I started Weight Watchers this week. I have told a few people and the reaction is always the same "Why? You don't need to lose weight." Well, since weaning Caroline, I have gained about 5 lbs, 5 lbs that I'd like to lose again , plus a little extra as long as I'm paying for it :) When I'm nursing, I can eat whatever I want and lose weight. Unfortunately, since weaning, I have eaten whatever I want and put a few extra pounds on. I don't even really know how much I'm *supposed* to be eating (portion control is not my forte), and I'm hoping this will help me with that as well.

This is the first official "diet" (though I loathe that term) that I've been on. When I was in high school and always thought that I was fat (and when I look at pictures of myself in high school, I can't believe I ever thought that), I would put myself on a restricted diet whereby I would not allow myself to eat more than 10 grams of fat per day. I was also on the morning sickness diet, unwittingly. I've always had a negative body image, even when I was thin. I remember when I was 12 years old that I would watch the Miss America pageant and compare my prepubescent body to theirs and feel fat as a result.

I do not want to pass this negative body image onto my own daughter. So, I'm hesitant to do this in the first place, but I think that getting to a healthy weight and getting better eating habits will serve us all well. We eat pretty healthy as a family, with lots of fresh fruits and vegetables, but we also use a lot of butter and full-fat dairy, so I should be more mindful of those things.

I am also doing this with my Mom, which I think will help motivate us both! It always helps me to do difficult things with other people, this or working out. Does anyone who has done Weight Watchers have any tips for me? I'm seeing how there is a very strong incentive to work out because of the extra food you can eat. I'd welcome any tips or recipes!