Not one for boasting, but I thought I'd post my WW story as support for all you loosing weight (you know who you are!)
If a picture paints a thousand words……
If you had told me on my 40th birthday, that in 15 months time, I would be 5Stone lighter, I would not have believed you.
I thought I looked good in the clothes I wore, and although I didn’t particularly enjoy clothes shopping, I always found something nice to wear in Evans. The only thing I didn’t enjoy was having my photo taken, because I knew I would look awful in them.
My husband, our friend Beverly and Myself were all 40 in 2002. We decided we would like to have a short break in Venice to celebrate our birthdays and so the three of us plus our friends’ husband, Dave, set off for Venice on my birthday in May. We had a really good time over the four days holiday, but once again the photo’s showed the truth, I was overweight!
One month later, an insurance policy quote, which included critical health cover, arrived on our doorstep. My quote had doubled due to the extra weight I was carrying. Needless to say we did not take out the insurance policy. Then our friend, Beverly, joined Weight Watchers, in order to loose a few pounds for our holiday in October. It was then that I decided that perhaps I did need to loose a few pounds.
My sister in law, Val, had on a number of occasions, mentioned that she wanted to join Weight Watchers but didn’t want to go on her own. She suggested that I join with her. I had in the past told her that I was happy with the way I looked and that she would never stick to the diet. But one evening, when we were having dinner with them, I announced that I would go and join with her. She nearly fell off her chair. We logged onto the Internet and found that our local group met on a Thursday evening. Perfect. I had a trip to Germany planned, so we made arrangements to start, 3 weeks later.
On our first night, Val had encouraged a friend from work to come with us, so the three of us set off. After filling in the forms, I knew my height, thanks to the medical I had to have for the insurance policy and I was not surprised at the amount that I weighed….that was also part of the medical. What did surprise me was the amount I had to loose to get to goal weight. I’ll never do it, I said.
We all had a personal goal or ambition for loosing the weight. Mine was to look good for my cruise holiday in October. The good thing about the weight watchers plan was that you tried to achieve personal goals and not worry about the final goal. I reached my 10% goal in 12 weeks, loosing 21 lbs and I knew this was the eating plan for me.
By the time we were packing for our cruise, I had lost 2 stone. We had a wonderful trip and when I attended my first group after our trip, I had lost another 2.5lbs. You know, you can eat well on holiday and still loose weight.
My next goal was Christmas. I knew that I would struggle over the Christmas period what with all the chocolates about, but I was not going to worry. I knew that if I put on weight over the Christmas period I would soon loose it. I didn’t need to worry, I had a lovely Christmas and lost 1lb.
My next personal goal was my Nephew’s wedding in April and our tour of West USA just after.
Val and I went shopping for an outfit for the wedding. We had a lovely day. I had so much choice and what a shock to find just the right dress and jacket, and a size 16 too.
The big day approached and I continued to loose weight. The meeting before the wedding I reached my next goal – 50lbs lost. Carol , my leader, presented me with my certificate and congratulated on me on my success so far. On the day of the wedding the outfit looked lovely and I received so many compliments on how well I looked and how different I looked. I was walking on clouds all day.
The following week we left for our tour of West America and had a lovely holiday. When we got back and I attended the group for my first weigh-in after the trip, I found that I had lost a further 2lbs. I was convinced that I had put on weight, as our tour was a coach tour where you are continually travelling and, what seemed, eating as well. What a bonus.
My weight loss started to slow down as I neared goal weight, so I started doing aerobics at home using an exercise tape. This regular exercise really helps to keep the weight coming off and tone your body at the same time.
I finally reached goal weight on 18th September 2003, 15 months after I started. Now I start the next stage of the process, keeping the weight off and maintaining the 9 stone 11lbs that I have reached. I won’t say it has been an easy process. I have craved certain food, such as crusty bread and chocolate, but I know that I can eat what I like and continue to loose weight - everything in moderation. I have also learnt that you must keep an accurate tracker sheet otherwise you cannot keep account of the points you have eaten. You are only cheating yourself if you don’t and ultimately you are wasting your money.
My achievement has encouraged others to join Weight Watchers. Our friends who went to Venice with us, both started again on the plan and are both doing so well. My husband eats healthier meals and has lost weight with me. Three colleagues at work have also started with Weight Watchers and are also doing so well.
We are cruising again in the New Year and I can’t wait to buy some new clothes and get in front of the cameras on the Ship and stand proud, just to show off the new me.
Good luck to Sean in college. He'll be happy to have that young look when turns 40.
loved the book, haven't seen the play yet though.
I can't imagine ANYONE that wouldn't LOVE that!
