This week has been pretty good in terms of making healthy decisions.  I’ve eaten within my WeightWatchers points range, and I’ve started to reintroduce exercise into my routine. And I have to say, I owe a big part of this week’s success to all of you!

Text a friend next time you're thinking of making unhealthy decisions!

Here’s how your support has really helped:

• First, I can’t say enough about the ever-present support from Kristin.  She suggested the next time I think about making poor eating choices (hot dogs, nachos and beer at the Red Sox game tonight?), I should text her.  It would make me make a conscious decision instead of just going for it out of habit.

• Reader Lissa suggested I try fitness pole dancing.  While I haven’t quite done that yet (though I want to!), I took the advice to exercise by doing something I find fun (hint: boot camp isn’t it). So I stretched and toned my muscles to a pilates DVD and felt my inner goddess spring forth with a bellydancing video.

• Jet-skiing is how reader Liz Erk gets revved up in hot weather, and she takes it inside to play Wii Sports during rainy days.  I took her advice and didn’t let this week’s weather forecast decide whether or not I’d exercise.

• Reader “bbfh” offered to have me clean his/her house to stay fit.  I took this to heart and scrubbed my own home, while thinking of the cardio benefits (it helped make de-scumming my bathtub just a little bit easier).

• Sassy commenter Amy (my sister) asked if I called our Grandma an “old beast.” Whoops. Guess I did, but I didn’t mean it.  The guilt from that had to have burned at least five calories, right?

So now that I’m back to a good start, I have one major fear to conquer still — actually going to a WeightWatchers meeting. I totally understand the benefits of group support (see above), but here’s my hesitation.  You see, I’ve continued to pay for a monthly pass for WW, even during my weight gain. So the last weight they have on file is more than 10 pounds lower than my current weight.  I’m most afraid of going in, getting weighed and having them whisper, “You’re up 10+ pounds this week.”

I know it’s silly and I should just do it, because after that one tiny moment is over, it will no longer matter.  One moment — that’s it.  I can probably even cut that moment off in advance by explaining my situation to the person weighing me in. But for some reason, this just feels insurmountable, and it’s holding me back from progressing.

So here we go again, dear readers.  Please help me take that next step.  I know I can do it — I just need a little help from my friends.

Photo Credits:  Cover Image – Puiu Adriana Mirabela; Phone - John Lee