Twenty Pounds Overweight

So, after achieving Lifetime on Weight Watchers a year and a half ago, I'm 20 lbs overweight again. It didn't take long to gain those 20lbs: 5 lbs in November thanks to a marathon and thanksgiving, 5 lbs in December due to a 50k and Christmas, then another 10 lbs slowly from Jan-Mar from a visit from delicious, Southern cooking Pappy and a vacation weekend or two. I know those pounds are going to be hard fought to get off. Was it worth it?

Probably the biggest reason I have gained is that in the time since my 50k I can't find the motivation to run regularly.

Here are some scattered thoughts:

I find reaching lifetime with weight watchers lead me to a similar syndrome as ”post marathon blues.” Especially:

when you accomplish any goal that you’ve been targeting for months, it’s only normal that a letdown of some sort is inevitable when it’s over. The past five or six months of your life have been dedicated to achieving this goal, and marathon training has, in large part, dictated your lifestyle. Nutrition, sleep patterns, and even socializing has revolved around training. Basically, you’ve been living, breathing, and eating marathon training for months, so now that it’s over, is it really any wonder you feel lost? But there are positives to this. You now have the freedom to sleep in, eat, drink, and socialize as you please. No more long runs and no more early wake up calls, which can be both a relief and terrifying all at the same time.

The answer to post marathon blues is to register for another race or try another event. Not sure how that would translate for weight watchers. Maybe while on lifetime trying other dietary ‘games’ for short times: vegan, vegetarian, gluten free, 5 veggies a day, eat the rainbow. I don’t know.

Now that I’m back on plan with weight to lose, it’s easy to be in the right frame of mind. I have a goal. I want it. I follow the plan. I don’t even really miss all those weight gaining bad habits and foods.