I have struggled with weight-loss all my life. Back when I was in school, lunches consisted of bags of chips, donuts, slices of pizza, and sodas. I had few friends, and seldom attended school functions. Looking back, high school was tough enough without having a weight problem.
After high school I chose a local trade school to attend, where I enrolled in the dental assisting program. I was learning something that I enjoyed, and I loved it. That year, 1993, was the first time I remember losing a significant amount of weight. I’m not sure exactly how much, but I know I felt good about myself. When school ended it was a different story. I remember not being able to fit into my scrub pants for the graduation ceremony.
Following graduation I got a job as a Registered Dental Assistant. For the next few years I went up and down in weight- mostly UP. It was during this time that I started to date and also posted an online personal. I got an email from a guy who I thought was very cute so we started to chat online, and then on the phone. I remember that he immediately wanted to meet in person. I was terrified. It took me a long time to build up the confidence to say yes. What was holding me back was my weight. I finally said yes, but after confessing that I was fearful of him not liking me because I was over weight. He assured me that would not be the case; and so one evening I was brave and suggested we meet up for dessert at a local restaurant. I can honestly say that when we first met, I knew I wanted to spend the rest of my life with him. 10 years later, we are still together.
Sean has always been supportive of my weight loss journey. Not once has he ever criticized me. At times he has shown concern for my health, but has never made me feel badly about myself. My first attempt at losing weight was counting calories. Sean was very helpful with this by tracking, counting, and even figuring out the mileage of our walks together. But I was not eating well. I was still eating a lot of processed foods and a lot of fast food. I had no idea what I was doing had a name, but I do now. I was binging. I always brought the food home to eat it because I did not want anyone to see me, not even Sean. I remember savoring every bite I took, and then I would feel sick. I would get upset with myself for the splurge, and now what I know was a binge-eating problem.
In 2007 I started experiencing a lot of back pain. I had lost about 40 pounds and then gained 25 of it back. After a few doctor appointments and a series of x-rays & MRI’S, I was diagnosed with a list of back issues: osteoarthritis, scoliosis, bone spurs, & disk compression. All of those aliments were creating chronic pain that made my job miserable. With Sean and my family’s support, I decided take time off to work on myself. My health became my full time occupation. I went through a lot of physical therapy, and took part in chronic pain seminars. I also decided to focus on weight loss. In November 2007 I joined Weight Watchers.
My weight loss has been slow. I know the limitations I have due to my pain have a lot to do with it. But, I am proof that you can lose weight with good nutrition alone. I currently attend an indoor therapy pool, which is heated to 92 degrees. This has been a lifesaver for me! I can move so well in that water! I do a lot of resistance exercises and what is called deep water running. I know that all of the activity I do in there is helpful for my arthritis.
Weight Watchers has helped me figure out what the healthier food choices are. I have also managed to gain control over my binge-eating problem. It has been over two years, and I am proud of the fact that I no longer have that struggle. I love the Weight Watcher meetings and also the accountability of getting on the scale each week. I embraced the change of the new PointsPlus program. I loved seeing my daily points target go from 21 points to 29. Do I need to even mention the ZERO POINT FRUIT? J I know that the higher points on some food items were a bit of a shock, but it helps me to make better decisions.
My weight loss journey has been strange in so many ways. This is the smallest I have ever been as an adult. For the first time in my life I enjoy shopping for clothes. One of the best rewards is when I look in the mirror, I now see a person staring back that I have never seen before. I am getting to know, and love, the person I have become. This success has motivated me to continue my healthy life style and to strive to reach even more goals in 2011.
Tracey
