So what?

When I got on the scale this morning, I knew I was going to be up - I haven't been tracking and while I've been relatively active, it's not where it should be.

But, I was still shocked by the number I saw -146.6. Le sigh.

Rather than being totally upset, I've decided this is a great way to segue into a topic I've wanted to write about for some time: the topic of Weight Watchers not being a diet.

Some of you may or may not know that this isn't my first time in the WW rodeo - before 2009, I'd actually done WW three or so times.

And, I'd do well. I'd lose 20 to 30 pounds, I'd start walking, but it never lasted.

Why?

Well, one, because instead of learning to eat real food, I'd eat SmartOnes and FiberOne bars.

And, second, I was thinking of Weight Watchers at a diet - it was just something I had to put up with until I lost weight and then I could go back to eating whatever I wanted. That's the thinking that got me up to 231.4 pounds.

When I started WW for the last time (and I say last time, because I don't plan to ever not be a WW again) in April 2009, I think I'd already started to make a paradigm switch because I said to myself, "Jaci, I don't care if it takes three years or 30 years - you are going to get to a healthy weight".

That is when WW stopped being a diet and when diet became a bad four letter word to me. I don't believe in diets in the traditional sense - I don't believe in eating foods you don't like just because they are healthy. I don't believe in eating prepackaged crap because then you aren't learning how to eat and prepare real food. And, I don't believe in dieting for just a certain amount of time - if it isn't something you can do and maintain the rest of your life, then you shouldn't do it at all.

No, I believe in being moderate in behavior and enjoying your life - which is why I like WW. Nothing is forbidden and if you take the time to learn about nutrition, you learn how to cook! And, it teaches you that sometimes a weight gain is going to happen. So what? It happens. Move on.

And that's the most important thing I've learned in the last three years...sometimes I'm going to be human and have a bad week or month, but since WW isn't a diet, it doesn't really matter. I just keep on keeping on and the weight eventually goes away. When I dieted, I would have quit or been completely depressed over my weight gain. But now, I just see it as a number that shows my progress but doesn't define me.

The number 146.6 just means that I need to track this week (something I've been pretty lax about lately) and I need to make sure I'm active at least a little bit every day. Nothing more, nothing less. I'm not a fatty or a loser or lazy - I just gained a few pounds.

So what?