A Letter of a Lifetime

Dear Shannon,
You did it! You achieved Lifetime Membership with Weight Watchers. I want you to remember this day and how good you feel. Your journey is not over.

You must make a promise to yourself to do the following:

1. Always keep track of what you eat. Continue to plan your weekly meals and stick to it.
2. Always attend your weekly WW meetings.
3. Always weigh in...accountability equals success!
4. Never think that it just doesn't matter if you gain back the weight because it does!
5. Continue to share your story because you never know who might need to hear it.

Here are some of the accomplishments over the last year and ten months:

1. Lost 101.8 pounds
2. Went from a size 22/24 pants to a size 8...oh yeah! Remember that dance that you did in the dressing room?
3. Stopped shopping in the plus size section. The lady at the store even told you that you might be in the wrong store and that their other store would have your size. You floated down the mall...your feet never touched the ground that night.
4. You did two 5Ks in one day!
5. You've formed healthy habits that you can pass down to your children.

I'm writing you this letter today, because I don't want you to start listening to those people that keep asking you when you are going to stop "dieting" and when are you going to get back to "eating normal" again? During the Christmas season of 2008, you bought a winter coat for your best friend. It was beautiful. You said that you wanted to be able to wear a coat like that someday. Well, I've attached a picture to this letter of you wearing a coat very similar in style to that coat you wished that you could wear. Well, your wish came true and you worked hard to make it happen. So, wear it with pride and know that you achieved lifetime today.

Love,
Shannon