A Tragic Gain

I can’t believe it.

I stepped on the scale this morning, praying that the number stayed the same, prepared for maybe an extra pound after a weekend of “a little bit of this and little bit of that”, and a week of neglecting my food journal....

I couldn’t believe my eyes. I gained 3 POUNDS!! Yes, the 3 pounds I was so proud of losing and maintaining throughout the holiday season with the help of Weight Watchers.

I would say that gaining back the first few pounds you killed yourself losing, slowly chipping at the monster 20 lbs. you want to lose - is THE single-most discouraging thing in the history of dieting. It feels like taking 3 steps forward and 20 steps back.

The really frustrating thing is that 3 days ago, I weighed myself and was so grateful that my weight had stayed the same throughout Christmas and New Years. That means I literally gained 3 lbs. in 3 days! Wow -

Conveniently, my husband’s birthday was placed on January 5th and we were placed 3 yards away from the Dessert Bar at the MGM Grand Champagne Brunch. Couldn’t he have waited to be born till a time of the year that wasn’t already crowded with temptation? Couldn’t they have sat us right next to the Salad Bar?

The 2nd culprit: I got sick the day before his birthday giving me the license to not go to the gym for the past 5 days.

The 3rd culprit: we decided since we did SO good over the holidays, we had permission to open the box of Pepperidge Farms Sugar Cookies. Then, since we were sick, and nobody gains weight when they’re sick right? we deserved to taste test each and every chocolate in the box of Lindt Assorted Chocolates and indulge in the Archer Farm’s Shortbread Cookies we were suppose to bring on the trip to my husband’s relatives’ we had to cancel cuz we were all sick.

It’s not our fault.

I mean how much will-power do they (I’m not sure exactly who “they” would be) expect us to have??? and how much torture can a person endure? After a month of saying “no” to Christmas Cookies and Pecan Pie....one MORE weekend of saying “no” to all my carb-favorites?

It’s back to square one.

It’s so true what our WW leader pointed out: there is ALWAYS an occasion to celebrate. ALWAYS. She had us make a rough calendar, recording holidays, birthdays, people visiting, trips and other special occasions each month throughout the year. It was unbelievable what I discovered. On the average, it was two-three times a month. This is not including the “screw cooking – let’s order pizza” nights. So that’s where the extra 15 pounds came from!

So, in 3 hours (3 must be the lucky - or unlucky number of the day) I face the music , and weigh in with the sweet lady at the WW counter; who will politely refrain from verbally revealing the tragic gain. And, It’s back to saying “no” to ordering Chinese take-out, “yes” to Weight Watcher’s famous Garden Vegetable Soup and recording each and every bite in my weekly Points Tracker.