you are prone to being overweight, you can never, ever take your eye off the ball (or scale). It will always be something I have to watch, and be diligent about. But it does feel good to know that I have grown so familiar with foods, activity levels, and my body, that even if I am not counting every calorie or kilajoule, I can still stay on a pretty good course. I was never as lost as I feared.

Tonight, I took the time to look up Weight Watchers in Wellington (yes, there are a couple of offices here) and will be attending a meeting soon. For one thing, it is truly helpful to go to those meetings and get support and feedback (These days, I need all the help I can get to understand how to convert between kilajoules and calories!!!) But also, I feel a sense of obligation to attend in the hopes that others can see the program does work, when followed properly. They can just look at me as proof.

Photo caption: Weight Watchers frozen entrees at the market--with some dishes not seen in the U.S.--Chicken / Beef Hot Pot, Beef Burgundy, Chickpea Curry, among others. At least there is still a Mac & Cheese!