GOAL!!!

Wahoooo I am officially at goal!! I've actually been hovering around this weight for the past 5 months, which is what made me finally realize that it was where my body wanted to be. My doctor set my goal as 180 lbs 2 years ago, but I really wanted to hit that 160lbs that would mean I was a healthy BMI. I have finally come to terms with 180 lbs being healthy for me, and most importantly, I feel GREAT! Although I've technically been at this goal weight (179 lbs was what I officially set) for about 5 months, reaching goal feels no less awesome!

WW GOAL AWARD!

FINALLY, after over 3 years and 257 lbs- I AM AT GOAL!! 


In other news, I'm sorry I've been away so long- with the elbow surgery, computer work has been challenging and exhausting, so I've been limiting my time.  I will try to update again soon!

Seeing the light

Today was one of my favorite weight watchers meetings to date, and it happened exactly when I needed it to.  Today was a bad pain day (lots of back and hamstring pain) after what I thought was an easy swim workout.

I weighed in this morning and lost 0.2 lbs- basically a maintain, but ever ounce counts! I couldn't stay for a meeting, which bummed me out but I was thinking I might be able to squeeze into the 5:30pm meeting if I could leave work with enough time- and I did!

It was the best thing I've done for myself in weeks.  My head has been in such a funk these past couple weeks and I know I've been grumpy- sorry, people!  I know my mood has been affected because of my need to take a pause on running and all of the high impact and high intensity workouts I love and crave.

The topic of the meeting today was "Seeing the Light"  and it was all about members sharing their "aha" moments.



I didn't realize that this was the topic today when I walked in and they were asking for celebrations.  I had to acknowledge hitting a new decade cause I missed doing this last week and it really meant a lot to me to be in the 170s!  The leader remembered me from a past meeting and she asked me to share my total weight loss and share my "aha" moment to get the group started. 

In case you haven't heard me talk about it, this was my "aha" moment as I submitted to WW for their inspiring stories section (this is just a part of the submission):

"I had tried to lose weight in the past, but it wasn’t until I was honest with myself and came to terms with my own bad choices that I changed. One day after a bad fast food binge, which of course was done while hiding out in my car away from prying eyes, I looked at myself in the little vanity mirror and didn’t recognize who I was. I started crying and simply couldn’t stop, because I finally got it. I knew in that moment I had 2 choices, but only one that I could live with. I had to take control of my life - and quickly!

That was almost three years ago, on October 20, 2009. The next day I joined Weight Watchers and gained control of my life. With the support of Weight Watchers, my awesome leader Joni, and fellow members behind me, I finally learned what healthy eating meant and what it was like to enjoy activity. Before I would get winded simply walking down a hallway, now I can run 10 miles with a smile on my face at the end! Life is so drastically different now; sometimes it’s hard to believe that I’m the one living it."

So after sharing my light bulb moment with the fast food and crying in the car there were people crying and they all stood and gave me a standing ovation. WOW.  Of course that made me grin and cry not so pretty tears.  But that's what WW is all about and why I love it so much- the support and love I feel from every meeting I go to.  The meeting basically came to a screeching halt and nearly the entire meeting was me answering questions and basically leading and directing the meeting back to the topic.  After the meeting the leader gave me a big hug and told me that if I didn't become a leader it would be a crime against all things weight watchers. lol.   So sweet!

I needed that! I feel energized from within my soul and so grateful to all the wonderful members that made me feel so special today.  Sometimes I need to take a moment to remember how far I've come and that sometimes setbacks are a part of life- you just have to deal with them.  This quote at the end of the meeting really hit me today and I haven't been able to stop thinking about it since.

"Whether you think you can, or you think you can't- you're right," Henry Ford.

I KNOW I CAN!



Did you have an "aha" moment that really affected your actions? Share please!

Summer goals

 Do you set goals for yourself?  What are your summer goals?

Today's topic in weight watchers really hit me for some reason.  We talked about the summer and the challenges that can be put in our way because of it.  Joni asked if anyone struggled to lose weight during the summer, and I was quick to say I loved the summer. More activity, being outside, summer fruit, etc.  Then we pulled out our weeklies and there was a calendar where we could put any potential struggles like vacations, parties, etc.

This summer is going to be CHALLENGING for my weight loss.  In two weeks I will be in Portland for a week.  In a different hotel that I have no clue if there is a decent gym or a good area to run. GARRH.  Then there is...dun dun dun...the move.  The before mentioned scary move to White Marsh.  I'm not going to get more into it than that....

July is pretty mild with no big trips and then BAM a week long vacation during the first week of August.  Of all the trips, I will have the most control here which is good. I just need to make sure to get workouts in amongst all the fun we have planned.  I would LOVE to take a run in Central Park.  Ever since taking up running it is on my running bucket list.

Then 3 weeks later, I will be in Ft. Lauderdale for a week (don't feel too sorry for me) for work.  These long work trips are the worst because the only food control I have is portion size.  I am making educated guesses as to how many points things are and it's incredibly frustrating to have so little control and constant temptations everywhere I look. Imagine unlimited MARS candy everywhere as well as nearly unlimited salty snacks and food.   O and don't forget the expectation that you go out and mingle with coworkers over a glass of wine.  It's seriously tough, no joke.

So having said all that....the activity today was to set goals for labor day.  I had already been thinking that I wanted to get to goal by September so that I could make lifetime by my 3 year mark which is October 21, 2012.  I have 15 lbs left to reach goal and when I said this was my goal Joni gently prodded how realistic this goal would be and what it would do for my confidence and mental game if I don't reach it.  Realizing she was 100% right as always, I wrote down my goal as 10 lbs, which is just under 1 lb a week.  But, my stretch "ideal" goal is still 15 lbs.

I don't want to put too much pressure on myself but I WANT this.  Goal is so close I can taste it.  And you know the saying, nothing tastes as good as healthy feels. SO TRUE.  The taste I am imagining in my mouth is a Reece's pb cup. mmmmm.  I want to taste it, and I will! :)

so true...

Adrian for the win!

My husband has always been very supportive of my weight loss and he showed everyone just how awesome he is today :D

I was back at my usual Wednesday evening weight watcher meeting tonight after reaching my 200 lb loss mark last Monday in Fairfield. It was great to reach the goal, obviously, but it didn't feel as real until I told Joni, my awesome leader. She is the reason why I keep going to Wednesday night meetings even though with my schedule Monday nights would be easier. Her and the entire crew there- Carol, Judy, and Pam are fantastic too and always make me feel great weighing in no matter what the scale says. The whole dynamic of the group that goes to the meeting is so fun and it just doesn't feel the same without everyone there. Joni has said it before and she is so right. That's why you have to try out different meetings if you don't feel like you
"click" with your leader or group.


So....we are finishing up the meeting and Joni said she had a special activity and needs a helper and she asks me to come up front and sit down....and then proceeds to put a crown on my head and hand me a wand with a 200 star on it. I was in shock...it was a big celebration for me and my weight loss!! She gave a me a huge hug and when I turned around, there was ADRIAN with a beautiful vase of flowers and balloons!!! I couldn't believe it, I almost started crying I was so happy. Then she opened the floor for people to acknowledge how I have motivated them and ask me questions. It was awesome!! The ww team gave me an awesome ww power food cookbook with messages and signatures from everyone, including Mr. Bill (a previous receptionist). I love weight watchers and my husband is awesome! :) He emailed my leader so they could organize this whole thing- so fantastic! I'm so blessed to have so many supportive people in my life. Just earlier today I was feeling stressed and my sister was of course supportive and fantastic, as always. And I have so many other friends and family members that have been supportive of me the whole time. Much love! <3

Feeling GREAT!

Wow.....awesome past couple days working out with my sister which led to a...drum roll please....4.2 lbs weight loss on the scale!! That means I have lost an INCREDIBLE 201.8 lbs!!!

When I was at the scale and the receptionist told me I had a great week (actually 5 days since I weighed in last on Wednesday) I thought "Ok so I lost a pound, awesome!" After all, I really wanted to reach my 200 lb weight loss with my leader, Joni. (Who am I kidding I wanted it as soon as possible!!)

And then I opened my eyes and saw the numbers...upside down so I was in complete disbelief until I turned the book around and saw the numbers in black and white: -165.8 lbs. I lost 36 lbs before joining weight watchers, so that means total I had lost 201.8 lbs. After restarting my heart I started jumping around and barely got out the words "I made 200 lost!" The receptionist rushed around the table and gave me a big hug. She is the best part of this Monday meeting I go to when I can't go to my preferred Wednesday meeting. She has also lost over 100 lbs and looks incredible. It's nice to have another weight watcher to talk to about losing so much because most people just can't possibly understand what it is like to have to lose a huge amount of weight. It doesn't make them less awesome at reaching their goal, but it's a different process when you need to lose 20 lbs to reach your goal weight than when you have to lose 250 lbs. I know sometimes it can be that much more challenging because the weight comes off very slowly, but let's face the music- it's different.

So...it's snoopy dance time!!! Join in!

How can I stop being a perfectionist?

I am such a perfectionist that often I am my own worst critic. How can I let that go? If only I had an easy answer to that....

I lost 1.2 lbs this week! I should be celebrating, but I'm frustrated because I worked my butt off (literally, my butt is still a little sore from the before mentioned last chance workout) and ate on plan....and I didn't even lose the amount I gained last week. This is not my typical trend and I must admit, I pouted a little after my weigh in. I know- stupid, right?

Well I think I need a dose of reality before I beat myself up more, because this has been a reoccurring problem for me. Recently I submitted for a weight watchers inspiring stories award. Gosh darnit, I have worked hard to get where I am and just because my weight loss is slowing down doesn't mean I can give up!

So here is the story I submitted followed by the before and after pictures I submitted.....I look at the before picture and I want to cry, delete it and pretend like it doesn't exist. I've known of people that do that after losing a large amount of weight- they erase all their old pictures. But, the reality is that it is a part of who I am- in the past and the present. I will NEVER be at that weight again, but I can't forget how easy it was for me to get there and not even realize how out of control I was.

“How did I get back here?” Is all I could think after my latest fast food binge and the head-ache that followed. After trying to get my act into gear for what felt like the 100th time on another new diet, I had fallen back on my old habits and was back up in weight and back into the golden arches. That’s when I snapped and decided I was done with this endless weight gain I seemed to have been on since high school. The next day I went to my first Weight Watchers meeting and haven’t eaten fast food since. That was almost two years and over 150 lbs ago. From day one, the Weight Watchers program has made so much sense - weighing, measuring, tracking my food, keeping track of my good health guidelines and get moving! I finally have found a program that wasn’t a diet - it is truly a lifestyle change. Not to mention the invaluable support that I receive from my wonderful leader, Joni, and the great team! No matter how I was feeling - excited, frustrated, sad - I knew I could see my friends at the meeting and they would understand and support me through it.

Weight Watchers has truly given me my life back in a way I never would have imagined, even when I wished to the weight loss gods to be thin. Over 150 lbs lighter than I was when I started, I feel like I have been reborn and have such a happy and rewarding life. I never thought that I would enjoy eating only fresh foods and miss the gym during my rest day. Due to my new healthy lifestyle I have been able to enjoy so much that I never thought would be possible - horseback riding, kayaking, kickboxing, running, Zumba, spinning, P90X, completing my first triathlon and the list continues. I also received a major promotion at work- made possible because of my new found confidence. Thanks to all the available tools Weight Watchers has, I’ve been able to keep up with healthy changes via etools, message boards, and attending local meetings.

My initial weigh-in with Weight Watchers was terrifying, but I had to face the scale and the consequences of my bad choices. Joni encouraged me by saying simply, “You will never see that number again,” and she was right. Thank you Weight Watchers!

Before- taken on our Honeymoon- late August 2009. Eww



After- taken early October 2011. Much better :)