Me So PoMo
Posted by Allison at 6/21/2008 9:47 AM and is filed under uncategorized 
Week Two on Weight WatchersWhat a week it's been for me. As I write this, I don't think I've lost any weight. I've eaten more than I should at times, and I haven't eaten many raw foods (although I just finished a lovely salad chock full of avocado, garlic, scallions and snow peas with romaine). The good thing is that I feel great about being in touch with every little thing that passes my lips rather than just eating mindlessly. Every time I eat I know why I'm doing it and I think of the consequences. I've tremendously decreased my snacking at work (and I wasn't even doing that daily in the first place) and limit it to coffee, roasted nuts, and the fruit from our weekly delivery of organic produce.
I'm not obsessed with the scale, but because I know that WW uses it as a measure of my adherence to their program, of course I want to see what my "damage" is before the official weigh-in. But guess what? I am not going to let even weight gains deter me this time around. It will take me a while to readjust to using WW points, get through my cravings and food "issues" and to segue into a high-raw diet (via the Core plan), and I expect to have weeks where I gain or simply don't lose. If any WW weighers or leaders give me a hard time I'm simply going to tell them that I have to walk this journey the way that works best for me, and that I'd rather take the time I need to adjust rather than quit due to not losing weight at first.
This is a major change in attitude from my previous times on WW, where I'd quit soon after starting because I felt like a failure. My Raw Odyssey has taught me that we each have different needs and preferences based on many unique factors, so there is no "one way" for all of us to eat- just broad generalizations. When we embark upon someone else's plan for us, like Weight Watchers, a green smoothie challenge or a "30 Days to Raw" type regimen, we have to bend our way to satisfy the requirements of someone else's brainchild- someone who doesn't know our quirks, abilities, preferences, schedule, taste -or anything! If their program doesn't fit our needs, that is no failure on our part, yet we tend to berate ourselves and find ourselves lacking in some way. Why? That makes no sense. I feel the same way about WW now. I know the program works and is healthy (in SAD terms, that is), but there will be an adjustment period for me and some tweaking of the program as I use it.
The Post Modern Health Enthusiast
This recognition of individual needs and voices is a real phenomenon- it's very much reflected in the flurry of personalized products and services, and the prefixing of "my" in front of everything, like MySpace or "My VerizonWireless," etc. So post-modern, aren't we, refusing to capitulate to authority figures or subsume ourselves into a mass of people. We want to be heard and we see the value of personalization. There is much value in groups -I love my Twitter friends, the "GiveItToMeRaw" site, the idea of raw festivals, etc. But I'm talking about taking control of a program rather than letting it control me. So it's "MyWeightWatchers" (I'm sure they've come up with that already)! It will be a plan that fits my own preferences.
Organic Produce DeliverySome of you may want to consider organic produce delivery services. I'm happy with what we've been getting at my office, and if I ran my own business and could afford it, I'd have fruit delivered for all my employees. The professionals do a much better job at picking out good fruit than I would, so there are very few duds, if any. Plus, the contents vary, so it's kind of fun seeing what's in the box every week. A persimmon? An avocado? What kind of plum is that? I've tried fruit I've never had before. It's lots of fun, plus we get a free subscription to the Berkeley Wellness Newsletter. What company am I talking about? The Fruit Guys. There are other services, though.
Final Words
I've been getting some great support from my Twitter friends about the topics in this blog, including my Weight Watcher's endeavors. I was surprised to meet other people trying both methods for health. How cool is that? So if you are thinking about combining WW and raw or are already doing it, please don't be shy about sharing your experience, making suggestions, or asking questions. Also, if any of you get organic produce delivered to your home or office, I'd love to hear what you think of it.
Have a great week!
SOOOO WELL SAID!!! Those are some of the same thoughts I've had-- that's awesome that you're not ruled by the scale, but getting to the root of it all! Here's to a great week!!
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Hey, it's a celebration again! You lost 8 lbs last week!!!!! You are tracking your food!!!! You are changing who you are. You are committed! Wow! If this isn't success, then I don't know what is! These aren't even baby steps; these are BIG steps
Your last post was so full of personal insights. You have reminded me that one of my goals (that I conveniently and often forget) is to eat CONSCIOUSLY. Last week I had a couple of lunches where I ate comfort foods, and read a book while I did this. Then when I looked down the food was gone. Where did it go? Who ate it? Did ANYbody get any satisfaction, nurturing or nutrition from it? So, my debt of gratitude to you tonight is to remember your struggle and your quest the next time I want to go numb with food. Hear me, food, "I want my food to be my best friend ever (not my drug-of-choice pimp)!" Glad I got that one out.
I honor you for sharing your journey. I am uplifted by your personal honesty and most of all, I honor you!
*hands together, bowing, saying 'Namaste' in my mind and sending this to you over the e-waves*
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Oh, just thought of something else. Have you EVER tried to measure out a Tablespoon of nut butter? Sistah! It never worked for me!
My favorite all-time WW snack for work in the afternoon was sliced cucumbers with a Tablespoon of nut butter. Well that was about two cucumbers sliced; and then ONE slice that had almond butter on it. I always saved it for last! Then I told myself in my mind (oh, how we self-delude) that EVERY one of those damn slices had Almond butter on it and that I was sooooo full and satisfied! It actually worked. Wow, I'm going to try that again. Thanks for the memory recall prompt!
*May you find many blessings along your quest*
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Yes the raw regiments are hard to follow do to it being someone else’s plan. I also feel that way about recipes; it just too much work to follow a set concoction. You need to have all the ingredients and follow step by step. It’s just much faster to put something together from what you got. And what you got is usually what you bought so it is things, spices, herbs, veggies, fruits that you like.
I teach a lot of raw prep classes and I really focus on method and leave a lot of room and variations to the recipes. That way you can work with you have and like. You can check out my classes http://www.rawchefdan.com/recipestore/video%20classes.html”>here. I also have videos on http://www.youtube.com/user/rawchefdan”>">http://www.youtube.com/user/rawchefdan”> YouTube http://www.youtube.com/user/rawchefdan
However in my experience it is easiest to stay raw when you read and lean about raw, living foods and living a sustainable living lifestyle. There are also a ton of videos and blogs on line that talk about health as well as the political and ecco impact of our lifestyle choices. It all really helps you keep in your mind what you are doing and why. What we believe in and wish to support.
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Sending you some love!! I love reading about all that you are learning on this journey.
xoxo....Penni
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One last entry to brighten your day with WW. My husband eats raw and has a sweet tooth. In many respects it makes my life easier because he supports my raw life. But, he was saying how easy it is to "eat everything he wants, whenever he wants, without gaining any weight," on a 100% raw program. I said, that's great for you, but you don't crave bread, noodles, rice or other processed carbohydrates. I can make a zillion different kinds of raw sweet treats for you but there really isn't a substitute for the feeling of digesting a comfort food. "Oh, but it is so easy," he says! "I eat like a king!"
I said, "that's why they don't let skinny people like you into Weight Watchers."
......
Then we had a really good chat about emotional eating and food addictions. Neither one of which he has issues with. Really, 'civilians' haven't a clue!
*many blessings on your road to self-discovery* Thank you for sharing your story!
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Hi Allison,
I am very glad that you have found something that works for YOU right now! That is more effective than struggling to stick to a program that doesn't work for you.
((hugs))
Sarah
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