My Weight Loss Story

I wrote down my weight loss story a few years ago after I made goal. It is a dream of mine to make it into the Today Show and become a member of The Joy Fit Club. The Joy Fit Club is for people who have lost 100 pounds or more and are keeping the weight off.

I joined WW in 2007 after my sister and I had returned from a trip to Las Vegas. I was so large I almost could not buckle the seatbelt on the airplane. Since I wasn’t really aware of seatbelt extensions, I thought I would have to fake it when the flight attendant came by to check. The following month, I joined WW.

When I wrote this story, I had actually gotten down to an all time low weight of 164 pounds and was 10 pounds below my goal weight of175 pounds. I am not sure if that weight was really maintainable. It could have been the changes in my life and job workload in my second year of maintenance that made it harder to keep up with my extensive exercise routine. It could also be a combination of both. I currently maintain my weight around 175 pounds and know I am still a success even if “I used to be 10 pounds lighter.”

Here is my story I wrote several years ago:

It is funny. I never had an actual idea of what I looked like. I never liked pictures so unless Mom or Dad took pictures at each birthday celebration I didn’t always have a picture. When I would see one I’d not even believe it was me. A mirror does not do justice. I looked in mirrors everyday never really seeing what I looked like. I was active (although just socially), I was outgoing, and I was just a fun person to be around. I loved myself for me. When my Mom would recommend some sort of weight loss program saying, “You can be fat after you get married” I’d tell her, “I want somebody to love me for me. Not just somebody they like to look at.” And I stood my ground. Slowly getting larger and larger in the process!!!

I’ve been on Weight Watchers (known as WW) before. I did it once with my Mom when I was younger. I wasn’t doing WW for me. I was doing it for my Mom. She felt I needed to lose weight. My Mom was always trying some new diet. We were always trying to find ways to lose weight. Between my junior and senior year of high school we went on this new program called the Prism Diet (no not Prison Diet like it sounds when you say it although sometimes it felt like prison.) You couldn’t have any white flour, potatoes,or refined sugar for six weeks. It was hard but I adjusted. I also lost 30 lbs in three months. I was about 180 when Igraduated from high school. I rememberwearing a size 14 jeans and feeling good about myself.

I suppose I just started getting heavier and heavier in college. Living the single life and enjoying life in general. I can’t really say it was one thing or another. Poor food decisions and no exercise I suppose. I remember going to the doctor and slowly the scale started to increase. In the days before digital scales, when the nurse weighed you to be polite they always started the weight at the 200 lb marker. I always told them to start it at the 250 lb marker as I knew I was over 250. One day she moved it to the 300 lb marker. I couldn’t even believe I was over 300lbs. How did I get this way and why didn’t anybody tell me??

So I joined WW. I cried the day after I signed up while on the phone to Mom. I didn’t know how I was supposed to take this list of healthy foods and make a meal out of it when I ate out for all of my meals. She told me if it was going to be that hard then to just quit. (Mom has said this to me at a couple of different crossroads in life. It serves its purpose as I don’t quit anything). I decided to make WW work for me. I continued to eat out and make good food decisions and lost weight along the way. Slowly my healthy eating got even healthier and I started cooking at home and trying out different recipes.

The weeks leading up to getting to goal were tough. I had set a goal for 175 lbs,which was the goal I set with my doctor. WW’s goals are based on the BMI (Body Mass Index) chart. According to my height of 5’6” I have to weigh 155. I remembered my last successful weight loss journey in high school. I was happy at 180. I thought I looked good at 180. So we set the goal for 175.

Weight Watchers helped me lose 140 pounds. My very first meeting I stepped on the scale and weighed in at 304.8 lbs and now I weigh 164 lbs. I’ve gone from a size 26 jeans to a size 10/12. I no longer wear a size XXXL shirt. I am now a size medium. I’ve lost 46% of my total body weight and my Body Mass Index went from 49 to 26.

It is amazing what an impact weight loss can have on a person. It is way more than just losing pounds or looking good. For me it was a whole life change. It was making the outside match how I felt on the inside. No longer hiding and no longer allowing myself to make excuses. I’m active, I’m alive, and I love my life. I have a great husband, great family and great friends. My support system is HUGE! And I am grateful for each and every one of my supporters.

Weight loss is possible. For whatever reason you choose to motivate you and whatever program you choose to assist you – embrace the change. Enjoy the journey. Remind yourself why you are on this journey and what you want to accomplish. Set small goals. Holidays, birthdays, anniversaries, funerals, and weddings all come throughout the year. Remember that they are just one day. Enjoy the day and then get right back on track. Keep at it even when you have again at the scale or a bad day where you eat more than you should have. Don’t give up. Put yourself first because YOU are worth it!

Here are some comparison photos:

The first two photos are taken at the same 5K event a few years apart. My sister Katie is on the left, I am in the middle, and my sister Jenny is on the right. My niece Hailey is in the stroller.

Let's Talk About Fat

I want to talk a little bit about fat today.

I am not a professional.  I have taken it upon myself to learn more about nutrition, read product labels, and learn tricks and tips.  This is just my honest opinion, which I can give freely as this is my blog.

Obviously you know I love WW.  I wouldn’t be where I was without it.  Through the years, the WW program has come a long way and I really like the new WW 360.  Even though I love this program there are still a few gripes now and then.

I don’t like how WW penalizes fat.  Not all fat is “bad” fat.  We need healthy fats as a part of our daily diet.  Yes, we are required to have our 2 tsp of healthy oils.  But there are many other foods out there that are high in fat but still a good food choice nutritionally.  A "good" fat helps to increase your HDL (good) cholesterol and lower your LDL (bad) cholesterol. 

 

 

For instance, Lay’s plain potato chips contain 10 grams of fat in one 1 oz serving.  One serving is also 4 PPVs.  That does seem like a lot of points for such a little serving.  Also, I don’t expect potato chips to fill you up.  Still using this example though, of that 10 grams of fat only 1 gram is saturated.  The other fat is monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats.  THESE are your HEALTHY FATS!  Also, if you read the ingredient list there is only three items: potatoes, salt, oil.  That is a pretty good food choice in my opinion.

 

However, I can’t nutritionally rationalize eating chips all the time so I save them for potlucks and BBQs.  I do love a good potato chip.

The point is we must not just dismiss a food item because it is high in points or it has a lot of fat in it.

Do you know how many WW members will totally dismiss a high fat item but load up on an item packed with sugar?  Ahhh….Fiber One bars!  Yuck!!!

Many WW members love the Fiber One bars.  Have you actually stopped to look at the nutrition label?  Sometimes they have just as much sugar as a regular candy bar.  Often they aren’t even made with whole grains.  Now, I could be mistaken.  It has been a while since I have eaten a Fiber One bar.  I just feel that for the PPVs you are spending on one bar, you could have much more food.  I do understand that sometimes a bar is a simple easy snack.  I still want to encourage you to start looking at food labels.

 

 

 

The same goes for other fat free items.  If a fat free item tastes good…check the label.  Sugar and other added ingredients are put into the product to make it taste good.  If you compare the PPVs for a fat free product vs. a low fat product, you might find that point or two extra is worth it to avoid excess sugar.  I am not trying to preach here and say I don’t eat fat free or low fat products.  I do eat some.  I also abuse sugar substitute so not even I am perfect!

Any weight loss program needs to be designed to cut back on excess calorie intake.  WW does work.  New members often need to really focus on eating a lot of zero and other low PPV foods when they are first starting out.  It really is the process needed to start your body on the path to losing weight.  However, at some point there needs to be more of a focus on nutrition.  WW really does lack this guidance.  We are only told to eat Power Foods and follow the Good Healthy Guidelines.  We must then take it upon ourselves to learn more about nutrition and put those good foods into our bodies: fat included!

 

 

Funnies

I love those funny eCards and other stuff you see on Facebook. I make sure to save the really good ones and I even reported a few on my FB page.
Enjoy!! Feel free to snag any you like too.

Coffee…Coffee…Coffee

Do you know how many PPVs are in your coffee?  I am not talking about the coffee you brew at home and add your own cream, half and half, or milk.  I am talking about the fancy coffees that taste so good at the coffee shops.  Have you ever stopped to check the NI and figure up the points?

**I will add a little bit of a disclaimer here.  If you have the points to use and you really want a high point drink, then go for it!  That is why WW works so well.  Even if you are out of points but want to use your WPPAs or even APs.  And sometimes we don’t have points left but we just want it (vacations usually for me).  Have it, enjoy it, track it and move on.**

If you are having coffee every day, like me, then I needed to find some other alternatives that would fit into my DPA.

Okay, Let’s start with McDonalds and their McCafe drinks.  I have had a frappe a few times and boy was it delicious.  You know why?  SUGAR!  I knew it was yummy for a reason. 

McCafe Frappe Caramel (I love caramel)

·        Small size – 450 total calories – 7 g protein – 19 g fat – 64 g carbs – 0 g fiber – 12 PPVs.  This frappe also contains 57 grams of sugar.

·        Medium size – 550 total calories – 9 g protein – 23 g fat – 79 g carbs – 0 g fiber – 15 PPVs.  This frappe also contains 71 grams of sugar.

·        Large size – 670 total calories – 11 g protein – 27 g fat – 96 g carbs – 0 g fiber – 18 PPVs.  This frappe also contains 88 grams of sugar.

This might help understand why these are so delicious.  As with any order placed at a restaurant, there is a way to cut calories and points with a special order.  If you hold the whip cream the small size is now 10 PPVs.  If you hold the caramel drizzle the small size it is also 10 PPVs.  Again though, if you are going to go for it, then go for it and enjoy it.  That is usually my motto!

Of course there are many other drink options with less PPVs if you want something that won’t break your PPV budget!  A latte, made with milk, is less PPVs and even a mocha, although made with chocolate milk or chocolate sauce, would still be less PPVs than the frappe.  McDonalds also serves Ice Coffee, with only cream and sugar (or sugar substitute) added.  They have only one sugar-free flavor which is vanilla.  Always be aware of what flavorings are being added as most contain sugar and have PPVs.

Starbucks Caramel Frappucciano Blended Beverage

·        Tall size – 290 total calories – 10 g fat – 47 g carbs – 0 g fiber – 3 g protein – 8 PPV.  This frappuchino contains 45 grams of sugar.

·        Grande size – 400 total calories – 14 g fat – 65 g carbs – 0 g fiber – 4 g protein -  11 PPV. This frappuchino contains 63 grams of sugar.

·        Venti size – 490 total calories – 15 g fat – 84 g carbs – 0 g fiber – 6 g protein – 14 PPVs.  This frappuchino contains 81 grams of sugar.

Again, there are other options.  This would be the PPVs with 2% milk.  You could shave a little off by having non-fat milk and even cutting out the whip cream and caramel drizzle (such a shame!)  You could also get a non-fat latte with sugar free syrup, a regular drip coffee, or an Americano. 

Dutch Brothers

Speaking of an Americano, that is what I am drinking these days.

An Americano is just espresso with hot water.  If you have it iced then they just pour that over ice.  I only add three packets of Splenda and a little cream (half and half).  It depends on how much cream is added but since coffee is 0 PPVs, I only count 1 PPV for the cream.   I used to have the sugar free caramel sauce (very delicious) which has calories vs other sugar free syrups.  My daily Americano with the sugar free caramel sauce was costing me 3 PPVs. 

While an Americano isn’t as sweet as other drinks, over time my taste buds have adjusted.  When I feel like spending extra PPVs, I will still have the caramel sauce in it or even go for a blended drink.

I made the personal decision to give up drinking milk in 2011.  At that time I stopped getting coffee at the coffee shops as I didn’t know what else to drink besides a latte.  I am really glad somebody recommended an Americano.  It never hurts to step out of your comfort zone and try new things.

Bottom line always comes down to if you drink it, track it!

Cycle to Break the Cycle: Live for 175

A local radio DJ Kekeluv has such a passion for helping people that each year in April he shows his support for child abuse. Here is how Kekeluv has shown his support in the past:

2008 – He went seven days with no sleep.

2009 – He ran seven marathons in seven days.

2010 – He went eight days with no sleep and organized the launch of the first Spirit of Boise Child Abuse Prevention hot air balloon.

2011 – He went seven days with no food. A fast for Child Abuse Prevention high above the city at the billboard on the corner of Capital and Front Street in Boise.

2012 - He was out in the Treasure Valley among the communities broadcasting LIVE to raise awareness for child abuse prevention for seven days at seven different locations.

In 2013, Kekeluv is showing his support, as well as getting the community involved, in keeping the live broadcast running using bicycles to generate power.The goal is to be live for 175 hours from April 19^th – 26^th.

 

Cycle to Break the Cycle is set up near my house at the corner of Eagle Road and Fairview.I stopped by to see how I could help, lend them my legs and some of my energy, and earn some APs in the process.

 

 

 

I biked for 45 minute between hours 101-102. If you signed up ahead of time, you are given an orange wrist band and then you take your spot during your 30 min or hour time frame. If you didn't sign up you can drop in and get a blue wrist band. As long as there is a bike you can ride. I could have gone the full hour but got off a bit early to free up a spot. Oh and it was a bit painful in the nether regions!

I actually ended up on the tallest bike first but was able to move to a smaller bike once they opened up.

 

 

 

Kekeluv is so full of energy. This is my fist time meeting him.

You get to listen to the music and broadcast while you ride and visit with other riders. We had one kid that even got us to start the wave. It is also being streamed for live on the internet.

The man in charge of the set up said he worked 6 months getting it prepared. He also said there was a group of soccer players there this morning that actually filled the battery up.

 

 

They had an area set up where kids could also ride, but not connected to the power.

Just as I was arriving to sign up, traffic that was backed up across the street must have had a driver not paying attention. There was a crash!

I had a lot of fun and was happy to help in raising awareness for child abuse.