Wouldn’t Change a Thing

 

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After

Before Name Nicole Age 35 Height 5'1" Was 251 lbs  Lost 115 lbs*  Weight 136 lbs  As of 2/6/2010 *People following the Weight Watchers plan can expect to lose 1-2 pounds per week. I knew I wanted to get to goal, and those who had gotten there were showing me the way to accomplish it.

Painful memories
Looking back, I remember how much pain I was in carrying the extra weight. My cholesterol was high and I was tired all of the time. My knees ached constantly and I suffered from restless leg syndrome. I got winded easily and my breathing was labored. I couldn’t walk up steps without my knees hurting. It was a chore to bend over and tie my shoes, and I didn’t sleep well.

I suffered socially as well. People looked at me in disgust. It was humiliating; I felt worthless and alone. I was a prisoner in my own body and I didn’t know what to do because I had tried all kinds of diets and nothing had seemed to work for me yet.

But after seeing a co-worker’s success with Weight Watchers, I decided to join Weight Watchers meetings and follow the POINTS® weight-loss system. I was thrilled to discover a wonderful support system both in my meeting room and at home. I let everyone know at home, work, everywhere that I’d joined, so that they would know I was determined and that this was my new way of life.

Slow and steady
I was getting frustrated when I didn’t see the scale move in a downward direction when I felt that I had worked the program to the last detail. Over time I learned to allow my frustration to fuel to my fire and generally I saw a loss the following week. It took me three years to get to my goal weight. Looking back over my Weight Tracker, most of my losses were about a half of a pound per week. Trust me when I tell you that they really add up!

Incorporating activity into my life was a very important piece of the plan. I remember sitting in meetings and hearing the Lifetime members talk about how they had made activity non-negotiable. I started slowly, purchasing exercise DVDs for at-home workouts. I walked, and the walking eventually turned to running. The great thing about losing the weight is that you can start moving more. Once you see what your body is capable of, you want to do more and see how fit you can become.

Today, I love that I am a confident, sassy, healthy, life-loving me. I know now that I am worth the effort I put into becoming fit. I love that I can go into any store and find clothes that will fit me. I used to try to be invisible because I was so ashamed of how I looked. Now, I enjoy life more. Don’t be afraid to take that first step. Have faith in yourself that you can lose the weight. Don’t put it off until tomorrow.