In mid-February I joined Weight Watchers. I have lost nearly 35 pounds in these past 6 months following the program. Weight Watchers doesn’t work unless you work the program, and boy have I been working it! If I am going way over the point allotment for the day (eating too much) – I typically will continue to track to at least be accountable for what I am doing. Sometimes I look back at the times I have cheated and wonder how I’ve still managed to lose weight. The bottom line is – even cheating is far better than how I was eating prior to joining. That is scary.
At 5’3” it was hard for me to imagine weighing in at 217. That wasn’t even my heaviest. Just where I started this time. I am 175 now and feeling much better physically. I am rarely fatigued. I play tennis again. I have energy. My joints don’t hurt. I am visiting the chiropractor less often. I have gone down 2 sizes. And yet, I am not done so I don’t feel settled. I am almost restless and anxious to be done with this process.
I need to understand that the last 25 pounds will come off more slowly than the initial chunk of weight. It will take me another 6-9 months to get there if I am diligent. I understand that and yet I want the instant result. We all want the hard part to be over and the fun part to in our lives. The part where my weight is a non-issue. The part where I have been at a healthy weight for so long that people forget what I used to look like heavy. The part where eating poorly feels foreign. The place where being scared of going back doesn’t exist.
Many of my family members are obese and feel as if they are doomed. Like nothing they do will change the fact they are obese, diabetic, and riddled with all manner of illness/disease. I see it as an additional challenge, as additional fuel to fan my flame. I will not be defeated. I am a strong woman and want to live many happy, healthy years. I want my husband and I to be the type of couple that goes on bike rides in our retirement years and watches the grandkids for the weekend. I want to do so many things in this life. Most of all – I want to be healthy and teach my kids how to take care of themselves mentally and physically. I want them to know that my health, and theirs, is worth the effort. I want them to know that food has the power to control you but only if you allow it.
I have been setting the pace for a lifelong journey of health these past 6 months and I am totally up for the challenge. Reaching my goal weight will be incredibly difficult. Maintaining it will be ever harder.
Bring it On.
Bring it On.
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| Before pic from a date night |
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| Not a flattering photo by any means, but definitely shows a true "before" image |
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| Slouched over and frumpy dumpy before shot |
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| Progress photo from early August |
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| Progress photo from early August |
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| Progress photo from early August |
