Laying the Foundation

How could I start to get my weight under control?  This was the question I had.  Thankfully my employer (CCH/Wolters Kluwer) helped me with the answer.  You see they realized something that many have been saying for a while and that has been amplified with the health care debate.  As our waistlines grow larger our health costs go up.

Being a self-insured company that means that it was going to begin to either A) hurt the bottom line, or B) cause them to pass off even more health care costs to their employees.  Of course other issues (smoking for instance) also can come into play, but they decided that for 2010 weight management would be an issue to try to tackle.

They teamed up with several organizations one of which was Weight Watchers.  Of course I, like most people, was aware of Weight Watchers, but I had never tried it.  The deal was that you attend 80% of the meetings and the company would reimburse you a portion of the meeting fee.  I decided that if they were willing to invest in a change I would too.  As I said last time I knew that something had to change, but I just didn't know how to go about making that change.  I needed someone to help show me the way.

On January 21st, 2010 I had my first weigh in at our Weight Watchers at Work meeting.  My weight was 393.2 lbs.  I had already lost almost 20 lbs. from the day I vowed to change, so obviously I'd done something right.  I poured myself wholeheartedly into the program.  I tracked daily.  I calculated points for everything.  I also cut out the things that were my biggest temptation.  I didn't want to deprive myself, but I knew I couldn't trust myself with things like chocolate.  I intended to add them back in at a later date when I was ready again.

Each week I continued to weigh in and each week I continued to loose.  By the 3rd meeting I'd lost 10 lbs.  By the 6th meeting I'd lost my first 5% which was just over 20 lbs., but I didn't feel like celebrating that day.  The day before, February 24th something happened that changed my world.

I know I promised to explain why I am committed to loosing weight today and why I chose to do this contest, but as I got to thinking about it I realized that this part of the discussion is better suited for Friday's entry.  It will become apparent why when it's posted.

In the mean time tomorrow I plan to show you a before and after picture of where I was in 2009 to where I already am at the start of 2011.  I've lost 135 lbs. since that first weigh in in January of 2010 which means I've lost 155 lbs. since starting my journey.  That in itself is an accomplishment that I'm extremely proud of.

On the menu today:  (nutritional information) [POINTS Plus]

Breakfast:

1 1/2 Cup Honey Nut Cheerios (3 fat / 44 carb / 4 fiber / 6 prot) [6]

Lunch:

Wendy's Ultimate Grill Chicken (add onions and pickles) [9]
Wendy's Large Chili (add onions) [7]
4 Saltine Crackers [1]
2 packets Chili Seasoning [0]

Dinner:
Genghis Grill Bowl - Teriyaki Chicken Bowl
Chicken, Salt, Pepper, Classic Stir Fry Mix, Cabbage, Pineapple, Island Teriyaki Sauce, Brown Rice (399.7 cal / 0.6 fat / 59.5 carb / 8.2 fiber / 31.2 prot) [9]

Snacks:

Planters Nut-rition Digestive Health Mix [5]
15 baby carrots [0]
Skinny Cow Chocolate Peanut Butter Ice Cream Sandwich [4... sometimes you have to indulge a little]
2 Cups Silk Pure Almond Dark Chocolate Almondmilk [7]

Exercise:

Got slammed at work today, so I didn't get to do my usual walking.  Did a little walking in the basement when I got home though, just not as much as at work.

#gghealthkwest