Out of the Box Mommy is changing things up! The right timing and the right financial situation have made it possible for me to start doing Weight Watchers again. You will notice that the recipes from Out of the Box Mommy will now be offering the number of WW Points+ Smart Points values used per serving along with them. Points+ Smart points are a way for those who do Weight Watchers to keep track of how much they have eaten and how much more than can still eat in order to lose weight. This information will prove to be helpful for others who may also be trying to be mindful of their food intake on their Weight Watchers journey. As my food choices are very public through this blog, I thought it would be appropriate to explain where I am currently at with my eating so here it goes:

(me with my mom)

I tried doing Weight Watchers a couple of years ago, and it helped in a way other diets or lifestyle eating habits did not. I get that there are so many benefits when a person cuts out sugar, processed foods, carbs, dairy, and many other foods. I believe in those things, I understand that some people have very serious reactions to certain foods, and I know many people who have found that they had more energy, better self-esteem, and have felt better all around when they cut those things out of their diet. I admire and applaud those who are able to stick to diets like these. Unfortunately when I would try to cut out certain foods all together I had a hard time sticking to those ways of eating, and I would give up before I barely got started, feeling defeated. So what I really needed was something that would be practical for the life I live, the places I eat at with friends, the grocery budget we can afford, and the kinds of foods I naturally still crave at this time.

(me with my good friend, Jesica, who has already successfully lost postpartum weight with Weight Watchers)

I am not an advocate for Weight Watchers, necessarily, I just find that it works for me. I am not at all opposed to any other food preferences that others have made either by choice or necessity. I don’t judge anyone who is not where I am at, but I do think it is important for me to find something that will work for me at this time. I don’t think that shame helps moms who are already struggling. While different things motivate different people, feelings of shame and guilt have only proven to push me in the other direction, leading to depression that would just make me want to eat more.

(3 of the gifts God has entrusted me with, who gently inspire me to want to live a healthier lifestyle overall)

Weight Watchers allows me to eat the things that are at the get-together’s I go to, it gives me an opportunity to learn how to make healthier options when I eat out, it gives me the tools I need to eat what I like and not let it sabotage my attempts at losing weight, and it provides encouragement along the way. As someone who is over 100 pounds overweight, I know my eating is something I need help with, and Weight Watchers (and good friends) help me with that.

(great friends from college: “Gluten Free Momma” Sarah, Katie, Candace, and me)

So, what it comes down to is this: since I will be calculating WW Points+ Smart Points values on my recipes for myself anyway, I will be including those WW Points+ Smart Points values with each of my recipes. Even if you are not doing Weight Watchers, those points will be good indicators of which foods are generally healthier and which ones are not quite as healthy, as well as provide appropriate serving sizes. I hope doing this will encourage others who are in similar situations to me, and my meal plans will become a helpful resource for them.  If nothing else, this blog will bring with it an element of added accountability for me, which I am grateful for. I have signed up for 3 months, so I will be doing this for at least that long. I am just a couple of weeks in right now, and I have already lost a few pounds, so I am feeling hopeful. Looking forward to sharing future results with you. We can do this! 🙂

(me and my sweet, incredibly supportive husband)