Today marks my one year anniversary as a member of Weight Watchers. I am so incredibly glad I went in there for the first time last year. I know it sounds so cliche, but it honestly has changed my life. I feel like a brand-new person. I used to be so outgoing, but I felt like the weight was holding me back. Now I'm so much more comfortable speaking with people, and being in situations where I used to feel so uncomfortable - like everyone was staring at me because of my size.
I know I never could have done this without the support of my family, my friends, and my wonderful leader Laura. I know she thinks I'm stalking her, since I'll find other meetings she covers and go to those if I can't make my usual day :). Without everyone of you, I wouldn't be where I am today.
So now what...??? This year I'll focus on eating healthy foods, staying active, and pursuing new goals. I had originally wanted to run a full Marathon, but after talking to some very wise friends I've decided to work on increasing my endurance. So this will be the year of the Half Marathons! I'm looking forward to training for them, and hope we have great running weather again this year. I have to say I never thought I'd be running outside in January and NOT have to bundle up, so here's hoping!
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
Saturday, December 31, 2011
Goodbye 2011 - Hello 2012!
I can't believe how quickly 2011 flew by! As I get ready to ring in the New Year with my family, I'm looking back at all of the memories I made this year. I started off 2011 by joining Weight Watchers on 1/10/11, and kicked off my Couch to 5K training on 1/14/11. Honestly, I had no idea where those both would lead me. I really wanted to stick with both things, but my similar past pursuits had never turned out very well for me. I'd start out strong, but it never lasted more than a couple of months.
My family, friends and Weight Watchers group and leader made all the difference this year for me. I could turn to pretty much anyone for phenomenal support - both when things weren't going well, and when I had something to celebrate. I saw the weight come off, my energy level increase, and my outlook on everything improved. I finally WANTED to be around people again! I loved all of the new people I met through running. It's amazing how our paths keep crossing, even outside of running.
A year ago I never would have willingly woken up early on a Saturday morning to a) run with friends and b) make it to a Weight Watchers meeting. Heck - I planned both things AROUND each other! I'd find myself saying "Hey, I'd love to run with you, but can we meet earlier so I can make it to my meeting?".
This year I raced in a 1 miler on Memorial Day, 8 5Ks, a 4 miler on Thanksgiving Day, the Shamrock Shuffle 8K, and the Sycamore Pumpkin Run 10K in October. I loved getting together on Monday nights with the Walk2Run program through Dick Pond STC, and sharing running with my boys while they took part in the Fox Valley Marathon Kids Marathon. I am so proud of what they accomplished!
Now, with 2012 coming up, I'm working on setting goals for myself for this new year. I reached my weight loss goal in mid-October, and became a Lifetime Weight Watchers member on 11/26/11. I still plan on being a part of my Saturday morning group. This year I also plan to complete a Half Marathon, a 20 miler with Fox Valley Marathon, and the Chicago Marathon. Part of me is completely freaking out about all of that, but I know I'll have amazing people helping me through all of it!
My family, friends and Weight Watchers group and leader made all the difference this year for me. I could turn to pretty much anyone for phenomenal support - both when things weren't going well, and when I had something to celebrate. I saw the weight come off, my energy level increase, and my outlook on everything improved. I finally WANTED to be around people again! I loved all of the new people I met through running. It's amazing how our paths keep crossing, even outside of running.
A year ago I never would have willingly woken up early on a Saturday morning to a) run with friends and b) make it to a Weight Watchers meeting. Heck - I planned both things AROUND each other! I'd find myself saying "Hey, I'd love to run with you, but can we meet earlier so I can make it to my meeting?".
This year I raced in a 1 miler on Memorial Day, 8 5Ks, a 4 miler on Thanksgiving Day, the Shamrock Shuffle 8K, and the Sycamore Pumpkin Run 10K in October. I loved getting together on Monday nights with the Walk2Run program through Dick Pond STC, and sharing running with my boys while they took part in the Fox Valley Marathon Kids Marathon. I am so proud of what they accomplished!
Now, with 2012 coming up, I'm working on setting goals for myself for this new year. I reached my weight loss goal in mid-October, and became a Lifetime Weight Watchers member on 11/26/11. I still plan on being a part of my Saturday morning group. This year I also plan to complete a Half Marathon, a 20 miler with Fox Valley Marathon, and the Chicago Marathon. Part of me is completely freaking out about all of that, but I know I'll have amazing people helping me through all of it!
Saturday, November 26, 2011
Hit my Lifetime Goal today!
Wow....where to begin?!?!?! I am so, so happy that I was able to keep my weight under my goal and earned my Lifetime status with Weight Watchers today. I never imagined that I had it in me to stick with this, and I'm proud of myself for not giving up.
January 10, 2011 is the date when I decided to take that big step towards changing my life - that was the first Weight Watchers meeting I attended. It took a lot for me to make that decision, and while I wish I had joined a long time ago I have to believe there was a reason for starting when I did. If I had started earlier I might not have had the best leader imaginable. Laura really knows how so many of us think and feel when battling our weight. She's there to praise us, and to pick us up when we stumble. When I had to switch meeting days so I could join the Dick Pond Walk2Run group, the first thing I did was see which meetings Laura led so I could go to one of those. I am so thankful for everything she's done to help me.
And I can't forget to thank all of my friends and family that have put up with me this past year :). I know this has kind of consumed me, but never once has anyone told me to get over it already. I promise that I'll settle down....eventually!
January 10, 2011 is the date when I decided to take that big step towards changing my life - that was the first Weight Watchers meeting I attended. It took a lot for me to make that decision, and while I wish I had joined a long time ago I have to believe there was a reason for starting when I did. If I had started earlier I might not have had the best leader imaginable. Laura really knows how so many of us think and feel when battling our weight. She's there to praise us, and to pick us up when we stumble. When I had to switch meeting days so I could join the Dick Pond Walk2Run group, the first thing I did was see which meetings Laura led so I could go to one of those. I am so thankful for everything she's done to help me.
And I can't forget to thank all of my friends and family that have put up with me this past year :). I know this has kind of consumed me, but never once has anyone told me to get over it already. I promise that I'll settle down....eventually!
Thursday, November 24, 2011
So much to be thankful for
It's hard to believe we're already at Thanksgiving! 2011 has flown by, and it's amazing how much has changed this year.
I'm thankful for so many things....
A year ago, I don't even know if I could have run 4 blocks. Today I ran (and finished!) 4 miles, and feel incredible! What a way to start out this day! I got to run with a great friend, and I saw so many others on the course and afterwards. My brother also ran it, and did a fabulous job. He's so much faster than me, so we don't run together. But I love knowing that he's there, and then I have someone else to cheer me on at the finish.
So to everyone who reads this - thank you for all of your support, and continuing to cheer me on. You have no idea how much it means to me.
I'm thankful for so many things....
- A good job that I enjoy
- A warm home for my family
- Never having to worry about where the next meal will come from
- Living in a wonderful community
- Having a healthy, happy family
- My wonderful friends and family members who keep me sane
A year ago, I don't even know if I could have run 4 blocks. Today I ran (and finished!) 4 miles, and feel incredible! What a way to start out this day! I got to run with a great friend, and I saw so many others on the course and afterwards. My brother also ran it, and did a fabulous job. He's so much faster than me, so we don't run together. But I love knowing that he's there, and then I have someone else to cheer me on at the finish.
So to everyone who reads this - thank you for all of your support, and continuing to cheer me on. You have no idea how much it means to me.
Saturday, October 29, 2011
The Joy of Shopping
Shopping...oh, how I've missed you! I've ALWAYS loved to shop, but I noticed the larger I got the less I enjoyed it. I would see some of the cutest clothes in stores, but when I tried them on it was never a pretty picture. Especially when the whole tunic/empire waist/clingy fabric trend started!
Today my mom and I ventured out to the outlet mall in our area. I really needed some new dress pants for work, and maybe a new sweater or shirt. I'm pretty sure everyone in my office is tired of seeing the same 3 outfits on me at this point. So we headed to the Ann Taylor Outlet. I found a cute pair of pants in an 8 Petite, and a sweater in a small. I instantly fell in love with both - because I ended up having to go down a size in both!!! I was just so happy to even be in the single digits again, so this was a major bonus. I, of course, wanted to buy all the colors they had available for both :).
The one downside - having to get new clothes is going to really cut into my budget!
Today my mom and I ventured out to the outlet mall in our area. I really needed some new dress pants for work, and maybe a new sweater or shirt. I'm pretty sure everyone in my office is tired of seeing the same 3 outfits on me at this point. So we headed to the Ann Taylor Outlet. I found a cute pair of pants in an 8 Petite, and a sweater in a small. I instantly fell in love with both - because I ended up having to go down a size in both!!! I was just so happy to even be in the single digits again, so this was a major bonus. I, of course, wanted to buy all the colors they had available for both :).
The one downside - having to get new clothes is going to really cut into my budget!
Thursday, October 20, 2011
Reaching goal - a sweet place to be!
Last Saturday I headed into my Weight Watchers for my usual morning meeting. I was sitting at 136.6, which was 1.6 lbs away from my goal. Considering how the last few weeks had been tiny losses, tiny gains, and back again I really wasn't expecting much. I was just hoping to keep the trend of losing (even just a little something) going. I stepped on the scale, and hoped for the best. Imagine my shock when she told me I was down 3.6 lbs! That was so much better than I had hoped for!!!!
It felt wonderful to get the "Goal" star to add to my key chain. I love my group on Saturday mornings, and my leader Laura is incredible. I never imagined how walking into that first meeting was going to change my life so much, in so many ways.
It's not just the weight I've lost - it's the confidence I've gained, the energy that has come back, and the amazing people I've gotten to know along the way. Some were already in my life before this, but thanks to new interests for me I feel like a whole new world has opened up to me.
Thank you to all of those that read this, for all your words of support coming from many different places. I know I'm the only one who could have made the decision to start this journey, but there is no way I would have been able to do it without all those around me.
The journey doesn't stop here....it's only just beginning....
It felt wonderful to get the "Goal" star to add to my key chain. I love my group on Saturday mornings, and my leader Laura is incredible. I never imagined how walking into that first meeting was going to change my life so much, in so many ways.
It's not just the weight I've lost - it's the confidence I've gained, the energy that has come back, and the amazing people I've gotten to know along the way. Some were already in my life before this, but thanks to new interests for me I feel like a whole new world has opened up to me.
Thank you to all of those that read this, for all your words of support coming from many different places. I know I'm the only one who could have made the decision to start this journey, but there is no way I would have been able to do it without all those around me.
The journey doesn't stop here....it's only just beginning....
Sunday, October 9, 2011
I've said I don't think I would ever run a marathon...
But that comment is now going out the window.
I was lucky enough to have the chance to see part of the Chicago Marathon, and served as a volunteer for Team Ronald McDonald House Charities. I could tell every runner that came down our red carpet was completely and utterly exhausted, but every single one of them had a huge smile on their faces. To accomplish a feat like a marathon has to be such an amazing experience. And to be able to raise thousands of dollars for a charity at the same time makes it even sweeter.
So this time next year, I will hopefully be blogging about finishing my first Marathon. I know it will be worth the incredibly sore muscles that will come along with the package.
I was lucky enough to have the chance to see part of the Chicago Marathon, and served as a volunteer for Team Ronald McDonald House Charities. I could tell every runner that came down our red carpet was completely and utterly exhausted, but every single one of them had a huge smile on their faces. To accomplish a feat like a marathon has to be such an amazing experience. And to be able to raise thousands of dollars for a charity at the same time makes it even sweeter.
So this time next year, I will hopefully be blogging about finishing my first Marathon. I know it will be worth the incredibly sore muscles that will come along with the package.
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