To help stay focused during those times, I am counting "days on plan" as one of my measures of success. I am also keeping track of NSV or Non Scale Victories
November 2003
To celebrate 75 days on plan, I bought my first leather coat in my life. I ordered one size smaller than I was wearing at the time, and it fit when it arrived two weeks later.
Able to comfortably wear size 24 black jeans for first time in 5 years.
December 2003
Had a mini binge of 20 points worth of Christmas cookies while baking 27 dozen of them. Thank goodness for friends who can talk you out of negative behaviors. Next time, I ate a can of green beans and drank 4 glasses of water before starting the oven. Much better success.
January 2004
Size 18W fits ! My lowest size since my wedding day 29 years ago.
April 2004
Made my Easter goal of exercising 3 times per week and being on plan for 254 days. Can no longer shop at Catherine's. Can now shop at Meijer, JC Penney, Sears, Kohls, Mervins, Target, etc. etc. etc.
May 2004
Size 16 without the W at the end fits ! I can shop in "little people" land and guess what ? The prices are lower and there's a bigger selection too.
June 2004
Attended a baby shower and my nephew Chris who has known me for 32 years (but not seen me in a year) did not recognize me. Wow !
Walked in my first 5K event, Race for the Cure (see separate page here)
RAN on the treadmill for first time ever.
6/21/04 325 days on plan ! Now running 23 min and walking 22 minutes.
Got first blood test results since starting WW. Cholesterol went from 235 to
163 and overall cadiac risk factor is low at 3.3. WOO HOO !!
I fit into two size 14 blouses and a size 14 jacket.
"Normal" queen size pantyhose from the store instead of Q2, Q3, Q4 or Q5, cost difference is phenomenal ! 4 pair for $5 vs $5 per pair.....
June 30, 2004
Logged 107 activity points for the month.
President's Fitness Challenge = 29 % of bronze
July 1, 2004
Funny how when you lose, you still have a mental picture of yourself as huge. Went to a crowded restaurant and was worried about fitting between a tiny space to get to the booth. Told my girlfriend let's go the other way, she said "No, you'll fit." And I DID !!! Wow !
July 8, 2004
I have kneecaps. Who knew ? Little indentation in thigh just above and can feel the bones on both sides. How about that ????
July 18,2004
352 days on plan, earned my Active Lifestyle Award in Presidential Fitness Challenge (link on home page), and now have 52 % of my bronze award. Adjusting to 24 points a day...really need flex points now. It WILL get better.
I rode a Harley !!!!!! OK, I was on the back seat and my friend was driving really slow but still, a major NSV for me.
July 31, 2004
ONE YEAR ON PLAN !!!!!!!!
August 4, 2004
I've made a goal decision. My doctor and I will never agree where I should be, and I doubt I will ever reach the top range of WW goal at 145, at least, not without surgery to remove excess skin. Right now I'm a 14 top and 16 bottom. When I get to size 12 in both places, I'm done.
I may have to pay WW for the rest of my life, but I"m done. Period...decision made. It feels soooo good to finally have an end point to focus on.
August 9, 2004
Took my measurements and have lost 2 more inches, total of 42. My hips are the size my waist used to be. I look in the mirror and hardly recognize myself. I still am not where I want to be (see above) but I honestly, for the first time in my life, feel like I AM going to get there.
3 times now friends have told me I "walk with confidence". I never thought I didn't have confidence, but somehow the weight loss has helped me have inner strength, more self esteem than I had in the past. Don't get me wrong, I still can't stand the sight of my thighs or upper arms, but some things are just going to take a little longer to improve.
August 15,2004
Went on 4 day vacation with my Sister and stayed on plan. We drove 850 miles round trip and visited relatives not seen in over 20 years. Took grapes, diet soda, water, pumpkin muffins and 2pt bars in our cooler. Bought low fat cottage cheese at the store and kept in the hotel ice bucket overnight to have along with canned veggies for breakfast in the morning. Spent most of my points on dinner each day. Steak one night and gnocchi the next. Have 24 flex points left.
August 18,2004
We joined the YMCA and went swimming tonight. After losing 134 pounds, I have no more bouyancy....sink like a stone ! Muscles had that wonderful "you used me" ache this morning....felt soooo good.
August 21,2004
We are swimming 3 days a week now at the Y and doing weight machines and cardio too. If the world can handle seeing my thighs in a bathing suit 3 days a week I decided "What the heck" and picked up a pair of bike shorts (my thighs actually look better IN them than OUT of them).
First time the "regular" blood pressure cuff fit at the doctor's office. WOO HOO
Went shoe shopping and tried on a pair of knee high boots and they FIT ! I didnt' buy them because they had 4 inch heels. I'm a little too clumbsy for those, even on dry land.
September 4, 2004
400 days on plan !!!!!!!!!!
September 5,2004
Earned President's Fitness Challenge Bronze Champions Award
(there's a mouthful !) I feel sooo great after my workouts now.
September 11, 2004
Had our first night of bowling, saw people I've not seen since mid-May, about 22 pounds ago. Many compliments from folks who , for some reason, did not notice the first 116 pounds I lost ....hmmmm.
Trying new foods this week, blueberries are awesome, purple pepper was somewhat bland, spending 2 points for a pomogranate (worth it !) and having it with non fat yogurt.
September 15, 2004
Was asked for my driver's license while making a credit card purchase. The sales associate did a double take then said "GIRL you have lost some SERIOUS weight !".
September 19, 2004
My Wedding Gown FITS !!!! First time in 30 years !!! Ok, not planning on needing it again,and I actually weigh 10 pounds less than my wedding day, BUT, the weight is not in the same "places" anymore ;)
September 23, 2004
SIZE 12 blouse and jacket fit for the first time. This is my "goal" size so a very exciting NSV for me. I have a Doctor's goal of 160 pounds now, am 25 away from that so can visualize size 12 everything by that point. WOO HOO
September 30, 2004
Size B pantyhose ! My first time EVER in that size
November 4, 2004
Move over Bo Derrick, today I am a 10 ! I bought a new trenchcoat today. It's the only size 10 item that fits, but DARN does that ever feel good ;-)
November 10,2004
Baked 8 dozen cookies tonight and ate ZERO of them ! Knew if I had one, I'd have 6 or 7.
Waited on a customer I had not seen in 6 months. She used to be in the office every day, she did not recognize me. That was neat.
November 21,2004
Bought a teal spandex sweater and a pair of size 12 slacks. When I put them on, my Dear Husband who was watching football at the time, said "WOW ! I'm so proud of what you have accomplished." Words of praise from him (especially during football games) are rare. It meant a LOT !
November 26,2004
JUNIOR size 13/14 Baby Phat jeans fit ! WOO HOO !
Sometime around October 1, 2004
Forgot to add this one before and got reminded of it later. In 1998 I had a tumor removed from my right hip that was slightly larger than a grapefruit. In late September/Early October of this year I was taking a shower and felt a bump on my hip. Immediately concerned that my tumor was returning, I starting checking other places, to find I had a bump on my other hip too
IT WAS MY HIPBONES !
I had not felt them before ;-) That one even made good ole Dr. B laugh when I told him about it. OH, and speaking of him, he says I should be in the WW Hall of Fame. I dont' know about that one, but it does feel good to have the Dr say nice things about my weight, after all these years of admonishment.
December 13, 2004
500 DAYS ON PLAN !!!!!!!!!!! (ok, technically I went off plan 3 times so my 500th OP day was Dec 16,2004, but I made that too !)
December 22, 2004
I can reach the bottom/back of the grocery cart. All these years I thought it was my height keeping me from doing that, didn't realize it was my stomach.
February 17,2005
I reached GOAL !!!!!!!!!! January was odd and rough, with going up , down and sideways and I was getting really frustrated. I now have a MUCH higher empathy level for those with "only 20 pounds" or so to lose, because the last 10 were extremely stubborn for me.
I started work at a new location January 3, 2005, which includes calling on former customers and prospects whom I had not seen in two years. I am repeatedly hearing "Where did you leave the REST of you?" or being completely unrecognized, even by former employees.
February 18,2005
I treated myself to new clothes today, instead of Salvation Army bargains, since I am now buying "keepers". 3 blazers, a skirt and 2 pairs of slacks, all size 10 ! My dream goal size of 12 has been surpassed. The hugs and love I received from across the Country last night are still glowing in my heart. I cannot believe it ! I don't recognize that old fat lady in my before pics anymore, and I NEVER want to meet her again !
February 19, 2005
Flowers delivered from two internet friends ! The online support at the Guys on a Diet board has been tremendous. I could not travel this journey without them. We share a common bond, the same hopes/dreams/frustrations. We are our own little "online daily meeting".
Earned the SILVER AWARD for President's Fitness Challenge. Now at 56% of Gold.
LIFETIME !!!! APRIL 7, 2005
Twas a bittersweet celebration. When I pulled into the parking lot there were two white cars that said Weight Watchers, dial 1-888-3florine on the side and thought 'Oh My God ! They got FLORINE to come to my lifetime celebration." But not so lucky.
I stepped on the scale and weighed in 3 under goal, stepped off to be greeted by my best friend coming through the door with the biggest balloon bouquet I've ever received and hugs from my leader, weight recorder and everyone else. So far, everything is great !
Then the meeting starts. The two cars were WW area captains showing up to announce they are closing our center due to low attendance and putting my leader on leave. What a way to ruin a journey of 615 days.
The next day I phoned the 1-888 number and asked to speak with Florine Mark. She personally returned my call a couple hours later, and also followed up by having someone in charge of leader training call me the next day.
A couple days later my leader got a personal letter from her as well.
While I'm definitley NOT HAPPY about losing my leader I would have followed her to ANY location, I do understand the need to close the meeting location as our numbers were down. However, I cannot dwell on this. I spent too long getting here to give up the fight now. So for me, it's FREE MEETINGS FOR LIFE !!! I will attend my meeting every week, and hopefully my leader will return within the next twelve weeks to a location and time that fits my schedule.
I will not hold grudges against the leader at the meeting I am now attending, it's not her fault.
April 23, 2005
My Lifetime award to myself was a pair of diamond earrings. Diamonds ARE forever and I intend to be at goal for the rest of my life.
April 25, 2005
Bought a recumbant exercise bike.
May 1, 2005
In training for Race for the Cure 2005. Have 35 miles on my bike so far and riding it every day. 68% of President's Challenge Gold award is now under my belt.
June 11, 2005
Completed Race for the Cure. It was 86 degrees this morning and the walk felt great anyway. I am seriously considering RUNNING it next year.
July 4,2005
We went to breakfast at our favorite restaurant yesterday and one of the owner's who hasn't seen me in months (he's been away) didn't recognize me. My husband and I have eaten breakfast at that restaurant at leaast twice a week for the last 8 years. THAT's a LOT of eggbeater veggie omelettes :-)
I will have my 3 month lifetime weigh in tomorrow and this morning the scale at home said 158.1. Not quite two pounds under goal. This is a safe place for me, feels good to be this size, to buy clothes and know that they will fit again next year.
I'm addicted to clearance sales now :)
April 7, 2006
One year anniversary of Lifetime.
I'm 18 pounds over goal, not where I want to be, but thank GOD not where I used to be!
I lost 24 pounds before joining WW. When I lost my "official" 100th pound from WW, my leader presented me with a certificate and this letter from Florine Mark, President of Weight Watchers:
Dear Susan,
CONGRATULATIONS.....on your recent achievement! We are very proud of your determination and effort and wanted you to have this certificate as acknowledgement. You deserve it! We hope this marks a very special point in a wonderful commitment you have made to yourself.
Congratulations, too, on taking such positive steps towards a healthy way of living. When you reach goal, I hope you will think about sharing your story with others by working with Weight Watchers, part time, in some way. Please contact your Area Manager for further information.
Sincerely,
Florine Mark