Happy Anniversary to Me

This picture was taken of me about 10 days before I started Weight Watchers on April 30, 2003.

I had lost 10 pounds on my own already, but I knew I needed some real guidance if I was going to make true changes that I could live with for the rest of my life. I did lots of research, and the Weight Watchers plan just made sense to me. I have never felt deprived, I haven't given up anything I love to eat, enjoy eating out just like I always did, and can still embrace my love of food without seeing it as the enemy.

It is not about the food -- it's about the fork.

So, what makes this work so well for me? Lots of things -- first is that thing about not being deprived. Secondly, I love charts and record keeping, so the whole points/journaling thing has been amazing fun, actually. Thirdly? It's the support of the online community of which I am proud to be a part.

When I hit my goal weight on February 4, 2004, I was beginning to be uneasy about some of the other groups I'd been part of on the Weight Watchers boards. They were good people, but there was just too much drama, and I found myself way too often in the middle of nastiness that began to draw me in. When you begin to take pleasure in being ugly to people, I don't care how great you look, you are rotting inside.

I cast myself adrift from those groups, and began to search for another "home" on the boards. Nothing really fit -- I never got connected -- and so one night in August of 2004 I posed an Off Topic question about what movie my husband and I should go see, and folks I'd never had any relationship with glommed on.

It was so much fun, I began to pose a different question every day about something silly, and invited people to Run My Life. Some days it was which color shirt to wear, sometimes what color to paint my nails.

Before long, a cast of regulars began to show up, and from those less than impressive times has arisen the greatest support group any person could hope for.

Being in their presence -- some maintainers like me, some still working hard on getting to their own goal weights -- has kept me focused, has given me a reason to continue to "work the plan."

Because of them, I've traveled to places I never thought I'd go -- we've met in Orange County, California; St. Louis; Nashville (with another trip planned for this weekend!); Memphis; and several of the group have made it to Montgomery, with more coming this spring!

What they don't truly appreciate is that they have given me the gift of opening myself up a little more to "flesh and blood" friendships -- they still don't come easily for me, but I'm more willing to put myself out there, and it's made a big difference for me.

But I am digressing a little (who's surprised??)...

I honestly didn't believe that I'd ever be able to lose more than about 20 pounds, and at the time I started that even seemed insurmountable. I am proof that when you set your mind to something, believe that you are investing in your own future, determined to stop viewing your body as your enemy, and PAY ATTENTION, you can do anything.

Brava to me.