Yep, I Use Weight Watchers Online…

In addition to running on a regular basis and as part of my journey to be a much healthier person, I’ve recently gotten back into using Weight Watchers Online to keep track of what I eat.

For those of you who aren’t familiar, with Weight Watchers, different types of food are assigned points.   You’re allotted a certain number of points per day.  I have the iPhone app that I use to track what I eat and the points.  It’s pretty simple.

Writing out what you eat and what it costs you helps SO much.  It forces you think about what you’re putting in your body as you move towards consuming in moderation, in the same way that someone uses software to help them budget what they’re spending.

I really see using Weight Watchers as a standard part of living a healthy lifestyle.  If you like to eat, you need some type of frame work for thinking about what you eat to help you self moderate.  But see, Weight Watchers has this real brand perception problem.   Admitting in a group of people that you use Weight Watchers can feel like you’re admitting that you have a heroin problem.   You’re embarrassed and don’t want to say it out loud.

The fact that people hide their struggle with eating and health is  really unfortunate.   I’ve seen first hand throughout my running journey the difference that living openly in community has played.  The encouragement from you all has been priceless and is often what motivates me when I don’t wanna get up in the morning to go running.

I think so many people could be helped by just being open about where they’re at.   I struggle.  It’s easy to use food as means to make yourself feel better about whatever it is that’s going on in your life.  It’s easy to slip into the head space that that order of Five Guys is going to make you feel better about yourself.

But as I can attest to, while food is wonderful and delicious, it’s not a source of hope and fulfillment in your life.  That can only come from one place.  There are times that I’ve forgotten this and have had to work hard.

Ha… looked at the scale this morning and it said 257 lbs, which is nuts considering it feels like yesterday (well May 2009) that I was 282 lbs and I’M SOOOO glad that I decided to do this.  Working towards 230 lbs.  That’s my goal.

I don’t know where I’m going with this post, except to say that I’m a broken human being with my own weaknesses and struggles.  I see so much reward from being open with each other and talking about them.   As I walk through life, I’m so thankful to all of you for being part of my community, encouraging me, and helping to point me in the right direction.

How can I be an encouragement to you guys?