weight watchers - Weight Loss and Leadership

Five Accenture Wellness Programs that Saved My Life

2018-09-042019-08-23Don Grier3 Comments

Last Thursday I had the pleasure to attend the Austin Chamber of Commerce Business Awards with some of my Accenture colleagues from the Austin office. We were finalists for two awards – the Employee Wellness and Environment award for large offices. Here is the group at our table.

Table Celebration — Austin Chamber of Commerce Business Awards

Smiles abounded at the table even though we did not win. Why were the smiles so broad? I can’t speak for my friends, but I can speak for myself. I was smiling because Accenture’s wellness programs helped save my life!

This may sound like an overstatement. I promise you it is not. Before I became an active participant in Accenture’s wellness program I was on a downward trajectory. Too much stress and not taking care of myself drove up my weight and ruined my fitness.

The bottom hit at halftime at my son’s senior homecoming game. My son was nominated as Homecoming King and I and my wife were to escort him on the football field. Carrying over 300 lbs. on a hot Texas evening, my calves became so tight I could barely move. I had to momentarily move behind the bench and stretch out my legs. Luckily, just before I took the field my legs stretched out enough so that I could hobble onto the field.

Homecoming picture — Nearly missed homecoming

My wife and son were kind but that was a close call with my health and only one of many. I had to do something. So, I explored Accenture’s wellness programs and they came to the rescue. Specifically, these five programs helped me to lose over 170 pounds, restored my health, and improved my outlook on life and ability to handle stress.

Wellness check-up – Each year our company provides for a free wellness checkup for employees and their spouses. The wellness checkup is followed up by recommendations and assistance as well as a discount on your insurance. The wellness checkup indicated that I had a health issue. I was contacted and followed up with a more complete physical (also discounted through the company) that verified the issue and provided the proper diagnosis. With the treatment prescribed, my shoe size shrunk back down two sizes. It also helped provide me with enough energy to seriously attack my weight problem.
Employee Discount Program for Weight loss program – I now had the immediate health issue under control, so I looked around for a weight loss program. I was toying around with a liquid-based diet since it worked in the short term in the past when an email appeared in my email box offering half off on Weight Watchers for a year. With that single email and discount, my life was forever changed. Those who regularly follow my blog know the impact Weight Watcher’s has had on my life; leading me to lose over 170 pounds in a year and a half. The Why’s of Weight Watchers! I still attend every week. But the first step to this life changing program was the Accenture discount email that I received on January 1, 2015 (Yes, I kept the email as a memory!).
Accenture Active – Another program that was key to my transformation was Accenture Active. I was one of three leadership journeyers during the first year of the program. In this role, I was afforded weekly sessions with the other journeyers and a fitness coach. In addition, I had the opportunity to blog on a weekly basis as a means of encouragement to me and to others. Also, the program provides a Fitbit to each employee and their spouses as well as a program called JIFF that allows you to get prizes for meeting wellness goals and tasks. With the Fitbit and the encouragement of JIFF rewards, I went from being able to walk 1000 steps a day to 10,000 steps or more daily.
Mindfulness Training – With my fitness on the right trajectory, I had to tackle the underlying problem for my health issues in the first place – my reaction to stress. Accenture again came through with a program. My boss worked with a local company to provide mindfulness training for leaders. In the class, I learned the practice of meditation and mindfulness that I use daily. I may still have some moments, but this program has really helped me in focusing on the now and not worrying unnecessarily about the future.
Truly Human Campaign – I had my head and body half way in order, so I now had to turn to my heart. Accenture has a program for that also called “Truly Human”. It provides programs and advice on how to leverage the unique talents of individuals. It provides exercises and tips on how to be kind to both yourself and your colleagues. I wrote about the importance of taking care of your heart as well as your body in this previous blog. Feed your soul, heal your body The Truly Human campaign helped reinforce my daily practice of thankfulness journaling and capturing positive events in a happiness journal.

I want to thank Accenture for my new lease on life. To end, I will close with a catchphrase from my time at Accenture Active – Life’s Attractive When Your Accenture Active!

I’m Back, Right on Track

2018-08-182018-08-19Don Grier1 Comment

I was temporarily derailed on my Weight Loss maintenance program the last few weeks. So much so that my Lifetime standing was potentially threatened. The first two weigh-ins this month I was off by two lbs. Not the worst thing but I really cherish my Lifetime distinction.

What got me slightly off track? It was not dramatic. I did not suddenly binge eat a bunch of M&M’s or stop exercising. Nor did I stop my other good habits (in fact they saved me – more on that later!). No, it was three items that without the habits that I learned at Weight Watchers would have derailed me permanently.

I think of these external items as the Weight Gain Axis of Evil! Before the discipline and training I received at Weight Watchers, this Axis of Evil caused me to balloon up in a matter of weeks. The diagram below shows the three elements of the Axis:

Here is how they impacted me in my temporary setback.

Travel woes. Both weeks I was traveling for work out of town and had a delay on some of the flights. Plus traveling two time zones away.
Work Stress. I was taking on more work responsibility while still retaining my current work. In addition, I had a packed two-week schedule with deadlines and planes to catch.
Lack of Sleep. I could not sleep for the most part driven by the first two elements of the Axis. First, I kept thinking it was 5 am when it was 3 am because of the time zone difference. Second, I had to catch planes early in the morning and late at night. Third, the work stress and the tight schedule made me anxious making it difficult to fall asleep.

I caved in the past before Weight Watchers when I confronted the Weight Gain Axis of Evil. I would wake up too early or go to bed too late causing Cortisol to race through my veins. Then the stress elevated the cortisol level and the fatigue factor, making me eat more and exercise less. The result in the past; easily a five-pound weight gain in a week with additional weight gain until I could get of the loop.

This time however I was able to recover from the fleeting set back with the lessons I learned from Weight Watchers. Here are the 5 items that helped me.

Don’t Panic! – Like the Hitchhiker traveling the Galaxy (one of my favorite books), Don’t Panic! I remembered the rough patches I had before and how I eventually was able to overcome them. I was not going to let a two-week setback remain permanent. Remembering my Weight Loss Journey when I lost 170+ pounds, I knew if there were fits and starts in weight loss, there would also be partial setbacks in weight maintenance.
Look beyond the Scale – There are more things to Weight Watchers than just the scale. According to the Lifetime member rules, I only need to weigh in once a month to maintain my status. But comradery and the friends I have gained at my Round Rock class means more to me then a temporary loss of Lifetime status. THEY WERE THERE FOR ME AND I WILL BE THERE FOR THEM.
Listen closely at Class – While you are at class enjoying the comradery, listen! Two lessons from the last two classes helped me get back on track. One was the practice of mindfulness (see 4). The second was the discussion of the “The Power of Habit”. After class, I reread excerpts from that book and tweaked a few of my habits that had grown stale and needed tweaking!
Mindfulness – Weight Watchers has teamed with Mind Space to teach members the practice of mindfulness and meditation to overcome stress. After attending and participating in the recent mindfulness exercise that was introduced recently, I restarted my practice to handle the extra stress of the last few weeks. With the calming effect of mindfulness, I increased my sleep and it was deeper also.
Blue Dot Focus – I never lost my habit of tracking even during my set back. But I did lose the focus of trying to get a blue dot award (staying in a recommended point zone for a day). I had become astute at using every one of my weekly points and some of my activity points. In so doing, I had been paying less attention of hitting a blue dot 5 out of the 7 days in a week. This week, I went back to that goal and in so doing retained some of my weekly points.

My 5 ways to defeat my Weight Gain Axis of Evil may be different from yours. Indeed, you may have a different Axis. The point is to examine and to attack your weight gain nemesis with optimism, pluck and the lessons of Weight Watchers. In closing:

I’m Back,

Right On Track,

Come and Give my Hand A Smack,

Weight Watchers All the Way!

5 Weapons to Win the War on Weight

2018-08-03Don GrierLeave a comment

Ready for weight loss — Ready for battle with my weapons in weight loss!

For many, losing weight and keeping it off is akin to warfare. It was for me. Many days during my year and a half journey to lose a 178 lbs. I felt like I was in the Battle of the Bulge. I was pummeled on all sides by my enemies – junk food, worry, and inactivity. I needed the right weapons to beat back the break in my defenses and drive to victory. And I found them in these five key weapons in Weight Loss warfare:

Bananas – The banana is the ultimate weapon in defeating junk food cravings for several reasons. First, they are very discreet and compact. You can hide them in your backpack or briefcase and pull them out whenever a junk food frenzy hits! Indeed, they were my weapon of choice in defeating my arch nemesis – Peanut M&M’s. Second, they come with their own protection a removable skin that keeps them clean and ready to eat in all sorts of terrain – Nature’s MRE. Lastly, they sustain for the long haul with their fiber and potassium. Eat one and you can drive past a full candy bowl without slowing down.
Sneakers are the ultimate weapon against our next enemy of health – inactivity. Sitting and remaining dormant are two of the most powerful armaments in our foe’s arsenal. There are more expensive tools to defeat them – gyms, the latest exercise equipment, etc. – but I have found the trusty sneaker to be the most effective. Sneakers are like the famous Kalashnikov rifle that the Soviet’s used in WW II. You could drop the Kalashnikov in the mud or march in the rain and it would always fire when you pulled the trigger. Likewise, sneakers are a lost cost, effective way to beat inactivity. For example, when I am out of town for work and know I will be away from the gym, I find a hotel about a mile or two from the workplace, lace up my sneakers and take a twenty-minute walk. I then switch into my shoes and put them in my backpack; along with my trusty banana that replenishes my potassium! There they remain until ready for access with my next bout with inactivity – lunch!
Audiobooks – Two other enemies in the struggle against weight gain is lack of knowledge and boredom. Audiobooks are the perfect antidote to both. Take them on a trek while walking on a trail and you will forget the foes trying to drive you away from your objective. I have whiled away the hours listening to James Patterson as I worked off the weight. Next, audiobooks provide you inspiration and knowledge to counter the enemy’s every move. For example, The Power of Habit taught me how to counter the triggers to eating. Walking with audiobooks strikes fear in our nemesis to health!
Weight Watchers – An effective game plan and strategy is the greatest force multiplier on the battlefield. Weight Watchers provides that game plan with its program Freestyle. The program provides you the structure, support and tools to defeat cravings and the disinformation campaign that our modern lifestyle deploys.
Your Mind – The most powerful weapon in the weight loss struggle is your mind. The harbingers of weight gain use worry, negativity and self-loathing to distract you and bring you down. To counter them, practice mindfulness and positive thoughts. This will counter the senseless eating that often accompanies worry and restlessness.

The winning combination of the five weight loss weapons will bring you success. Use them and drive to victory and a new you!

Vanquish Weight Gain During Vacation!

2018-07-22Don GrierLeave a comment

I have just come back from a week of vacation and was able to maintain my Lifetime Goal weight at Weight Watchers when I weighed in the week following. How was I able to vanquish weight gain during vacation? I was able to maintain the hard fought 175 lbs. (actually lost a pound) using 6 simple tricks!

Washington Monument — Washington at Night

Wherever I Went I was Walking! One of my favorite movies is Forest Gump and the line I love the most is when he starts the jogging craze in the 70’s – “From that day on, if I was going somewhere, I was running!”. Being on the backside of fifty and with somewhat creaky knees, I modified Forest’s plea to walking. It is low impact and allows you to take in your vacation at a more leisurely pace. Almost all the tours I took in Washington and Virginia historical areas were walking tours – averaging over 15 k steps a day with the peak day over 30 k. Walking the streets of Williamsburg and the hills of Monticello and Montpelier allows you to take in the sights and sounds of our Founding Fathers and Mothers the way they did. It also allows you to eat some more food and counter it with exercise.
Indulge but count. Which brings me to point to. You should indulge a bit on vacation. The new Weight Watcher’s program allows you to do just that. While on Vacation, I shared a few deserts with my wife for the first time in a long time. But I was also careful to track everything I ate to know that I was in striking distance for the week. By tracking and not attacking the buffet line, I was able to enjoy some of the colonial recipes and comfort foods in Virginia in a controlled manner. I was able to indulge and avoid the bulge!
Drink water to counter the beer. One thing that I indulged in during the trip was beer. I love microbrews and the beer recipes from earlier times (Williamsburg has beer based on 300-year-old recipes that are off the charts!). Besides counting the points for each beer, I was careful to drink water to remain hydrated and trigger my metabolism. Beer dehydrates you, so it is important to balance your beer with water that is clear! (A little Dad joke for you all!)
Destress, rest and learn something new. This fourth point is a critical one. You are on vacation and the purpose is to destress and rest. It is therefore important to put work on hiatus or at the very least plan the times people can reach you if critical tasks are at hand. Here is a case in point. I really needed to take a work call but there was a show about Martha Washington that I wanted to see which overlapped the call. I got to the show early to get a seat that would allow me to listen to the first hour of the show and then sneak up to a hill that had a great view of Williamsburg but was isolated enough to take the call. It is better to turn off on Vacation but in my case, I get more stressed if I do not balance critical work with fun. By planning, I was able to destress by learning about Martha Washington for the first hour and still was able to take a critical call. A little planning on vacation goes a long way!
Vacation with someone that has your back. It is also important to vacation with someone who understands how far you have gone on your weight loss journey and wants to help you. My wife Colette is great in this respect. She has always been able to maintain her weight (I envy her metabolism). When we go out to eat, she is very accommodating in the places we select and does not push me to eat something that would push up the points. On the flip side, she does not nag me not to eat something if I make a choice to indulge. Lastly, she knows how important it is to me to track my Smart Points, so she allows me to use my phone while at dinner.
Wait to weigh in. This last point is the most important one. The best way to maintain your weight on vacation is to not obsess about the scale. I did not weigh myself until the Sunday evening after I returned. In addition, I was mentally prepared to be higher than I normally am on a Sunday evening prior to my next Saturday weigh in. In this case, I was 3 lbs. higher than my normal Sunday weight but had confidence when I hit Weight Watchers the next Saturday, I would be at the goal weight I needed to maintain.

So, there you have it. Vacations are for fun! You can control and ultimately vanquish the vacation pounds by applying these and other simple rules from Weight Watcher’s Freestyle and other lessons learned.