Something I love, Something I am proud of:

One year ago today my doctor weighed me in at a staggering 249lbs. I covered my eyes as i got on the scale expecting a number near 220 and not wanting to see it. When the nurse said, "two hundred-and-forty-nine" I began to cry. I was shocked, I couldn't believe it, wrap my head around it, understand it. How had i gained SO MUCH weight(at least 50lbs) in only a year. As I wait for the doctor to come in the exam room, I was running every excuse I could think of for the weight gain through my mind. I knew it had to be a combination of things in my life and I knew I wanted to do something about it.

I knew thyroid disease (which due to lack of insurance-was untreated and unmedicated for 18 months) was the first offender. My 80 hour a week stressful job was on the list as well. But the cause of such a significant increase in my size was more than anything else, a lack of physical activity and poor eating habits. I would stay at my office until 9pm and then grab drive-thru before going home and passing out. Just to start another stressful, long and sedentary day all over again.

I felt unhealthy and unhappy. It wasn't just about the 249 on the scale, it was about my life. It was about working a more than full time job and going to school. It was my desire to have fun, sleep and travel. I felt like I was drowning and food(fattening food) was a comfort. I resolved to change my life. Step one, quitting my job, my supervisor and I were unable to communicate and there was no sign of improvement. I began saving money so that I could resign as soon as possible. Step two, making better choices about food: I cut out the drive-thru, I stopped getting coffee drinks with sugar and whole-milk, and i decreased my portion sizes. From March until my last day at work in May, I lost nine pounds.

May and June I attempted fad diets (no-carb, no-fat) only to freak out and binge within 5 days. But thanks to leaving my job and increasing my activity level I did manage to loose another 16lbs.

Then in late June I was visiting two friends in Portland who had both successfully lost weight with Weight Watchers. During my week long stay I observed them enjoying and not suffering with their diet. I saw them making choices and even splurging on a VooDoo doughnut. So, on a whim, I joined. Weight Watchers online is amazing! From the first day I logged in, I was hooked and within 2 weeks I was obsessed. I loved it!

Weight Watchers didn't put limitations on what I ate, it didn't have strange rules or require me to do anything but track what I ate and not eat more than my given number of points. The online module was goal oriented and asked me to track my food, water and exercise. If I did well it congratulated me, if I had a setback it encouraged me. I found an added support system in the online message boards and blogs. At first I spent hours online tracking every bite and looking up every food but as the weeks went by and I lost pound after pound it got easier. I was making really healthy choices without any effort. If I wanted to splurge I did and if I had a bad week I didn't beat myself up. For me Weight Watchers was working and working well!

As of this blog I have lost a total of 70lbs and am set to keep going. I still have setbacks and struggles. The Weight Watchers method is slow and losing only 1-2lbs a week can be frustrating. There are days it is still difficult to stay on track or feel motivated, sometimes I give in to a tempting and not so healthy craving but I never feel like giving up, instead I turn to my support system (friends, family, co-workers). I go to the gym and sometimes enjoy it. I celebrate my struggles and successes. I am proud of how far I have come and look forward to where I will go. I feel good and feel healthy!