Change It If It Isn't Working!

So let's get serious.  Let's get right to the point.  Is something "just not working" for you anymore?   What are you doing about it?  Nothing?  Well, how is that working for you?  I know the feeling.
What did I do about it?  Nothing.  I sat around for months starry eyed but doing nothing about it but complaining.  Every week, I complained.

Yes, I am at goal, but that doesn't mean I don't need the same things day after day that got me here.  It's key.

Okay.  So the nitty gritty.  When I started Weight Watchers, I had what I considered a GREAT LEADER!  She really was "a good fit" for me, funny, smart, always well prepared for the week's topic, knew the plan, knew how to "guide the group", always had suggestions,  and SUPER MOTIVATING.  In addition, we always had a little bit of everything at the meeting.  From celebrations of weight loss or something new activity we started, struggles we were having, an event or situation we might have difficulty with in the coming week.  THAT was so motivating, to hear how everyone else is doing and how proud they are of their accomplishments.  That meeting and that leader was just a great fit for me. 

I lost a total of 75 pounds doing the Weight Watchers plan and have kept it off for over 2 years.  What worked the most for me?  Coming to the meetings week after week, getting that charge to start the next week and keep going.  That meeting, that leader, that motivation KEPT ME GOING and I was able to reach my to goal.

Sadly, our wonderful leader decided after many years of dedication to Weight Watchers that she NEEDED A CHANGE.  Imagine that, wanting a change AND DOING SOMETHING ABOUT IT!.   I was sad to see her go, but completely understood her reasons.  Hope that she's reads this post and knows that she is loved, no matter what.  :)

So anyway, what happened next?  Well, do you mean after the whining, pounding my fists, stomping my feet?  Just kidding.  There was a lot of negativity about what would happen, how the meeting would go, what would we do.   I tried to stay positive, but you know, it just wasn't doing it for me anymore.  You now how sometimes you buy the same product for years, week after week.  Then all of a sudden out of the blue, the manufacturer decides to change the product, and it's just not the same anymore for you anymore?  That's how it was for me. 

But what did I do about it?  NOTHING.  I sat around week after week, tried to stick to what I always did, go to my meeting, come home and start my new week, but didn't have that charge that I needed to get me through, didn't have the motivation and the excitement to continue.  But again, what did I do about it?  Nothing.  Just a lot of complaining about what's not working, how it used to be, how it could be better, but still doing nothing about it.... until this week.

But who's really in control here?  YOU ARE!  If it's not working, why sit around wasting time instead of finding a solution?  Maybe, love my situation, your leader changed in Weight Watchers.  If you're not doing Weight Watchers, maybe you've suffered an injury and can't do your normal exercise routine.   Whatever it is, if it's not working, does that mean you just give up?  Quit?  Hmmm.

After meeting a good friend from Weight Watchers for lunch and a lot of discussion (hey, by the way, what a great mid-week charge), we came to the realization that we're just wasting time.  I mean, really, by sitting around and watching what's going on and doing nothing about it, where is that getting us?  NOWHERE!  We need to find a new meeting, a new leader.  If it's not working, change it!
So we decided we would "meeting hop", see what's going on in other parts of the Weight Watcher world, venture out beyond our little "comfort zone".

So Saturday morning came around, and off we went to another meeting.  WOW!  The change in how I felt coming out of this weeks meeting was.... well, how do I best describe it.... POSITIVE!  Imagine that.  This meeting that we went to covered all of the things that I enjoy in a meeting, celebrations, hearing how other people are doing, discussing the details of the program, discussing difficult situations, new food ideas, as well as talking about getting some EXERCISE!    I was totally motivated to jump into the next week full steam ahead!

SO BOTTOM LINE, NOT WORKING FOR YOU?  Stop sitting around complaining about it and MAKE A CHANGE, take a leap, trust that YOU CAN DO THIS!  YOU ARE IN CONTROL!  JUST DO IT!   

P.S.  After posting this, felt the need to add this.  For those of you reading this who are part of my Saturday morning meeting, I hope you all know it is absolutely NOT about you.  I love each and every one of you, and even if I do switch meetings, I will still want to come back to the original meeting once in a while. 

This was about me and what I needed and what I was paying for.  I'm not paying now since I reached goal, but I am RIGHT AT goal, and if I don't start doing what I need for myself, I WON'T BE.  I invested a lot of money in this when I add up the weekly fees, and it was worth every penny to me, but not if I end up slipping and gaining the weight back, all because I didn't give myself WHAT I NEED.