Lifetime Member… it’s official!

Today was my last weigh in for the 6 week maintenance period for Weight Watchers.  I was quite a bit nervous about it.  My week in South Carolina for the funeral really did a number on the scale so I was working hard this week.

I was so nervous as I stepped on the scale.  My mom, who has been a major anchor for me the whole journey, was standing next to me.  And, as the title suggests, I did it.  Now, as long as I stay within two pounds of my goal weight, I will not have to ever pay again.

For those of you just joining me, this has not been a quick goal met.  It is almost exactly two years ago that I started it.  May of 2007.  I remember CLEARLY where I was when I decided I had enough – enough of hating the person in the mirror, enough of not having ANYTHING that fit me, enough of being too tired to play.  I was at my son’s soccer game.  I mentioned to my mom (a lifetime member) that I was thinking of going to WW the next week.  She was truly shocked and asked if I wanted her to go with me.  Can I just say, Mom, that was a huge relief to me.  I really needed someone to totally support me.  I knew my beloved husband would, but I knew my mom would understand.

So off we went, the following Saturday and continued till today.  Every week we would meet at our WW location for the 7:30 AM meeting and then go to Bob Evans for breakfast.  We would reflect on our week and what from the meeting we had gleaned.  But even more special to me than any of that was the closeness I gained with my mom.

I have changed much in those two years.  I lost 43 pounds, but I gained lots in replace of that – confidence, happiness, energy, knowledge, creativity, and my voice.  Maybe that last one sounds weird… but because of the others, I speak up more… I know what I want and I do my best to make it happen.  I let others know what I’m reaching for.  I’ve also become closer to God.  He made me so unique and when I was low, he would reach out to me and lift me up.  He would show me a beautiful sunrise as I ran, or send me a thought to dwell on as I tried harder… he worked though my mom too (I’m telling you, you need to get a mom like mine) with the cards, encouragement, and all the other special things she did for me.

Has my journey come to an end with WW?  I can solidly say no.  It has only just begun.  I am living my life to the fullest now because I didn’t choose a diet – I choose a live it.  It’s a tag line from WW, but so true.  I’ve not given up anything I love to get here.  I still have ice cream most nights, fried chicken when my son is craving it, and my mom’s yummy nutrolls.  Maybe I play with my points the rest of the day or maybe I work out a little harder, but I make what I love and enjoy fit and I plan to continue to do that.

Are you starting a weight loss journey yourself?  Let me make one suggestion.  As much as you don’t want to… take a picture of yourself when you start.  I had to dig hard to find these… and yes, I’m going to share before and afters.  Yikes!  I can hardly stand to see them myself, but the difference is amazing (at least to me).

The one with me and the kiddos is from Mother’s Day 2007.  The other is from May also.

And this was taken last month (we’ve all changed quite a bit, yes?).

OK… I can honestly say I am HORRIFIED that I used to look like that… wow…

In closing, I have to thank some others in my life.  As I said, my mom was my main anchor.  But my family was so supportive.  They would ask me how many points things were that I was eating (or they were).  They tried new foods.  My husband let our budget stretch to afford the cost of WW and also did his part by being with the children while I went to my meetings (which sometimes led to all day shopping events with my mom!).  My dad, who in his own way, would… um… encourage me in my weight loss (I hope he is laughing at this statement… he doesn’t beat around the bush with his words, but I love him).  My leader, Nancy… she is amazing – if you join WW, make sure you love your leader!  And you know, all those people at my meeting.  Some faces faded away as they got discouraged or moved… but there are a few of us that have been going through it for the same amount of time and the newer ones.  The meetings really are an encouragement (as my leader says “you might not need a meeting, but the meeting might need you”).

That’s all.  I’ll continue to post recipes I try and talk about the rest of my journey.  Post questions if you have them and I’ll answer them.  I’ll be at WW at least once a month for my weigh in…. I’m gonna miss going every week cause I’m not going to see my mom.  We’ll have to work out something else!  Maybe we’ll replace it with some early morning sewing lessons!