Unhappy after thirteen years of gaining weight, I asked my husband, "Will you take me to Glacier Park if I lose 50 pounds?" Didn't have to twist his arm! I joined Weight Watchers online and set my goal at 66 pounds. This was going to be it once and for all!!
August 2003
I gained six pounds since joining WW online. The number on the scale was horrifying not to mention it was looking hopeless for me. Went back online thinking it may be the last time ever. WW was introducing their new plan, the flex plan. It clicked with me immediately. Thank goodness!
September 2003
I started exercising despite pain from bursitis. Slow and short walks but at least it's something. I joined an online support group, the Wonder Women of Weight Watchers.
October 2003
I continued on program and wrote down all my "points" every day. The WW flex plan consists of eating a set number of points daily (based on calories, fat, and fiber), with an additional 35 flex points to spend thoughout the week.
November 2003
Survived Thanksgiving out of town and stayed on program. I made the commitment to exercise 40 minutes a day for six days a week to "earn" my flex points.
December 2003
I've lost 10% of my body weight! I got through the holidays just fine by counting points, planning ahead, and eating healthy. I started snowshoeing in the woods at the end of the street.
January 2004
I was snowshoeing in earnest five or six days a week aided by plenty of fresh snow, including a storm where we got 27 inches. The scale was stuck, however, as I didn't lose a single pound this month! But I was so confident in my ability to stay on the program that I made all the reservations for the Glacier Park trip.
February 2004
33 pounds off, halfway to goal! I went through my closet and bagged up the fat clothes.
March 2004
I was still snowshoeing past the first day of spring. The eating and counting points became routine (and that's a good thing!)
April 2004
Started parking in a hilly neighborhood and walking the streets for exercise. Down another 10% of my body weight. Woo hoo!
May 2004
My husband and I decided to buy our "dream" home. It's in the same hilly neighborhood I've been walking. The house fits my new figure perfectly! The stress of this purchase was overwhelming so I focused extra-hard on eating nutritiously and getting in that daily exercise.
June 2004
50 pounds gone forever! My oldest son graduated from high school and I wore clothes FOUR sizes smaller than the last time I hosted a party. WOW!
July 2004
Summer has finally arrived in northern Minnesota and I'm enjoying biking and walking the neighborhood. I actually feel good wearing a two-piece swim suit. I'm down another 10% of my body weight and my BMI dropped to 25. I am no longer overweight!
August 2004
The trip to Glacier Park was fantastic. I was able to hike with ease both on steep climbs and on long hikes. We went on an 11 mile hike into a beautiful lake that had icebergs floating in it and there were grizzley bears on the hillside above the trail. I didn't get sore or tired. I took the week "off program" but immediately got back onto the flex plan when I got home and the weight I gained was off within a week.
September 2004
I made my initial goal of 66 pounds off but I decided that I want to fit into my wedding dress in November for my 20th anniversary so I'm staying on program. I started doing nautilus at the Y to build muscle. While the muscle will help in the long run, it has stalled out my weight loss for this month. I just keep doing the right thing knowing that the results will come.
October 2004
My wedding dress fits without any additional weight loss! The strength training program has changed some of my build from fat to muscle. I've also stepped up my aerobic exercise by adding challenging hills to my walking which burned up fat around my abdomen. I bought a nutrition and exercise book, "Strong Women Stay Slim" by Miriam E. Nelson. This will be my "bible" for keeping my weight loss off.
The scale finally budged and I'm three pounds BELOW GOAL!!! WOOOO HOOOO !!!!
-0.5
-0.5
+6.5 (off program)
-3.5
-2.0
-1.0
-2.0
-0.0
+1.0
-3.5
-1.5
-1.5
+1.0
-0.0
-2.5
-2.5
-0.0
-2.0
-1.5
+1.5
-3.0
-1.0
-4.5
-2.5
+1.0
-0.0
-1.0
-0.0
-3.5
-0.5
-0.5
-1.0
-2.5
-1.5
-1.5
-0.0
-0.5
-0.5
-2.5
-.05
-.05
-2.0
-1.0
-.05
-1.0
+1.0
-2.5
-1.5
-1.5
-1.5
-0.5
-1.0
-2.0
-1.0
-1.0
-2.5
-0.5
-1.5
+3.0 (off program)
-2.5
-0.5
-2.0
+1.0
-1.0
-1.5
+1.5
-2.5 GOAL!!!
This chart PROOVES it!!