Since I’ve been working on this project to become a person who will, eventually, fit into a standard casket rather than the new Super Size models you can find on the showroom floor, I’ve gone through a number of stages.

Early on, it was ill health and depression that kick-started my weight loss. About this time last year, I got the first of a series of upper respiratory infections, sciatica bouts, and other miscellaneous health issues that quite simply made me stop eating. Prior to that time, if there was a snack type thing laying around the office or at home, I would grab it. Starbucks provided vente calorie fests for me regularly, and, if nothing else, there was always the Micky D’s drive through for a milk shake. Of course my weight was out of control. I didn’t much care. I was depressed and miserable anyhow.

Once I noticed I had lost 10 pounds without trying, however, it made sense to me to capitalize on that, so that’s why I started Weight Watchers. As many of you know. WW is not even close to the same outfit it was 20 years ago, the last time I tried it. I found the points plans congenial (as opposed to the core plan), and have pretty much stuck to it ever since.

Now I there’s 25% less of me, and, frankly, the effort was generally rather less than I thought it might be. I’m still not exercising as often as I should (katiebird’s 3415 is a great idea which we should all be doing !), but when people ask me what I’m doing to keep dropping the pounds I tell them the truth– I’m just not eating all the stupid things I used to eat. And we all know what the stupid things are, don’t we ?

Fact is, when I want a snack now, the correct answer to “What shall I have ?” is– an apple. Or, for a treat, one of those wonderful pears that come in the “clamshell” boxes with the sensor that tells you when it’s just right. MMMM ! And I don’t have to feel guilty.

So, what are you doing to make it happen for you ?