MY WEIGHT LOSS STORY

When I walked into that Weight Watcher's meeting I didn't really believe I could lose all the weight I had to lose. I had tried twice before with 50 lbs. to lose only to quit going to meetingswhen I was 10 lbs. to goal and then I gradually gained it back, plus more. I had given up on losing weight and keeping it off and my weight had crept up over a 5 year period to a weight higher than I was even when I was pregnant. I felt no one in those meetings could understand how it was for me to have so much to lose. I discovered others were just like me, had tried and quit before, were unsure, apprehensive, but willing to try again. Even though I didn't believe I could do it, this time I made a promise to myself that I would not think about how much it was going to cost, how long it would take to lose, how much I had to lose and I also promised myself that I would not quit "No Matter What!"

The program changed four times while I was losing my 130 pounds. The POINTS system!! No more calling peanut M & M's one protein, one milk and a fruit!! The most livable, easy to follow program ever! My leader called it a lifestyle change. "Don't do anything you can't see yourself doing for the rest of your life," she would say. I didn't really want to hear that, I wanted to lose the weight and go back to my former "lifestyle" of eating whatever I wanted! But, I learned over time that it could become the way I live my life, losing the weight, keeping the weight off, and eating the foods I love too!

I tried not to think of more than 5 pounds at a time. Any more than that was too overwhelming. My biggest thrill was to go shopping in regular sizes, no more Plus sizes! I had trouble seeing the new me as the pounds came off, I still saw that "plus size person". My husband would go with me to help me shop for new clothes and to see myself as I was becoming. Shopping became fun and I was beginning to like myself. I could fit into a restaurant booth easily and in a movie theater I could put my purse next to me in my seat – WOW! So many embarassing moments gone, along witht the pounds!

When exercise was the meeting topic, I was sure my leader could see ear plugs in my ears. I did not want to move more, I hated the thought of exercising. But, because of worrying about being flabby I finally gave into it. I could not believe how much energy it gave me, how much better I slept, and how great I felt! Now, I exercise (move more) usually 5times a week. Family vacations include planning for activities such as hiking, long walks, all day at an amusement park, no more couch potato for me!! My family tries to keep up with me!!

When I first reached goal, people I had not seen for awhile did not know who I was. My neighbors thought my husband got a new wife. Actually he got an "old wife", the one he married. Now, when new people meet me they can not imagine I was ever overweight.

My success with Weight Watcher's has carried over into many other areas of my life.

It took a little over two years to reach my goal. It's hard to believe 10 years have gone by after two years to lose the weight, thinking I would never get there, the frustration, the up's and down's, the plateaus. Doing everything right and not losing or staying the same. I use to say I have maintenance down! I wanted to quit more than once. It wasn't easy to keep at it so long. Now, it's hard to remember ever being that other person.

I am so thankful for the people who helped me, supported me, and believed in me – my husband, my boys, the members in the meetings that I attended weekly and my leader. I have been working for Weight Watchers for 7 ½ years as a leader, watching others do what I did. I'm never going back!