MY STORY… BEYOND THE SCALE & REAL LIFE TOO

Yikes the scale is trying to control my daughter!

All week as I facilitated meetings on not letting the scale have too much power – I was dealing with its control at home.  I have three children that play Pop Warner Football.  One is my 11 year old daughter, Talia.  She played last year for the first time after watching her brothers play previous years.  One afternoon she walked up to the head coach and asked “Can girls play?”  That was it.  Much to my chagrin she joined the team.  Playing defensive linebacker.  She struggled not knowing the game too well but held her own against and with all boys.  Due to her age we thought that would be it.  We knew that this year she would be moved to a team with middle school aged boys and that she would be much to small to handle a hit by a kid 40 pounds heavier.  Instead we learned that she COULD play with 9 & 10 year olds as a “lighter weight older kid.”  This news thrilled her!  Then we heard the weight restriction.  95 pounds.  Guess what Talia weighs? Yep 95#.  All through the month of August we knew that in order for her to play she would need to attend a league weigh in on August 22.  On that day in order to play she would not be allowed to weigh any more then 95.  Not even 95.2.  As her parents we let her know that was the rule put in place for the protection of the smaller players, and let her know that there was a really big chance that she may have to hang up her cleats.

Let me explain that Talia has no body fat.  She is a long, lean athlete that doesn’t care if her clothes match let alone what she weighs.  But loves the game and really wants to play.  When I would start a sentence with “if you don’t play football this season…” she’d stick her fingers in her ears and sing LALALALA!  Her dad coaches one of our sons and has encouraged all of his players to eat healthier especially this month & has also suggested exercise above and beyond practice.  Then there’s me.  Weight Watcher, reformed scale addict, and mother with goals of raising my girls to love their bodies no matter its shape.  How do I support her desires to play yet not be weight focused?  Last week as we led up to weigh in day it seemed like ice cream was around every corner.  What was I supposed to do?  Say no, you’re weighing in soon?  Say yes, and risk her weighing “too much.” I don’t think I need to tell you that this was especially stressful. 

How would you have handled it if you were in my shoes?  Nix that; How DO you handle it?  Really, this is each of us, every week before we face the scale.  Are you depriving yourself or do you indulge? 

The scale and the tracker are nothing more than tools.  Practice seeing them this way and I bet that they pave the way towards new successes!  (by the way – she weighed in at 94.6 J we have a girl on the team!) 

AUGUST Theme:  TO GOAL & BEYOND!

This week we wrap up our Get Happy! Summer Challenge and you receive your charms!  At the beginning of June you started working towards reaching this goal.  What are you feeling as the challenge comes to an end?  Now where will you set your focus?  Our goals change as we progress.  Hopefully our meetings this month are inspiring you to look not just at reaching your goal, but what you’ll become as you work BEYOND your goals.

 

Last Week:     A SLIP NOT A SLIDE

It’s a universal truth: weight gains happen.  Sometimes we know exactly what happened to cause the scale to go up.  Other times we stand there bewildered.  And that’s okay!  There are a million and one reasons why we experience weight gains and losses on our journey.  And there are just as many ways to handle slip-ups when they do happen.  Slips are going to happen and YOU hold the power to keep it from becoming a slide! 

This Week:   WHAT’S YOUR SUPERPOWER?

Just because “life happens” we don’t have to let go of the goals we want to achieve.  This week we look inside ourselves to recognize that we already possess the character and strength we need to accomplish our goals.  

A character strength is the essence of how a person thinks, feels and behaves.

What traits do you have that you can harness to help you reach your goals?  How can you exercise your character to make it more powerful?  No activity points earned for this!  This meeting is bound to be a game changer – don’t miss it!

  

What’s Happening This Week!

ON SALE THIS WEEK: 

FOOD SCALE:  $29.95

POINTS PLUS CALCULATOR:  $4.95

PEDOMETER:  $14.95

STRUGGLING MEMBER WORKSHOP:

The first Wednesday of every month in Geneva. 

·         September 2 ~ 9:00 -10:00 am

TRADER JOE’S TOUR:

Get a tour and learn what items in the store are plan friendly for W.W.  You may even get to taste a few!  Come check it out!  If interested sign up on the clip board in the meeting room. 

·         September 9 ~ 9:30 am or 1:00 pm

Let’s Clap the Big Hands!

Celebrate the Scale & those Non Scale Victories too!

LORRAINE from N. AURORA Saturday Meeting! Lorraine was struggling!  As a long term weight watcher she had yo-yoed off and on for months and thought about just giving up.  She shared that she had little support at home and wasn’t sure if she could ever be successful.  Then on April 18 she made a decision.  She was starting over!  No more comparing this journey to past pounds lost.  On that day in April she started over with a new weight record.  We wiped her past clean and gave herself a new 5 & 10% goal.  This was the kick start she needed!  This new fresh start has rejuvenated her story and this past week Lorraine earned her 25# charm! 

Woot Woot!  We are so proud of you! BRAVO!

(if you’d like to share your success, post under comments or let me know you’d like to be added in the blog)

Quote of the Week:

by Helen Keller

This newsletter is and the views shared are not affiliated with weight watchers international, inc.  It is meant to be a motivational tool.