I tracked my weight from last year and am only three pounds off from where I was last year at this time. I guess this is a good thing and a bad thing. It means I managed to control myself despite my relaspe back in Feb. - May. when I went through that run in with depression. Since then I have finally gotten over the one year I don't want to continue attitude to finally having the will to continue on and have now lost a few pounds. I am now willing to commit to cutting back from the 1330 calories to the 1200-1250 calories it will now take to get that % of weight off of me.

I learned in the WW meeting that as you get closer to your goal weight you will have to lose points or calories to get to your weight goal. Beck talks about this too in her book. I wasn't willing to do this last year, nor did I think my body was ready for it either. My dietitian actually agreed with this assessment. I simply wasn't there physically, mentally, or emotionally to go there. I hung in there with you all's help and am now back on the road to finish the job.

I'm still not sure if I will do the WW point system or continue what has worked for me in the past, calorie and carb count with the exchange system ( old WW system ). My doctor prefers I keep up what has worked for me in the past as the make sure I don't mess with my BG control. As I have been studying the point system this weekend, I can understand his point. Some of the serving sizes are different in relationship to points compared to the American Diabetes serving sizes. Of course I could just substitute mine for theirs, but I would get less food. If I want to eat just a little more, I would have to go with counting calories.

Note, if you are an insulin pump user and on the WW system, you still have to count your veggie carbs. You also need to know your fruit servings better than what they have in their point book. For example : banana is given 2 points in the WW book and listed as 7-9 long. That is actually two diabetic servings because a diabetic serving would be a three inch serving or 2.5-3 oz peeled banana equaling 15 grams. Or in WW terms 1 point or half of what they list. Case in point...there is a type one diabetic who doesn't have much knowledge of her diet in my class. She was downing a 7-9 inch banana and two WW treat bags in class the day I was there !!!! She also was telling me about how she doesn't understand her A1c numbers. I'm figuring that out now. Another member by the way pointed out to her she was eating a lot of points even though she said she walked 7 miles a day. I pointed out that 7 miles a day might not make up for all of that food she was eating with her handicap. In other words, she wouldn't lose eating all that extra food even as a diabetic on insulin. She didn't need it to exercise. Anyway, I'm just pointing out you have to be a smart diabetic if you use the point system and are on insulin.

Now, Since I am talking about having joined WW. Let me tell you what I am getting out of it since I probably will not be using the total system. The classes are really motivating even though the teacher assist that I use the pint system. I am learning little things that help me in my motivation to stay with it each week. Talking to more people who I bump into with at local stores here in town. That's nice having local buddies. Can't beat that.

Another subject. I realize I like to and need to eat at certain times of the day. Another WW homework assignment was to mark your hunger times. This made me realize that I need to plan my food around these times. I need to allow for that 9pm snack and not try to avoid that evening snack. I really DO need and want to eat something around that time. We eat dinner around 5:30 pm. Who wouldn't be a little hungry by then. I also want something a little sweet after dinner like a piece of fruit. So, split my fruits into smaller servings so I have some fruit for each meal. I like veggie snacks, they are perfect for around that 3-4 need to quell the hunger in the afternoon time. Or that's when the cheese and crackers are perfect. I found that If I tale a 100 calorie sweet to Friday night's social I don't come home and binge. I can eat my sweet as everyone eats their cake. ( Choice: Vitabrownies )