Once I decided to lose weight, I signed up for Weight Watchers because I knew it was something that wouldn’t restrict what I was eating. If I wanted a cupcake at work, I could have one. I didn’t have to choose between becoming healthy and eating foods I liked.
When I saw the point values for the foods I ate all the time, I realized that chicken tenders and fries weren’t worth how many points it cost me. I knew if I kept doing what I was doing, I would look the same.
I decided to revamp my eating habits from the get-go, and went to the grocery store to buy things I could meal prep. Now, I get fresh fruit every week for snacks and a whole chicken that I can make in a crockpot. I also grab lettuce so I can make salad and low-calorie bread to make sanwiches with my chicken. For dessert, I like to use powdered peanut butter and mix it with Cool Whip and put it on these wafer cookies—it tastes like a peanut butter cup.
I also like to make pizza for me and my family with wraps as the crust. I top them with pizza sauce, cheese, and veggies.
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Another important part of my diet is that I started incorporating water into my daily routine. I used to drink coffee, soda—literally anything but water. But now I make sure I drink 110 ounces of water a day. That helps me stop mindless eating. For example, instead of walking into the break room to take a breather and grab snacks, I take my water bottle and fill it up.
A week after I started eating healthier, I started feeling better. I had so much energy that I would wake up before my alarm. That feeling motivated me to keep it up.
Though I was eating so much healthier, when I wanted something fried, I would just have it. I don’t call eating a cupcake an indulgence. If I had a cupcake, I had one. I just write it down and track it. And while I don’t limit or restrict myself in any way, I crave a healthier lifestyle more than I crave unhealthy food. That makes it easier to eat right.
The tracking part of Weight Watchers has been really helpful because it holds me accountable for what I’m doing and what I’m eating. I look at my points as money, and I budget my food accordingly. I am really good about honestly tracking, even if that means I go over my points. I’m a human, I have days when I go overboard. I just look at each day as a fresh start.