A Hurdle Encountered

My sister, my husband and I joined Weight Watchers Online yesterday. Cliche? Yeah, maybe a little. But also a step we all felt necessary to act upon. 

I already know the importance of having the right foods in the house and accessible. Especially with a baby, a toddler, and a six year old running around and eating non stop from morning till night! When chaos rules the roost (even a carefully managed chaos as I like to think mine is), it's important to have things planned out and readily available so good choices can be made under pressure. 

I planned my menu for the week. I wrote out my grocery list. I loaded my kids into the car and headed for the store. That was my mistake. A cranky, demanding toddler does not an easy shopping trip make!

Things will get easier (repeat, take a breath, make a good choice, repeat again!).

For now, as I am learning what brands are best and where they are located in the store, I need to plan my big shopping trips by myself. I also need to start tracking the brands we use in our favorite recipes, and use that when I make up my list. It's easier to rush through the store if I know exactly what I'm looking for (ie "Dreamfield's Elbow Macaroni" instead of just "noodles"). 

The magnitude of this job, the discipline and planning required to make it work exhausts me. It's part of why I've failed in the past. It's so much easier to grab a box of Kraft Mac and cheese. But that's not what I want, for me or my kids. That's what I need to remember when I get overwhelmed by the details and encounter unexpected obstacles. Making the right choice takes a little more time, and I'm going to have to give myself time to get used to using the tools. But it's worth it. And it will get easier.