I’m back on Weight Watchers and happy to report that the weight is starting to come off! It definitely takes some work, but here are 5 tips that help me stay on target.

1) Start each week with a menu. Download a free Printable Monthly Menu Planner and start filling in WW friendly meals. I use a combination of slow cooker meals, “quick” meals made by baking up Schwan chicken or fish, “full meals” where I spend a little more time cooking, and leftover nights. The key is to plan ahead so that you have everything on hand. You will be a lot less likely to go out to eat or eat junk.

2) Keep healthy snacks in the house. Start with “free foods,” which right now are most fruits and vegetables. I always have clementines, baby carrots, and apples. Then I try to vary other things each week like grapes, cucumbers, pre-cut cauliflower, etc. If I have something right there to grab, I am less likely to grab carbs.

3) Calculate points before you go to restaurants. When you want to go out to eat and stay within your points, try to find nutritional information online in advance and figure up the points for a couple of different meal choices.

4) Exercise! If you are getting in your exercise, you will have activity points to offset those times when you either really want a treat or will be spending time eating and drinking with friends or family and it is too hard to stay within your point allotment. The exercise does tend to make me more hungry on some days, so be prepared for that.

5) Everyone needs a little support around them. If you can meet up with others also on Weight Watchers and talk about meals, restaurants, activity points, etc, it will help to keep you motivated to stay on plan.

Weight Watchers is a healthy alternative to regular “diets” because you truly have to learn portion sizes and gain a better understanding of nutrition and exercise. The good news is that you are paying for them to help you.

I’ve struggled with my weight since I was in law school. It is so easy to gain 10-15 pounds in a month. The really crummy part is that I am active and healthy. I exercise pretty regularly and even ran the Indianapolis Mini Marathon back in May. I start almost every single day with oatmeal with a little Splenda. I hardly ever eat fast food or fried foods. Where do I go wrong??

Thanks to Weight Watchers, I know exactly where I go wrong. I’ve been a member for over 10 years and started doing it online about 7 years ago. I love that the online version is easy to enter foods and activities. I can look back over weeks, months, and years to see where I have “fallen off the wagon” and why.

I won’t say that the pounds just melt off of me. Weight Watchers doesn’t work like that. It’s really a way of teaching yourself what foods are best for you and what real portion sizes should be. And there is flexibility to eat those foods that you “must have” and share in celebrations with your family.

Why am I telling you all of this now? Two reasons. The first is that it is time for me to get back on the wagon. I can tell now without even weighing myself when I have gained 5 pounds. (and I have!) So I start counting points again today. The other reason is that they are running a great deal where you can get a month free. You really need to give it a few months to work, so signing up for the 3 Month Savings plan is a good idea. It will take a few weeks to learn the system and get your body used to eating more healthy. Give it a shot and tell me what you think! And then we can share recipes.