It's Ok to Be a Weight Watcher

It’s ok if you see me with a donut.  I am going to track it and make sure that I get in some activity to work it off.

It’s ok if I talk about food.  Better to talk about it than eat too much of it.

It’s ok that I track everything and tell you about the points value.  You don’t have to listen, but it means a lot if you do.

It’s ok that I gain a ½ pound after working hard all week.  My pants now need a belt, so I am doing something right.

It’s ok if I pass on that cheeseburger.  I’ve eaten too many of them, obviously.

It’s ok if I don’t pass on that cheeseburger, either.  They are delicious, juicy, mouth-watering…I better stop.

It’s ok if it I lose weight at a slower rate than you do.  It’s a slow process, but there is progress nonetheless.

It’s ok if I have to just sit down and veg out. I listen to my body.

It’s ok if you think that Weight Watchers is some kind of cult, or it’s just a bunch of people who talk about their feelings regarding food.  It’s ok, because they are there to support me, whether I lose or gain a pound.  My leader and the members there know the struggle, and they understand me.  They don’t judge.

It’s ok that I am proud to be a Weight Watcher, who celebrates even the smallest victories.  They keep me motivated.

It’s ok if you want to follow this journey of mine. I know it’s so cliché, but I can’t think of any other way to put it, and that’s ok, too. I hope you are there when I reach my destination. 

It’s ok for me to believe I will succeed!

You're More than Just a Number

What does a successful weight loss look like to you? Is it getting on the scale and seeing a smaller number? Is it that moment when you realize that you are no longer a “plus size’? Does it mean you get to go on a shopping spree in your own closet because there are several pairs of jeans that now fit?

I have found that success comes in a lot of ways, such as those listed above. There are scale victories and then there are non-scale victories. Of course it is great to get on a scale and see a smaller number, but we get so caught up and focused on that number that we don’t see the other changes that have occurred as a result of our efforts. I haven’t lost a lot of weight, (yet) but I am feeling better. My pants loose and I have tops that are loose as well. I find that I can walk right by the sweets when I’m at the store. I CAN say no. Sometimes I say yes, and that’s ok, because I track it. I fit it into my plan. My behaviors have changed. The way I look at food has changed. Others are taking notice, too.

I’m not saying the scale doesn’t matter, but don’t make it the only thing that determines whether or not you are successful. If you aren’t taking notice, I am sure someone is. Listen to the positive feedback. Celebrate that! Celebrate your non-scale victories. Share your story. Believe it or not, someone may need some encouragement and may be inspired to see someone working so hard to change. 

Cheater!

I started writing this blog 3 years ago because my dad's declining health scared me enough to make some changes. Well, in 3 years I could have reached my goal, but I'm now 10 pounds away from my starting weight. I've tried several weight loss methods. What I tried didn't fail. I failed! Weight Watchers has been the most successful for me by far. I lost 42 pounds. I also completed the Focus T-25 program from Team Beachbody. Well, what happened?

I became a slave to food again. I began eating when I was bored, stressed, tired, etc. I started eating just because someone else did. I also stopped exercising. Mix bad food choices with a sedentary lifestyle and you get one tired, bloated, crabby woman. My headaches came back daily, when they were almost absent while I was actively trying to lose weight.

I have no issues eating healthy. I love to eat healthy. I just need to stop making excuses to have the carbs and sugar. I need to stop saying, "I'll start again tomorrow." Someone told me "Everyone needs a cheat day." No you don't! When you cheat on a program, you cheat yourself. You're adding extra fat, sugar, or wherever else to work off. Why do that to yourself? I have cheated myself for years. I've cheated myself out of smaller clothes. I've cheated myself out of more productive days off because I'm too tired and lazy. No more cheating! I am tired of wasting time. I keep starting over and over again. My dad doesn't get to start over. Due to complications from his diabetes he lost a leg. I want to keep my limbs and my life!

How will I do that? By exercising some self control & limiting my sugar intake. Writing out grocery lists and sticking to them. Most importantly, if I do slip, I won't put myself down, because that will just lead me to feel sorry for myself and say "What the hell?" and eat some more.

I want to inspire others to succeed. That won't happen if I keep cheating. No one likes a cheater!

Courage

It takes courage to admit when you have a problem. Some may see it as a sign of weakness if you can't handle issues on your own. They prefer to fight their battles alone. When it comes to the battle of the bulge, I'm declaring war.

I’m tired of being scared of how my life is going to turn out if I don’t make changes. Making changes and having a healthier lifestyle is not easy. The weight did not come on overnight and it certainly will not come off overnight either. Like it or not, there are no quick fixes.

Too many people give up because they don’t see results quickly enough.

It’s not just about having discipline. It takes courage. Courage to hang in there when your 35 year old friend with metabolism of a teenager wolfs down 3 donuts while you pretend that the gluten-free toast with manufactured eggs and non-dairy cheese is THE best thing ever. It takes courage to eat that bag of chips while binge watching The Walking Dead, get on the scale at your weekly weigh in AND own up to the fact that the gain is YOUR fault. It takes even more courage to NOT do that again. Most of all, when it seems like you have no support system, when people are making fun of you with your tracker, laughing at your “weird foods”, and even tempting you with foods you are trying to avoid it takes courage to keep going. Remember why you started to lose weight in the first place. It’s about you, first and foremost. YOUR health. YOUR well-being. You are brave. You started this journey that too many people are too scared or proud to admit that they need to take. I wish you safe travels and success. 

Almost 20% Off! No, Not a Great Sale-20% off of ME!

Last week wasn't so great for me. I was bloated, got food poisoning, and was stressed to the max.
I had some good and bad days as far as the eating goes. I did not track my food or activity, yet somehow managed to lose 4.6 pounds. I'm happy, yet I'm a little ticked at myself for not staying on plan and tracking everything. I was doing a lot of estimating in my head as far as how many points I was consuming. I think the weight loss is lucky, to be honest. 

Today I just realized 2 things. I am just a half pound away from a 40 pound weight loss and I am 5.2 pounds away from having lost 20% of my starting weight. A goal of mine is to get certified to become a Zumba instructor once I've lost 20%. I'm excited. It may take some time to get certified, because the classes cost money and they fill up quickly. There are 2 classes available in September. One is September 8th and still has space, but I won't have the $225 in time. The other class is September 22nd and is already sold out. I hope that more open up very soon! 

I admit that I've slacked off quite a bit, but today when I realized I'm so close to another milestone I had a talk with myself, and said that all that slacking off, mindless snacking, and laziness ends today! I'm going to plan out my week, which will include exercise and meals. I should have been at 20% long ago. However, I'm still a happy girl. I have more energy, I can wear smaller clothes, and I have more confidence as I've mentioned in other blogs. 

I'm off to do a walk now. It's kind of warm out there but I am NOT letting that get in my way. I've let too many things get in the way of my success. Mainly myself! Not today and not ever again. I DO deserve the very best and damn it I'm going to get it!

Non Scale Victories-Pictures, too!

I haven't posted in a bit because I've been busy, and unfortunately have had some stressful days and the scale reflected just how much I've been stressing. I fell back into bad habits, making food my friend. However, I've snapped out of that for the most part, and I've been trying hard to get back on track.


I've had some things to celebrate. I am able to wear misses size clothes. I discovered this a few weeks ago when I went shopping with my friend. She was pushing me away from the plus size section. I found some jeans in a size 16 misses that were a great price. I tried them on and was skeptical. To me, my thighs looked kind of big. I think it was that self talk I've been so used to all this time. I had to step out of the fitting room and look in the larger mirror outside the door. One of the fitting room attendants stopped and exclaimed, "Those look REALLY good on you. I wouldn't just say that, either. Really good!" I took another look at myself and then explained to her that I've been in plus sized clothes for so long and it was hard to believe I could fit into these jeans. Then I started to cry. They were happy tears, of course.
Another thing to celebrate is my shrinking bra size. I'm now a 38DD. If I wanted I could go to Victoria's Secret and get bras. Oh, and I had to add holes to my belt! So, when the scale is not moving in the direction I want it to go, I have to remind myself that I am making progress. The scale is not the only thing to determine my success! 


The biggest non scale victory for me is hearing my 8 year old tell me I look skinnier. You know how kids are. They are painfully honest. She's never hesitated to tell me if I look big. She always tells me now that I look pretty. If I start to say I look fat in something, she stops me. If I eat something that isn't the best for me, she reminds me that I may exceed my daily points plus values. There are times that I am horrified and embarrassed by the things she says, but these days if it means helping me stay on track, I'm forgiving. 


Take a look at the pics below. These are me in my MISSES jeans. 

The Next Time You Eat That Donut...

It's been awhile. I'd like to say that I've been too successful in my weight loss to write, but that's not the case. The fact is, I'm tired. I'm working full time, I'm on my feet a lot, and when I get home, I eat and rest. Therefore, I'm still losing, but it's at a very slow pace, because I'm not trying hard to make it happen. Until today I had stopped tracking, stopped exercising and wasn't getting enough sleep.


That all changed today at the weekly weigh in. I lost .6. So if the scale measures in tenths, that's 3/5 of a pound. I can do so much better than this. I was happy to have a lost, considering what I've eaten lately, but it was admitting that I ate donuts that made me realize I've really fallen off the wagon lately. When I confessed I ate them, I may not have shown it, but I was ashamed. At the time I ate the donuts, I was back to the old Tamara. I didn't just have one, I looked around, made sure no one was coming and grabbed a second one. By the way, these were provided courtesy of my work. That first donut went down too quickly. It was soft, gooey, and perfect. I didn't even bother to calculate the points on these donuts until now.  One medium size glazed donut is 7 pp. Remember I had two of them. That's 14. I get 26 daily points. I ate over half my daily allowance. What's even more disturbing is the nutritional breakdown. I did some Googling and according to one site I found one donut has 255 whopping calories and 12 grams of fat among other things. Eek!

I had the nerve to scoff at the person who had only taken half of a donut. Me! What am I, some expert just because I've lost 33.6 pounds? Absolutely not! Today's meeting was about questioning if the points in something you want is worth it. If I had actually taken the time to look up this info before I consumed TWO donuts, I honestly think I would have allowed myself half of one. I love donuts. It only takes a few bites to satisfy whatever craving it is I have. I wish I could explain what came over me. Maybe the fact that they were free gave me that excuse. I haven't purchased any, so that tells you right there that I didn't want them bad enough. 


A coworker of mine recently told me that she's using me as a motivator to help achieve her weight loss goals. The girl is going to gym for 3-4 hours at a time! She's eating better. It's already showing. There is no freaking way that I'm going to be an inspiration to anyone if I'm sitting back popping donuts like they're crack. It's time to light that fire under my butt again. Anyone have a match?

Feeling Effects of NOT Being Active (Plus Weight Loss Progression Photos)

I've been working very hard. I worked at H&R Block this past tax season where I was mostly on my feet as I was a receptionist, but there was a chair where I could sit, too. At my current job, there is no chair in which to sit. I'm a cashier, and I am constantly moving, reaching, bending, talking, etc. I'm very exhausted at the end of my shift, and most nights when I come home I don't get to sit down right away unless I use the toilet, lol. I have an 8 year old that needs my attention, there is cooking to do, and maybe some cleaning as well. After that's all done, and I've gotten my child to bed, I play on the internet for awhile and go to bed-late. I get maybe 6 hours of sleep, wake up a few minutes later than I intended, so I'm rushing to get myself ready for work and my child ready for school. 


Now I'm sick. I have a nasty cold with some chest and nasal congestion, sinus headache and a cough. I feel miserable, yet the show must go on. I HAVE to go to work, because I don't get paid time off yet. This is the 3rd time in the last month I've gotten sick. I've had tummy issues twice, and now this. I think I know why-lack of exercise. 


Sure, there is repetitious movement in my job, but it's not enough to get my heart rate going. I need Zumba, step aerobics or kick boxing. So the question is, when can I fit that in my busy schedule? The answer is in the morning. Many years ago I worked out in the morning before having to be at work at 4 am! I remember feeling so energetic, and the need for coffee was not there. I was able to push through my day and was able to fall asleep easily at night. There is no reason-absolutely none-that I can't get myself up in the morning and do some kind of activity for at least 30 minutes. Exercise has many benefits, the obvious being weight loss, but it releases endorphins which make you feel really good, kind of like chocolate does. :-) Another benefit is it makes your immune system stronger. You can fight off those infections more easily, or if you do get sick you're not down and out as long as most. I've found this to be true for me personally. When I exercise on a regular basis, I'm less stressed, sleep better, I don't get sick often, and in general feel happier.


Tomorrow I start my activity commitment. I am committing to at least 5 days a week of activity, whether it be Zumba, kickboxing, walking, or even skating. I have to do at least 30 minutes when I exercise, and would like to build up to an hour. I'd like to fit that in before I work. If I'm off work, I want to work out in the morning, and then again in the afternoon and evening. Ideally I could continue to lose weight on Weight Watchers without exercise if I follow the program to the letter, but for maximum results, and for my health I want to exercise. 


Below you can see how almost 33 pounds off of my body looks. Notice how my posture improved. I'm standing up straighter. A few people have said I look taller. Is it the heels? Is it the fact that I'm up close, or is it the fact that I have more confidence now? Do you think there's just a little sass in there too? You're damn right there is! 

All Aboard the Weight Loss Train!

Well, I'm happy to report that I am almost 11 pounds away from my next big goal. When I lose those 11 pounds I'll have lost 20% of my starting weight. I've lost 33.4 pounds so far! I'm not only under 200 pounds, but I'm under 190 pounds. I have not been under 190 since 1994. I still have a long way to go, however. 

I'm excited that some family members and friends have joined Weight Watchers! My oldest daughter joined, so did my cousin, his wife, 2 friends, and now another is considering it. Another good friend of mine is doing her own thing. She's even trying to step out of her comfort zone and get outdoors more and to the gym. She has agoraphobia, so it's rare that she goes out in public. She recently went out without her husband, which was a big accomplishment. I'm very proud of her! She's not only trying to change her lifestyle, she's trying to overcome her fears. I'm not sure if her recent weight loss has been an inspiration, but no matter what, it's good to see her doing so well. 

That same friend suggested I start my own weight loss group on Facebook. That's what I did! There are a few of us that share our ideas, concerns, vent, and we share recipes, too. Most of all we do what we can to motivate each other and keep things positive. I'm starting to feel like I could really be a role model. This group has helped me realize that I'm capable of being a good leader if I push my doubts and fears aside. People are actually willing to listen to me. It feels good to be heard! 

I'm 4'11". I'm what you call "vertically challenged". I want it to be known though, that since I've lost this weight, I've gained so much confidence, support and love. With all that, I feel like the tallest woman in the world. 

Time to Stop Being a Follower and Become a Leader

I mentioned in a previous blog entry about how my weight loss has made me more confident. I'm walking with my head held high, I smile a lot more, etc. I've mentioned several times that I aspire to be a Zumba instructor once I've lost 20% of my starting weight. Well, I think it's time I raise the bar a bit. 


Several people have told me that I've inspired or motivated them in some way to start eating better, or exercising. A couple of my friends actually joined Weight Watchers. I find myself trying to coach my oldest daughter a little bit, and my other half, too, instead of nagging him about his eating, lol. In training for my new job today I was telling the girl sitting next to me about Weight Watchers. This has all got me thinking lately: Why not become a leader myself? Well, one reason is I'm not at goal yet. It's understandable that the company won't hire me yet until I can be a living example of how the program works. The other reason is my fear of public speaking. I LOVE speaking to people and meeting new people. However, I hate speaking in front of groups. I turn red. It passes, but I'd like to start off not looking like a lobster. I have plenty of time to work on that fear. I have 70 pounds to go before I reach my goal weight. If I average 2 pounds a week, I can reach that goal in almost 9 months. I think that's enough time to get prepared. I suppose I can read some books on the subject of public speaking, or perhaps take a class. No matter what, I need to work on it.


I love my leader, Debbie. She's enthusiastic, driven, encouraging, and she's loud! She's like me. I want to be in her shoes. I want to get people excited about achieving their goals. I want to make a difference. 


Besides being a mother, I can't think of anything more rewarding than helping to change the lives of others for the better. 

Missing Puzzle Piece

This weight loss journey of mine has brought on so many changes. Obviously there is the physical change, but there has been a change from the inside as well. I find that I'm more optimistic. Even when things don't go my way, I have an upbeat attitude. Like always, I have a smile on my face, but these days, I actually FEEL the smile-I'm not faking it. 

There is something else I've noticed. I have more confidence. I walk with my head up, and if I'm getting a second look from someone, I don't look down at my shoes. I look that person in the eyes and smile. I've found my confidence again. One recent example of this was my 2nd job interview with my new employer.

Before I went to the interview, I was nervous, but on the drive there I keep saying positive things out loud. "You've got this!" "You can do it". I don't know what happened to the nerves. Maybe it was my new boss and her assistant who seemed laid back, but I answered every question without hesitation. I even made them laugh. I maintained eye contact. I even told them about my weight loss and how I want to become a Zumba instructor when I reach one of my weight loss goals. My new boss asked the final question, "Why should we hire you?" I didn't give the standard cliche' answers. I simply said this, "Because I'm your missing puzzle piece." I said it with confidence, not arrogance, and I smiled. She and her assistant loved that response. I was offered the job on the spot. 

I credit my weight loss to this resurrected confidence. I'm doing my best to handle all situations just like I do with this weight loss-with determination, and a CAN DO attitude. I love what losing weight has done for me. I hope that you'll continue to stay with me and celebrate my success. Thanks for reading. 

A New and Improved Tamara

This morning I couldn't make it to my Weight Watchers meeting because my child is ill, so I decided to go this evening. I was going to chicken out and skip the scale and just go to meeting, but decided to face the music and put my big girl panties on and deal with it.(FYI, them "big girl panties" aren't so big anymore!) I gained 2.4 pounds last week. Now my leader said that a person's weight can fluctuate somewhere between 2 and 3 pounds before morning and evening, but I know I gained something. I was not tracking everything last week. There were a couple days when I really was a chowhound. Take yesterday for example. Yesterday was the last day of tax season, which meant it was my last day until next year at H&R Block. Our office had a potluck. There was pizza, tater tot casserole, chips, dips, hummus, and Baklava. Every chance I could get I was running back to the break room to munch on something. Today the scale reflected that. 


The old Tamara would have been pissing and moaning about it. The new Tamara, however, knows where I went wrong. I knew what was coming. I didn't even have the nerve to be disappointed because I KNEW I had gained those 2.4 pounds with no one else's help but my own. That was my moment today. I didn't get upset, didn't call myself a failure, I didn't get down on myself. I just said, "Oh well". I'm proud of myself for accepting this little setback and not making a huge deal of it. I know I will do better next week. And in a couple of weeks I'll have lost 30 pounds. Stay tuned!

Another Little Milestone Reached!

Today I got my award for losing 25 pounds. Well, it's actually 26.4 pounds now! I was so excited to get my key chain last week, and it was awesome to be able to add my first charm to it this week. That thing is going with me every where. When I feel myself about ready to cave and eat a big fat juicy burger, or some french fries with cheese, I'm going to reach into my pocket, and touch my key chain. It's going to be there to remind me that I've come so far, and there is no looking back. I'm tired of being the fat girl. I'm tired of shopping in the plus size section. Shoot, I'm tired of being tired! 


I admit, it feels great to get recognized for achieving my goals, but lately I've gotten comments from friends that meant more to me than these weight loss awards I've received. I've been told that seeing my posts (on Facebook) motivates one friend to want to do better, and another said that she's sure I'll "push her over the edge soon" to start dieting. Of course I mentioned to her that what I'm doing is not a diet, but a lifestyle change. Another friend of mine joined Weight Watchers just last week. She's full of questions, and I'm there to answer when I can. I feel kind of like a mentor. THAT is rewarding to me-to be able to inspire and motivate others to make positive changes in their lives. One reason I talk so much about my journey and successes along the way is not to just get some recognition and encouragement, but to motivate others who might be struggling with weight loss or who need that little push. 


Just a little update on where I am towards reaching my goals. I have to lose 7 pounds to have a 15% weight loss and 17 pounds to reach 20%. Once I reach 15% I'm either getting a tattoo or nose piercing. When I reach 20% I'll take a Zumba certification course. As usual I'll keep you posted. Thanks for reading!

Time to Celebrate! Before and After Pics and Updated Stats!

Well folks the moment I was waiting for finally arrived-I finally have lost 10% of my starting weight. It was awesome.

When my leader weighed me I learned that I not only reached my 10% weight loss goal, I was for the first time in years under 200 pounds. It was an emotional moment. I cried a little, did a happy dance and hugged my leader. I got recognition in front of the rest of the group at meeting. It felt so good to get cheered on for my accomplishments. That was more rewarding than the nice charm holder I got. 

My leader set my next goal, which is 20% of my starting weight. I have 19 pounds to get there. I've mentioned it before, and it's worth mentioning again: Once I reach 20% I WILL take the Zumba certification class. I want to be an instructor. I WILL be an instructor!

I'm feeling pretty good, and I know that things will get even better if I keep doing what I've been doing. 

Updated stats and pics below:

Starting weight: 222.8

Today's weight: 198.4

Starting waist measurement: 43 inches

Today's measurement: 39 inches

Starting hip measurement: 53 inches

Today's measurement: 49 inches

These are before and after. The pictures on the left in each set are from January 17, 2012. The pictures on the right are from March 27, 2012. I see a difference, and FEEL a difference as well. I'm so thankful to have Weight Watchers! 

There's This Thing Called a Belt

Yesterday I decided to break down and FINALLY buy a belt for my pants. Since I've so far lost a bit over 20 pounds and 3 inches off of my waist my pants have been doing some serious sagging. Also, I don't need to unbutton them to take them off. I want new clothes, but I'm holding off for a little bit because as I keep losing weight, I'll have to keep replenishing my supply of clothes, and that gets expensive. So, I found myself looking at the nice belts at Fred Meyer yesterday. To my delight, not only were they on sale, but there was a 15% off coupon for them, too. My daughter Paris was with me, and she was very impatient, and kept whining for me to hurry. I wanted to try the belts on in the fitting room, because I wanted privacy. Paris was whining about that, too, so I said this to her: "You either come with me to the fitting room so I can try these belts on, or get embarrassed because my pants fell down." She said nothing and followed me to the fitting room. :-)
I'm now the proud owner of a reversible belt-it's black on one side and brown on the other. I haven't been able to wear a belt for 2 years now. It feels good to need one. Now the challenge will be to see how long it takes until I have to tighten the belt a little more. 


In other news, I went to my weigh in today, and I had lost .4 pounds. No, it wasn't the number I expected, however, a loss is a loss, no matter how small. Each and every little bit adds years to my life and makes me healthier. I'm thankful. I've got this!

I Fought Off A Mac Attack

Tonight after work I went to Walmart to pick up a few groceries. I decide to make breakfast for dinner. I'll get more into that shortly. Anyway, it had been a few hours since I'd had lunch, and the "golden arches" of McDonald's appeared before me. They're in a lot of the Walmart stores. I had already done my shopping, but my tummy was growling. I wasn't sure I could make it home without stopping to get a hamburger. Worse, what was running through my mind was, "MAC ATTACK! MAC ATTACK!" I wanted a Big Mac. It's been so long since I've had one. Two all beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles, onions on a sesame seed bun. Yummy! It's always been my favorite sandwich. I pushed my cart into the McDonald's looked at the menu, and then I quickly turned the cart around and made my way out of the store. I had just purchased bananas, and decided that a banana would have to do! I took one out and walked through the parking lot, with the rain pouring down on me as I ate my banana. I'm sure it was an interesting sight. I had no coat on, and I was in no hurry. I was smiling because I had resisted the urge to give in to the Big Mac, which may or may not contain all beef patties now that I think of it. :-)


A Big Mac has a 14 Points Plus value. 14!! That's just the burger. Tonight I had an 8 Points Plus breakfast for dinner and I was satisfied and didn't feel deprived. It was 3 pancakes, with mixed berries, sugar free syrup, a touch of light whipped cream, and 3 slices of turkey bacon. The pancakes were made of 1/3 cup of fat free cottage cheese, a package of oatmeal, and 1/3 cup of Egg Beaters. It was surprisingly good! In fact I could only eat 1/2 of my meal! 


This was taken before I put whipped cream on them. 

Believe me, there will come a day when I give into temptation and have a Big Mac, but right now, I'm ok without one. I can make my own Big Mac. I can use REAL beef or ground turkey, make my own sauce that has ingredients I can pronounce and add some real minced onions, not dehydrated ones. Maybe I can call it the Big Mama. :-) 

4.2 is the Magic Number!

Today I went to the doctor for a check up and to see if I can get my ovarian cyst treated. To make a long story short, things are in place to get treatment. First I'll try a birth control pill that has a higher dose of estrogen than I'm already taking and then in 3 months time I'll follow up with him to see if that's helped. If not, we'll go from there. It was nice to talk to someone who seems genuinely interested in my well-being. I'm on the road to recovery where my reproductive system is concerned. 


Now, regarding my weight loss journey. Part of the process when you visit the doctor is to get blood pressure and weight checked. Tomorrow is my weigh in at Weight Watchers. I asked the nurse if I could turn around and that she not reveal my weight. I wanted so badly to see my number, but if I've reached my goal of losing 10% of my starting weight (or 4.2 pounds since last week) I want to share that with the leader and the members at my meeting tomorrow. I am all about being the center of attention for something like this! I love the recognition. We'll see what happens tomorrow, and of course I'll give an update here. 


Before I go, I wanted to share a picture that another Weight Watchers member shared on Facebook. It really makes you rethink getting upset over just a pound of weight loss. Knowing I've so far lost 17.8 of this is mind blowing! 

Closing In On Another Weight Loss Goal

Today I went in for my weigh in and meeting at Weight Watchers, and was expecting that a) I had gained weight, or b) I lost nothing at all. I had a stressful couple of weeks. Last week I didn't even go to a meeting because my hormones were already raging out of control and I was sure I'd break down and cry if the scale was not my friend. Well, I lost 5 pounds. I was ecstatic. This means that since I started Weight Watchers on January 4, 2012 I've lost 17.8 pounds. 


I already reached my first weight loss goal by losing 5% of my body weight a few weeks back. My next goal is 10% of my starting body weight and I have just 4.2 pounds to go. Can I do that in a week? If stick to the program, exercise, and track everything I believe I can. This means not "eating my feelings" if I have a bad day, or eat a snack because someone else is eating a snack. I know I can do this! If I lose 5 pounds I'll be under 200 pounds, and I haven't been under 200 since 2009. I lost weight before on my own. I had lost almost 60 pounds, but I slipped into old habits and gained half of it back. Not this time. I'm determined to become a lifetime member at Weight Watchers. This means reaching my goal, WHEN I do that, I get to go to meetings for free. How awesome is that?



Stay tuned for more updates! 

Walking to the Beat

I LOVE music. I'm eclectic. I love rap, hip-hop, pop, disco, oldies, and country. It really depends on my mood  as far as what kind of music I'll listen to while I drive, walk or workout. 


Yesterday I was in a lot of pain from this ovarian cyst I've had for over 2 years. On a side note, I am finally getting medical care for it soon. Anyway, I had taken a nap because I was so uncomfortable and the pain had kept me from having a good night's sleep the night before. When I got up from my nap, it was once again pain that woke me. Rather than sit on the couch moaning and groaning with a heating pad, I decided to take a walk. It wasn't very nice outside. It was raining a little, so I had to wear a jacket. I took my iPhone so I could listen to music. Right now all I have on it is Michael Jackson's The Number Ones album, and the single Forever by Chris Brown. It was a great walk! I walked a mile round trip, stopping at Starbucks on the way. When I was walking back, however, it was so difficult to resist that urge to dance to the music! I found myself actually walking to the beat of the music. I imagined I was on the catwalk at a fashion show. The only thing I didn't do was do a little twirl, ha, ha! I just had a sassy strut. When I was closer to my apartment building, I couldn't resist any longer, and as I came up to the building I was snapping my fingers, moving my arms a bit and singing softly. Believe me, I wanted to say "to hell with it" and dance in the parking lot, but my fear of being watched and laughed at got the best of me. That is something I need to get over one of these days. I think that to a certain extent it is ok to worry what others think of me, but if it holds me back from enjoying or expressing myself that's a problem. Perhaps with more weight loss this confidence will come. Who knows, next time you see me I might be dancing in the street! Until then, I'll be strutting to the beat of my favorite music, and smiling.

Now THAT'S the Way to Do It!

I am so relieved! I had another day or two this past week where I overindulged and was afraid to get on the scale today. To my delight I had lost 1.2 pounds. That may not seem like a lot, but if you consider that I'm retaining water AND had gained .4 pounds the previous week it's something to get excited about. Another great thing is I lost another 1/2 inch from my waist and hips. :-)


I had wanted to participate in the stair climb event in March to help raise money for Leukemia, but I was too late registering, so now I am working on another event. It's called Everybody's On a Roll to Fight Diabetes. It will be at the roller skating rink on June 24, 2012. I plan on skating that day and close to that time will be asking for pledges. My dad has Type 2 diabetes, and I know other that have juvenile diabetes. I think it's a good cause. 


http://www.dapc.info/fundraisers.htm


Besides weight loss, I have 2 major goals. One is to become a Zumba instructor. I don't have to be at my goal weight to be an instructor, however, I'd like to get down to a weight where I'm able to keep up with the class I'm teaching. I love Zumba because it's fun and burns lot of calories. You don't have to know how to dance, you just need to move! The cost is around $285 for the Basic Instructor class. I have a fear of public speaking, so if I can get this certification, I will have to get over that fear. I know I can do this!


My other goal is to work at Weight Watchers. I'd love to be one of the team members in the reception area, or even a team leader someday. In order to work there, however, I have to reach my goal. How rewarding would it be to help people reach their goals and celebrate their success? I'd love that!


I feel like I'm back on track to success in my weight loss. I have to remember that everyone messes up now and then and NOT beat myself up so much. I WILL do this!