I knew it was time to do something about my weight at the beginning of 2003. I was weighing in well over 200 pounds and my clothes were quite snug. I refused to accommodate myself by buying larger clothes. By doing this I would be encouraging my overeating. I had been carrying what I called my "50 pregnancy pounds" for almost 10 years. I had never taken the time to drop the weight after my first child and over the next 10 years packed on pound after pound. I was miserable. People would ask family members if I was pregnant again. This was a major wake up call. My son often reminded me I was overweight, telling me, "Mom, you have a big belly!" My 86-year-old Grandma, suffering from Alzheimer's was quick to point out the same.
So, on April 1st, 2003 I walked into my first Weight Watchers meeting confident, knowing I was about to begin a journey that would change my life. I would have never joined Weight Watchers if a close friend had not joined 10 weeks before me and spread the passion and enthusiasm for the Program. After months of her explaining about Weight Watchers and seeing how easily the pounds seemed to be melting from her body, I decided I could make Weight Watchers work for me too. At the time, I did not know how much I would change. Although, I was confident I had found the program that would get the weight off and keep it off for good. Weight Watchers is correct, Staying is Succeeding.
Many weeks I struggled to lose weight. I was at a weight loss stand still for almost three months. (These three months were hard personally,;I lost my grandmother, my friend and Weight Watchers buddy moved out of state.) I didn't regularly attend meetings. I would weigh in and leave. This, I discovered, contributed to my weight loss stand still.
Yet, in November 2003, I decided to rededicate myself to the program. I encouraged my sister-in-law and best friend, Heather, to join with me. Together we tackled the program and I started to show weight loss once again. Only a few short weeks into the new 10 weeks I hit the dreadful PLATEAU. I was upset, and then angry, so disgusted, several times I considered quitting. Trying to convince myself this was "as good as it gets," only to realize I wanted so much more. I wanted to reach goal. I wanted to weigh what I did in high school. I would make goal and lifetime if I was a year trying. I quickly learned to overcome each challenge, each obstacle.
I hit "plateau" twice! Hitting plateau caused a great deal of stress. I could not understand, why after so many weeks of steady loss the scale was not budging. I was mad, the madder I became the more determined I was to find the cause. I started keeping a more in depth journal, recounted how I felt each day, poured over past journals and examined my exercise regimen. By doing this, I was able to unearth the problem, shake things up and started losing weight once again.
Life since joining Weight Watchers has been a journey. I have learned so much about myself. I found I had more strength than I EVER gave myself credit for having. I know now I CAN do things when I set my mind to the task, big or small. I no longer think of things as "if" and "when" but as "I can" and "I will." I no longer procrastinate when thinking of exercise. I am ready to walk or exercise or do daily chores. I not only have the motivation, but the energy to do such activities I used to put off. My motto: Sit LESS, Move MORE!
People now call me skinny. Skinny, a word I have never heard associated with my name before. Of course, I still look at them like they have lost their minds but still appreciate hearing it. Some are surprised when I tell them my final weight will be 156 pounds. They say they would never have thought I weighted that much and it makes me smile. Recently, I went to the doctor for a checkup and the nurse put me off the scale and reweighed me. She demanded to know where I was hiding the extra weight? I have shrunk a total of 6 clothing sizes. I have not suffered from heartburn or acid reflux since joining Weight Watchers. I am healthy and fit. BEST of all, I FEEL GREAT!
I have lost 64 pounds and am one week from LIFETIME!! Yes, it took me 47 long weeks to reach my goal. However, it was 47 weeks serving to teach me a proper way to eat and how to break unhealthy eating habits! I will achieve LIFETIME on April 5th, 2004, only a year after starting Weight Watchers. What a difference a Year Makes!! Weight Watches has changed my life.
I am proud to introduce the PROUD, CONFIDENT Nikki!!
