Are you really hungry?

Weight Watchers Online has a good tip that I have kept in mind since I have been involved with the program.

Tip of the Week: Studies have shown that it takes about 20 minutes for your stomach to let your brain know it's satisfied. Start with smaller portions and then wait 20 minutes before digging in for seconds. You may find that you're no longer hungry.

This has been a big one for me. I have learned that most of the times when I thought I was hungry, I really was not. Maybe I was more thirsty than hungry.

Weight Watchers emphasizes paying better attention to your body's signals. Knowing when you're hungry and when you're not is an important part of the battle against the bulge.

Focusing on phytonutrients

I've been researching phytonutrients as part of my quest to lighten up and get healthy. Phytonutrients, also known as pytochemicals, are organic components of plants thought to promote health. Fruits, vegetables, grains, legumes, nuts, and teas are rich sources of phytonutrients. WebMD answers some frequently asked questions.
Cooking can lead to nutrient loss. The longer a food is exposed to heat, the greater the nutrient loss, according to the World's Healthiest Foods site. The USDA also has information on phytonutrients.

Thirty pounds down, twenty more to go

They don't call it Weight Watchers for nothing -- you are really expected to watch your weight. In fact, when you're on Weight Watchers Online, you weigh-in every week to track your progress.

My weight tracker started March 14, 2010. I had already begun losing weight on my own before I joined Weight Watchers, so at the time I put in 220 pounds. Trying to lose weight strictly on my own, I had lost about five pounds.

The cool thing about Weight Watchers Online is that the tracker calculates your average weekly weight change and even generates a chart. I really love this because it is reassuring to see that descending line. That does a lot for me psychologically.

My initial goal weight of 209 pounds was achieved April 4, 2010. From then on, I have consistently lost weight through the rest of the month, into to May, June, and now, July.

I have lost an average of 1.7 pounds a week. At this rate, I should reach my goal weight much quicker than I originally though I would.