Farewell

My Dear, Wonderful Weight Watchers Friends,

For those of you who were unable to attend our meeting tonight (Tuesday, January 20, 2009), it started like this—I opened the meeting by saying that this day—today—we have a new leader to run our country, and our Tuesday night Weight Watchers meeting now also has a new leader. I have had to resign my position because I can no longer physically handle the job requirements. Over the past several months (actually, it’s been a couple of years), I have suffered from lower back issues (sciatica). The problem gets worse (almost unbearable) when I stand for long periods of time (30 minutes or more). So I've made the decision that it's now time to take care of my health and to get some help, if needed, so my back can heal.

The good news in all of this is that a new leader, Deb (great name, huh?), has taken over the meeting and she is fantastic. Tonight, as I introduced her and prepared to step away, I mentioned that I feel like a pregnant teenager who has decided to give her baby (“my” members) up for adoption to someone who can be a better parent than I can—at least, at this time in my life. Deb is eloquent, funny, and a great motivational speaker. I sat through her meeting tonight and was very impressed. She is great!

I plan to continue following the Weight Watchers program, to get back to my goal weight, and I will be attending meetings—hopefully, Tuesday nights (on occasion). I hope to see you at the meetings, or elsewhere in our community. You are very special to me and I hope that this won’t mean goodbye forever. Also, please know that I’m only an e-mail message away. If I can do anything to help you, or if you just want to keep in touch, I hope you’ll write. My e-mail address is lifeisglorious@gmail.com.

Although I am sad because I realize I may never see some of you again (and I’ve grown to love you—and will miss you), I know that life is all about change, and change can often be a very good thing. I’m certain that I’ll feel a void in my life and heart (probably beginning tomorrow morning) when the reality of this decision sinks in, but I hope to fill my life with new, wonderful challenges. In fact, I’ve decided to teach piano lessons again (I taught when I was in my 20s) and I have already signed up 11 new students! I love music, I love teaching, I love people—and I can SIT while I teach (such a perfect fit for my life).

I want to thank each and every one of you for allowing me to be your Weight Watchers leader for the past several months. Thank you for your support, your example, your courage, your determination, your words of advice, the laughter, the tears, and your friendship! Speaking of "tears," I have one final comment. I know it shocked not only ME, but probably all of you, that I didn't cry tonight. I fully expected to. All I can say is that I sincerely believe it had a lot to do with the fact that I was so pleased to be turning you over to Deb, because she is a strong and capable leader and I am certain she will take good care of you. I'm confident that Deb will help you all reach your goal weights, and become lifetime members. I am happy for you. Deb is a great fit for our wonderful group, and I'm now looking forward to being a member with you as we attend meetings together! Hope to see you soon.

All my love,

Debra (your former Tuesday night Weight Watchers leader)

Balancing Your POINTS Values

Dear Weight Watchers Friends,

Highlights from this week's meeting: This week’s meeting topic was titled “Balancing Your POINTS Values.” Our meeting started out with a story about several friends who were taking a road trip. They got so caught up in their conversation that they forgot to pay attention to the gauges on the car and ran out of gas. How often do you get so busy doing other things that you forget to monitor or gauge your weight-loss efforts? A member once said, “I feel like I’m constantly watching the dials on the dashboard, and they’re saying, ‘Am I hungry?’ ‘Am I full?’ ‘What should and shouldn’t I eat?’ or ‘What can I eat so I don’t feel deprived?’” We had a great discussion on how important it is to watch all the dials when making food choices.

It’s important to find a good balance between choosing foods that help us stay satisfied and planning for foods we love. It’s also important to avoid hunger. Remember, hunger is hazardous! Don’t forget to bulk up meals and snacks by adding Filling Foods for extra satisfaction. It is so helpful to know that we can use the weekly POINTS Allowance and Activity POINTS values as ways to make room for the foods we love.

How have you been able to S-T-R-E-T-C-H your POINTS values this week?

We discussed what the term “flexible restraint” means. Members who practice this strategy generally enjoy lasting weight loss. Hopefully, we’ll all work to embrace this strategy since I’m certain it’s the desire of each one of us to enjoy lasting weight loss!

Next week's meeting topic: “Getting a Handle on Hunger.” We’ll learn how to fine-tune our monitoring skills further so we’ll be able to tell the difference between physical and emotional hunger—and how to respond accordingly. You definitely won’t want to miss this discussion.

AWARDS!

As a group, we lost 96.4 lbs. WOW! That’s wonderful--phenomenal success! Congratulations to each of you who contributed to this total loss, particularly those of you who received a 5-lb. star! You’re making great progress.

A special congratulations goes out to Heidi for earning her 10% award, and to Marianne for losing 25 lbs. so far! Thank you both for your comments, examples and inspiration.

I look forward to seeing each of you next Tuesday night. Tuesday, January 20, is a special day for our country as our new president, Barack Obama, will be sworn in! It will also be a special night at our meeting. Plan to attend so you can find out why!

I will leave you with this thought:

“Hope begins in the dark—the stubborn hope that if you just show up and try to do the right thing, the dawn will come. You wait and watch and work: you don't give up.” Anne Lamott

Our dawn is coming. It truly is. We will continue to do the right thing and we will be successful.

Take care, my wonderful friends,

Debra

K.I.S.S. (Keep It Simple & Sustainable)

Dear Weight Watchers Friends,

WOW! Let me start off by saying a BIG THANK YOU to each of you for your kindness and patience as we worked hard to get you registered, checked in, and/or weighed last week so you could get into our meeting on time. We had more than 20 new or returning members and there was definitely an excitement and energy that I'm sure you all felt. It was CRAZY, but very fun.

By the way, I was able to gather e-mail addresses for several of our new members. However, if you attend the meeting with friends or family members and they didn't receive notice of this weekly newsletter (also known as our blog), please share the address with them. Also, if you're receiving notice and would like your name removed from our distribution list, please send me an e-mail message requesting that your name be removed. My e-mail address is: lifeisglorious@gmail.com.

Many of us (myself included) are very hopeful that this new year, 2009, will bring with it many wonderful things. We have perhaps made New Year's Resolutions to: (1) be healthier, (2) make better eating choices by eating filling foods and/or decreasing portion sizes, (3) get more energy, (4) move more, (5) increase self-esteem, (6) make new friends, (7) give help and support to another Weight Watchers member so that member, too, can reach his/her goal--and guess what? Each one of these things can be done by following the wonderful Weight Watchers Momentum plan and attending our weekly meetings!

This week's meeting topic was titled: "K.I.S.S.," which is an acronym for "Keep it Simple and Sustainable." The new Momentum plan is just that--simple and sustainable. Never has there been a plan that is more simple to follow (only two rules) or that is more sustainable. The Momentum plan teaches us how to make smart food choices by helping us focus our attention on filling foods, while still allowing us to enjoy our favorite foods and occasionally even splurge! What could be more sustainable (maintained or continued) than the lifestyle we learn from following the Momentum plan? We don't have to be hungry and we certainly don't need to feel deprived.

We also had a wonderful discussion about the "Seven Steps for Success" referenced at the front of your new Pocket Guide. These are steps that successful members follow to reach (and maintain) their goal weight. Definitely wise advice! As we discussed each of these steps, I was impressed by the insights, experience, wisdom, and advice that members of our group shared. These things help all of us. Ralph Waldo Emerson made the following statement, which I truly believe: "It is one of the beautiful compensations of life that no man can sincerely try to help another without helping himself." One of the many things I appreciate most about the Weight Watchers program is the MEETINGS. We get a chance to be among friends, family members, and aquaintences who feel many of the same things we feel and who struggle with similar issues. However, as we meet together each week, we learn from each other, help support each other and, by so doing, we strengthen each other--and ourselves.

During next week's meeting, we'll be discussing "Balancing Your POINTS Values." We'll learn how to find appealing foods that will keep us satisfied ... longer, while balancing our choices with foods we love. I look forward to another great discussion!

For those of you who lost weight (or even maintained your weight) during the holidays--CONGRATULATIONS! And for anyone who might have put on a few pounds during the past few days/weeks/months, that's now part of the past. Let it go. Let's move on. There is definitely hope for a much, much brighter future. We have nothing but success ahead of us. Vince Lombardi said: "The difference between a successful person and others is not a lack of strength, not a lack of knowledge, but rather in a lack of will." I know we have the WILL to reach our goals, and we can and WILL reach our goals. I'm confident of that! We have all the tools--and support--we need. Aren't we lucky?

I'll see you Tuesday evening. (Remember, new members, you'll arrive at 6:00 pm for our "Week 2" meeting. Everyone else, the weigh-in time for the regular meeting is 6:30 pm, and the meeting will begin promptly at 7:00 pm.)

Please enjoy the remainder of your weekend.

Warmest regards,

Debra (your Tuesday night Weight Watchers leader)