Before and After

Yesterday I reached my Lifetime status as a Weight Watchers member. This is achieved by remaining not more than two pounds over one's goal weight for six weeks. I was camping on the sixth week, so I had to wait for my return two weeks later for this awesome milestone.

I was a little concerned about maintaining under vacation circumstances. I diligently tracked my food, though I had to use paper instead of my iPhone since there was no cell service. While losing, I never used the Activity points I earned through exercise because I wanted to lose weight faster. But I realized that now I needed to eat up all the Activity Points I was earning with my average daily vacation hiking of 7 miles. I thoroughly enjoyed a large blueberry pancake, bacon, and egg almost every morning! (Usually after a two to three mile early morning walk!) 

Upon my return home Sunday afternoon, I approached the scales telling myself it was ok if I maybe gained a pound or two, because I had been 3 pounds under goal weight when I left. May I say I was rather pleased to see that I was down another 3 pounds. I immediately changed my dinner plans from a chicken salad to a peanut butter and jelly sandwich accompanied by a glass of 2% milk! I savored every delicious bite!

I weighed in yesterday at six pounds under my original goal weight. So I changed the official maintainence weight to five pounds less than it was originally. I like it.

When I got home from work yesterday, I decided it was time to do an official "After" picture. I never did an official "Before" picture, but I figured I could find one. Have you ever noticed that often on the "Before" picture, the person is not smiling, dressed sloppy, and looks generally frumpy, and then the "After" picture shows a person who is smiling and well groomed, has an improved hairstyle, and is posing smartly? It's a stereotype I attempted to match!

So here is a suitable "Before" picture, taken the summer of 2010. (I started Weight Watchers in October of 2010.)

 The "After" picture is a little harder to come by. Do you know how difficult it is to stand around and pose for a photo? As I told Will, I know it's a vain and self-indulgent thing to do, but it is part of my history. I nearly gave up because posing is just plain awkward. I almost decided to break tradition and go with this one. But it's kinda fuzzy. And maybe a little ridiculous. But I definitely look happier than I did in the "Before" picture!

 So here's the official "After", stiff and vain though it may be. But look, my stargazer lilies waited til I got home to bloom!

 I did not lose 62 pounds because I am a special lucky person who became self-disciplined and overcame all my bad habits. If I can do this, anyone can do it. I tried and failed, over and over, for years. Weight Watchers is a fabulous program. It teaches a very healthy and satisfying eating plan and provides many tools to help the process. Meeting leaders share helpful information and are very encouraging at weekly meetings. Jena Hedding, the leader of the meetings I went to a few years back, is the best ever and is such an inspiration to me. But none of these things "worked" for me until I made up my mind that I would quit making excuses and waiting until tomorrow to start over. In November last year, I seriously committed myself to stick to the plan, track my food every single day, and exercise regularly. The weight came off. I am so thankful that I have so much energy and feel absolutely great. God is good!

If you want to lose some weight, don't give up! You can do it!

I plan to continue going to the Tuesday noon meetings for the accountability and because I like them. I wish I could go to Jena's Tuesday 5:15 meeting, but it doesn't fit my schedule as well.

And once again, the quote that I read nearly every day and repeated to myself so many times:

"Satisfaction does not come from indulgence; satisfaction comes from achievement." (Calvin Coolidge)

I am satisfied!