After enduring being evacuated from my home for five days due to the Holy Fire, I decided I needed to make some life changes. The first thing on my list of things to do? Lose Weight. Weight loss is something that we tend to struggle with during midlife. My friend Deb joined Weight Watchers and was finding success with it. I decided what the hell and signed up. I joined Weight Watchers a few times over the last few years. I had success; then stopped for one reason or another. With any diet or life change, you have to be 100% in, or it won’t work. Admittedly I wasn’t, and that’s why I’m back.

Accountability

I figure the best way to stick to the Weight Watchers plan is to be transparent. So what better way to do that than write about it on the blog? If I share my struggles and triumphs with you, then that will motivate me, and as my readers, you will hold me accountable. I am not the only midlife woman who looks in the mirror and wondered “What the hell happened?”. I hope that by posting my weight watchers journey, I can connect with others who are also trying to ditch the pounds and achieve a healthier lifestyle.

Midlife Freestylin’

So two weeks ago I walked into my local center, stepped on the scale and sighed. My goal is to be at least be under 200 pounds. I know I may or may not be the size eight I was in the 90’s. My goal is to feel better and look better in my clothes. I want to be able to go in my closet, pull out an outfit, put it on an go. Not changing my shirt three times because it doesn’t cover my pooch, or my pants five times because it doesn’t hide my pooch that wasn’t covered by my shirt!

I won’t bore you with all the intricate details of the new Freestyle plan. If you want to read in-depth about the program, click here. Once you enter your profile details, you get a daily smart points allowance. The objective is to stay under your allotted points for the day. The new plan also gives you a “savings account” of rollover points. This way, if you have a special occasion or want a high point meal, you can without worrying about only having 1 point left.

The Freestyle plan is different from previous plans because there are more zero point foods. The goal, of course, is to make smarter choices when it comes to what you are eating. A sampling of zero point foods are eggs, chicken breasts, fish, fruit, and veggies. You have to be creative with this plan. I am a creature of habit, so I can eat the same things and not get tired of them, also because I’m lazy and don’t have the mindset to become Ree Drummond in the kitchen!

Points and Tracking

My allotted daily points are 30. I track everything I eat on the nifty Weight Watchers app. I must admit that tracking is the most challenging part. The point of tracking is to not only make sure that you aren’t eating over your daily points but for you to be more cognizant of what you are putting in your mouth. You would be surprised at some of the point values of foods I would eat on the fly. I heart dropped when I saw that my favorite dish at Macaroni Grill; Penne Rustica is a whopping 25 points! WTH??? The only thing I would be able to eat for the rest of the day is ice.
I mean who doesn’t indulge in the bread loaves and dessert at Macaroni Grill?

2 Weeks In

Since I am behind on my blogging, let me catch you up to speed. I have now been on the Weight Watchers Freestyle plan for two whole weeks! I am down 5.2 pounds and received my adorable 5-pound charm at Saturday’s meeting. Deb and Dana were there to celebrate with me. I’m glad since Deb is the one that convinced us to join with her! I think it is easier to work the plan with people who are on it, so that way your not the crazy friend who is reducing everything in the food world to a point value.

Let the fun begin! 

So there you have it, I’m overweight, I know it, and I’m going to do something about it. I am not ashamed of being a plus-sized midlife woman. I want to be a healthier plus size, midlife woman. Starting in September, I will blog about my Midlife Freestyle journey on the Weight Watchers Plan. I want to post recipes, WW hacks, and exciting products I’ve found to share with you. I signed up for six months, so I am hoping that even if I didn’t make my goal, I would have lost something by the end of this journey.

Are you becoming a healthy person in Midlife? What are you doing? 

Are you using the WW Connect app? Follow me! MDLYRS

*Disclaimer: As the owner of The Middle Years Journey Blog, I am not affiliated with Weight Watchers. My posts are about my personal experience with the plan. I am not receiving any compensation in exchange for my posts, or participation on the plan. These are my own thoughts and opinions*