Mounting Excitement

Tomorrow is the big day! I go back to Weight Watchers meetings at 12:30. I'm a little nervous about what types of folks will be there at that time, but hoping that at least some younger folks will be there as a "lunch break meeting". I think that's the one I used to go to on Fridays back in college and it wasn't so bad. I just hate going when it's full of old ladies that I have nothing in common with . I've also been saying many prayers that both my leaders (I'll have to split my meetings between the two cities until I move) are fun and helpful.

As I was drifting off to sleep last night, I was trying to think of all the reasons that I want to succeed at this, which include:

1) Not having a miserable time wedding dress shopping because I can't find what I like in my size. Wedding dress sizing is already ridiculous as it is, so I want to soften the blow to my ego as much as possible. When I was a size 12 in regular clothes, I was an 18 in bridal shop sizes for a bridesmaid dress I once had to wear. I so don't want a size 22 wedding dress, no matter how skewed the sizing charts are!

2) Heading in to my thirties focusing more on health and fitness than I have for the last several years. I'm getting married and "settling down" so to speak, so it only makes sense that I aim to settle into a routine of healthy eating and getting regular exercise.

3) Having more fun shopping for clothes. Fall is my favorite time for fashion magazines. All the hot new clothes and shoes are out, and I just think about how once I reach my weight loss goal, I'll be able to shop at far more stores than I currently do. And I remember those days when I was thinner and used to shop and love every single item I tried on. Now, it's like I sometimes have to pick whatever is the least unflattering, and go with that, despite maybe not loving it.

4) And maybe most importantly, I'm looking forward to meetings so that I can truly spend time thinking, brainstorming and working on the reasons why I've been overweight for so long. This is a component that you don't exactly get with doing Weight Watchers online, unless you are really dedicated. For me, I think WW Online will be great once I've mastered maintenance, and have the option of going back to meetings any time as a lifetime member, but it's just not the greatest choice for me right now, as I know my personality, and I need to be accountable to more than just myself in order to get this taken care of the right way, and in order to learn the whys of my behaviors, rather than just trying to temporarily put them on hold.

I told Dave that I'm headed to Weight Watchers meetings tomorrow and, as expected, he's very supportive, and is looking forward to some benefits that might also rub off on him. He's not overweight by any means, but his diet consists of disgusting convenience foods 24/7, as the man does not cook anything other than the rare burger on the George Foreman. It was funny that when I mentioned that I'll be doing Weight Watchers hardcore, and explained a little about the points system to him, it immediately conjured up ideas of salads, veggie burgers and Lean Cuisines for him, and he said he "liked all that diet-y food" and would be willing to eat it for me. Awww, so sweet. I told him that Weight Watchers is not supposed to be treated like a diet (something I'm definitely guilty of) when done the right way and that you CAN eat pretty much anything as long as you're willing to either spend the points on it and/or watch your portion sizes, and that it was not my goal to subject him to every diet food on the planet from now until our wedding day. I'm happy he's interested in it though, and I think I'll actually sit him down with my materials, and the little recipe idea book that they give you, so he can see that the plan consists of real food, not just "diet-y foods". He's a big meat eater, and well, I'm really not. It's not that I'm a vegetarian, I just don't' like to touch/cook meat. I could BE a vegetarian if someone held a gun to my head, no problem, but with my iron deficiency anemia, it probably wouldn't hurt to add some meat back into the equation. I'm really excited about having a 2nd person to cook for/with!

Basically, while my house is being leased, I'll take over the utilities and grocery bill at our place at the beach, and Dave will handle the rent there. Then once we sell my place hopefully by next summer, we will divide and conquer the bills more equally. I'll be spending the next 6-8 months trying to save money for the wedding too, since we will be paying for the catering and reception venue. Well, it's off to do something semi-productive for the next few hours before I head into work to do and extra 4-hour shift. I have been working an extra shift every other week for about 3 months now and this is officially the LAST ONE! Hurrah! The extra money has been wonderful, however, I am sick of work!!! Speaking of work, my new job is pretty much in the works to start ASAP once I move! I have to meet with the director of adult inpatient services or someone like that, and the hospital, as a formality mostly, and then it's ON! Yay for a job in this terrible economy!