While waiting in line to step on the scale at last weeks workshop, I had a chance to talk with the coach. We know each other, having been co-workers previously. But this conversation was a member who was struggling talking with and seeking accountability from her coach.

I answered her questions honestly. After I told her I would be getting on the scale and that it would not be pretty, she asked how my week had looked. Honestly, the week hadn’t been too bad, I told her. The real problem…. was the last couple of years and the stress I had been eating….. like the entire bag of chips I had finished in 1 hour just a few days ago (and still, my week was not bad! I have had much worse weeks!).

The topic for the week was on food and not feeling deprived. And yes, that is one of the things I love about WW– NO food is off limits. So she asked me if not having chips, or saying I couldn’t have them would leave me feeling deprived.

And I again answered her honestly. No, I wouldn’t feel deprived. In fact, most of the food I turn to for emotional reasons, are not foods I really LOVE. I eat them for other reasons. And when I am not stressed, or worried, or (insert any emotion) those foods just don’t taste as good.

So then my coach did what I needed. She asked me what I could do instead of eating the stress. Hmmm. Okay, I know that. I talked for years about finding something other than food to feed the needs of the heart and head so many times with members who walked into my workshops. But hearing her say it, hearing her ask me what I could do different, well, that is what I needed.

She asked me if I could come up with three things this week that I could use as my “go-to’s” instead of food for non-physical hunger. Yes, I could come up with three things. And then she added in the accountability aspect– she said she would check with me next week to see what three things I came up with.

Accountability! Not just for coming up with three things, but also in being at the workshop the next week. Double the accountability!

THAT is why I go to workshops! THAT is one of the reasons workshops work!

So, I came up with three things– I will write. I will scrapbook, I will go for a walk or swim (depending on the weather).

Three things. Accountability. Making habit changes one step-at-a-time.

Now, I will say, I wasn’t perfect this week. Did I have moments of emotional eating? Yes. But only short moments. Then the three things kicked in. My week isn’t over. And I am doing more of those three things than I am eating right now. Not perfect. This journey does not need to be perfect to be effective!

Looking forward to my workshop this week and sharing with my coach what I came up with.