Barbie Perkins-Cooper, Author

If you are a regular reader of my blog, you probably remember I am losing weight with Weight Watchers. To date, I have dropped 21.6 pounds. Joining Weight Watchers on March 3, 2011, it has been a slow process. Things were going well after one of my closest friends joined WW and we compared weight losses. Of course she was ahead of me, but she got bored with it and quit. She is still maintaining what she lost, but I miss my buddy!

Effective yesterday, I placed one of my dogs on a type of ‘Doggie Weight Watchers.’ Shakespeare Hemingway is my eight-year-old mini schnauzer. He is a sweet, affectionate pup who recently had a surgical procedure to, ‘clip his wings.’ When we arrived at the vet’s office for his procedure, he weighed 34 pounds. Ouch! He has gained six pounds in six months.

The doctor recommended putting Shakespeare on a weight loss program, and so, since he suggested ‘vegetables such as green beans,’ and the new Points Plus program with Weight Watchers includes lots of vegetables, I thought it would be simple to place Shakespeare on a weight control program.

My dear Shakespeare, effective yesterday, you will have vegetables with your meal. Last night, he had grilled asparagus mixed in with his reduced calorie dog food. I have cut back his food intake by 40%, as recommended by the Vet. He ate every bite. Tonight, he will have green beans with his meal. Only one treat during the day, and one treat at night, at night-night-time. Sorry little guy, but you’ve got to lose weight!

Since he has come home to recuperate, Shakespeare is doing well. That is –with exception of the E-collar he must wear until Sunday. This E-collar has truly confused him, causing him to lose his balance a bit, and he is constantly bumping in to things. Just getting him to go outside is a challenge! And when he is outside, he bumps into the bird bath, the shrubs and the trees, bouncing back he raises his head, as if to say, “What is going on? I can’t even walk around now, after getting my wings clipped. Mom, what have you done to me?”

I am truly looking forward to Sunday morning when I can disconnect this obnoxious E-collar and let my boy run and play like he did before — the clipping of his wings.

Hopefully, Shakespeare will continue eating the veggies with his meal and he will drop a few pounds. My goal for him is to get him to the weight he was last year — 26 pounds. He doesn’t look overweight now, just a bit muscular. My poor little guy. I hope he enjoys being my new buddy with Weight Watchers!

The new logo for Weight Watchers is “Because it works,” and it does. Hopefully, Shakespeare will be able to share, ‘Doggie Weight Watchers works well too!’ So now, I have a new buddy — my sweet little Shakespeare Hemingway!