Celebrate!

I woke up this morning at 5:30 AM because I just couldn't sleep. I was so nervous and excited all at the same time. As I headed to Weight Watchers this morning, I was filled with such anticipation. When I stepped on the scale, I watched Velva's face. Velva is the lady that weighs me every week. I go to the same scale because I'm silly that way. She never shows any emotion. As I stared at her face looking for some sort of sign, I became nervous. Maybe I didn't really do it this week. But then I saw her eyes get real big as she took another look on the screen. Then she said, "You lost 100 pounds!"

My arms went up in the air and tears began to flow. Cheers from my friends standing in the line behind me. Hugs and high fives all around. It was one of the best moments of my life.

During the meeting, Nancy called me up to the front. She announced that I had lost 100 pounds. The members in the room stood to their feet and started to applaud. Nancy asked me for my "before" picture because she knows that I carry it around with me. She showed everyone my picture and talked a little bit about my journey. As I talked to the crowded room, I had big tears in my eyes. Tears of happiness.

At Weight Watchers, we work for stickers and charms. Today, I received my additional 5 pound sticker, a bravo sticker, a 100 pound GOLD trinket to go on my 10% key chain, the 100 pound magnet, a sticker that said "perfect", the trinket that represent GOAL, and a certificate of accomplishment signed by the President of Weight Watchers and my leader, Nancy. I also received a bouquet of beautiful flowers from my friends, Dennis and Carol.

I am truly appreciative for programs like Weight Watchers. Losing weight is very hard and not everyone can stick with it. What I like about the program is that you don't have to deprive yourself of your favorites. If you tell yourself, you can't have pizza or ice cream then you are only going to want to eat pizza and ice cream. Have your favorites in moderation. One of the ladies at the meeting said it perfectly today, "I learned to only eat one M&M at a time. One M&M tastes the same as a handful of them."

So as I head into the next six weeks of maintenance, I am reminded that this is not the end, but only the beginning of a new chapter in my life. Won't you join me at the next Weight Watchers meeting? Because people who attend WW meetings lose 3x more weight than people who don't. Because sometimes you need a meeting, but sometimes a meeting needs you!

Twas the Night before Weigh In

Tonight I am feeling a little like it is the night before Christmas. As if something big is about to happen. I love Christmas and waking up on Christmas morning to all of the excitement of Santa.

So, I know that it is only August 27th and that Christmas is a few months away, but that is how I am feeling. You see tomorrow morning is weigh in for me at Weight Watchers. I have been on this journey since January 2009 trying to lose 100 pounds. I think that tomorrow will be the day that I wake up and achieve that goal.

Here is hoping that tomorrow morning, I will step on that scale and hear Santa say "Congratulations on your weight loss and to all a goodnight!"

Remember Me

I was told this week by two different people that they do not remember me any other way than I am now. I'm still the same person, but my outside has changed.

I remember...

I started to reflect on who I was and who I am now. I used to be the person, who rushed to the front of the food line and yesterday at the church picnic, I waited patiently for everyone to go through the line. By the time that I went through there were two apple slices and several empty casserole dishes/bowls. I managed to open the lid of one of the dishes and to my surprise there were fresh green beans. Now I never would have wanted to eat those green beans before and well, frankly it doesn't appear that anyone else did either because there was plenty. Lucky me!

I used to be the person, who lounged on the couch after dinner and now I walk for two hours. When I first started exercising, I wasn't the fastest and didn't walk very far. There are times when I am out walking that I will pass people, who are about the same weight that I was when I first started, but when they look at me walking by, they only see someone who is thin. They don't know that I've lost almost 100 pounds. I want so badly to go over and tell them that I am so proud of them for walking and that I can relate. Now, I know that they would think that I was crazy, which is why I don't, but just know that I am out there secretly cheering them on!

There are so many things that I remember and as I approach my goal, I want to remember who I was so that I don't ever forget.