My Weight Loss Journey

I first joined Weight Watchers in January of 2013. That was at my highest weight ever of 169 pounds and that’s a lot on a 5’3″ frame! I loved Weight Watchers from the beginning. It originally fit with my lifestyle as I love to cook and I was able to put in my own recipes and determine the points. But life happened, I was almost to goal when I bought out one of my tea wholesalers, opened a new retail shop and commercial kitchen and then the weight started creeping back up.

In 2014 I suffered a stroke as a result of a pilates accident where I tore my vertebral artery. My weight really sprang up after that. My main focus was recovery and being able to run my business again, not controlling my weight. I just ate whatever I wanted, happy to be alive. However, in late December of 2016 again 169 pounds (something about that number), I decided it was time to again focus on my weight. My mom joined me a week later.

Weight Watchers

Weight Watchers is such a wonderful program. I can’t say enough good things about it! I belonged to the online version, it worked well for me and thus the reason I returned for a second time. When I first joined, I made it almost to goal but then decided that my weight loss was “good enough.” I really don’t know what I was thinking. Of course if you don’t change your ways or pay attention, you are going to gain it all back. The first time I had the mindset of, ” This is a diet and once you get there, you’re done.” Boy was I wrong. I’m not sure why I thought that or maybe I just became too distracted with my business. The second time around I paid more attention. Eventually though I became tired of the whole “dieting thing.” I found The Freedom Group, it’s more about intuitive eating and while I lost most of my weight with Weight Watchers, I have kept it off and maintained with The Freedom Group.

Goal!

Goal! I made goal on August 2, 2017- I was so

happy! My mom made her goal a week later. We were so excited! I could even squeeze into a size 4! What a difference! Size 16 to a size 4! 

Looking Back Over My Journey

When I look back on my journey of 7 months I have to say the time really seemed to fly by. Once I got focused in December of 2016, I looked at shorter goals-10 pounds, 15 pounds, 20 etc and not the big picture. I took it one day at a time.  My 34 pounds didn’t come off quickly but little by little. I usually lost 1 pound a week. Sure I had ups and downs. It seemed to take forever to get the first 10 pounds off.  July 2017 was actually my hardest month. I lost and gained the same 5 pounds. Fourth of July, parties, companies, it was hard to stay on track. But it dawned on me in late July, that I’ve got this! I was going to make it, it was just a matter of time. The transformation really occurred that last week of my journey. I relaxed, focused on drinking more than 64 oz of water a day (which is hard but so worth it) and then started focusing on eating healthy points not just points, paying attention to what I put in my mouth. Overnight, I literally dropped 4 pounds and made goal the day after.

I realized it’s not a race, it’s a journey. Sometimes we forget we need the actual journey to make the transformation. It’s not the destination that gets us there but the journey. Relax, enjoy the journey. Everyone of you will get there if you’re patient. It’s all about the journey. I’m onto my next journey!

Starting Weight: 169

Ending Weight: 135

How I feel?: priceless!