We all have weeks like this...

"You must have long term goals to keep you from being frustrated by short term failures" Charles C. Noble

No matter how much I worked out or how carefully I tracked my points, I was going to gain weight this week. Ug.. I hate having my period! During my years as a WW, I have learned that the closer I am to my goal, the more my period messes up my weight loss efforts. Up until I was about 15 pounds from my goal I could still lose weight the week of my period. Now that I'm under 10 from my goal... I have learned that weight loss is not going to happen the week of my period. I did everything to the best of my ability and I can't control it. I did track my points this week, and stayed within my points or earned enough activity to "cover" my extra points used. I earned over 35 activity points... Weight Watchers suggests that you earn a max of 28. Knowing that I was going to gain this week makes it easier to deal with. I went to WW to weighed in (and pay since I'm not within lifetime range yet) even though I knew I would gain. I needed to be accountable. I needed to 'work the plan' even though it meant that I would see a gain on my sticker. Being prepared helped me continue to work toward my goal. I didn't say to myslef... "Self, you know you are going to gain this week so have a ball.. eat whatever you like." No, instead I said, "Self, you are going to gain this week... keep working your plan so you will have a loss next week instead of a second week of gains." I like the quote at the top. My long term goal is to continue to eat and live a healthy life style and by doing that I will get back to my WW goal. I looked back over the past six weeks when I made up in my mind that I was getting back on plan and really started working the program again. Over the past six weeks, I have lost 4 pounds. I'm very proud of that. So, I was a little frustrated that I gained this week. I knew it was coming but it still "hurt". Instead of having a pitty party and eating myself to happiness, I looked at my goal and realized that my changes over the past six weeks are paying off and I'm going to keep moving along!

What are your goals? Write them down and write down a plan of how you are going to reach that goal. Every few weeks, pull that goal out and look at it. Are you doing what you planned to do to reach your goal? If not make a small change.

Have a happy day!