Weight Ain't Nothin' But A Number

I've been going to WW for 7 weeks now.  I've averaged over 2 pounds a week loss.  My clothes are fitting better, I feel like I have a little extra energy, I'm eating more veggies.  All good things.

I'm close to a big milestone, which is exciting.  When you hit milestones, the leader always asks what you've learned or what's worked.

On Monday night a lady achieved her lifetime status.  She's reached her goal, continued to come to WW for 6 weeks after achieving the goal and has maintained.  You can remain a lifetime member as long as you maintain within 2 points of your goal.  What an accomplishment. 

In all honesty, that's my goal.  I don't want to have to do this again.  I don't want to go back to the way I ate that helped put on 10 pounds a year.  I don't want to buy bigger jeans.  I want to be healthy.  I want to make good choices.

As I think about reaching my next milestone, I realize that one major thing has changed.  I don't make excuses for my added pounds anymore.  I'm ready to just be healthy.  I want to be a good example to all three of my girls.  I don't want them to have to join WW because I didn't lead by example. 

I'm ready for a new lifestyle.  It's been almost 33 years in the making.  I think for the first time in my life, my head is in it as much as my heart.

The Right Motivation

It seems like when I was younger I was self-motivated.  If I wanted to do 1,000 sit-ups I would.  If I wanted to run, I would.  Now that I'm older and have more responsibilities, I'm just tired. 

Which is an excuse.

Last week on this Weight Watcher journey, I was having a hard time.  I was hungry 30 minutes after I ate.  So I ate.  And ate.  And ate.  It was the hardest week I've encountered yet.  I calculated my points and knew what I was shoveling into my mouth, so I count that a small victory. 

I actually maintained this week, so that's a good thing.

Neither of those things really motivated me to get back on track.  In all honesty, it was two hurtful comments by two people who are "friends."  In less than 24 hours, both, in their own way, told me how large I was compared to them.  I know I'm bigger than they are.  I have a feeling I always will be.

I realized something.  This journey isn't just about losing weight and fitting into that desired size of pants.  It's about being the best me I can be.  Not just physically, although this journey will shape that.  It's about being the best me relationally too.  I had snide comments to make to both of those people.  I'd be lying if I didn't say that I went home and cried a bit after they said it. 

I never want to be someone without compassion.  I never want to be someone who sees people in this world as fat or thin.  I want to be someone, no matter what size I am, to be accepting of everyone around me.  As I sit in these meetings every Monday, I'm surrounded by people just starting their journey or close to their goal or someone in between.  I don't see size, I see motivation.  These people have taken the step to come to meetings, to lose weight, to get healthy.  It's hard to admit you have extra pounds. 

Those people should be my motivation.  Not the ones who only see me as fat.

I'm starting to realize that Weight Watchers isn't about a diet, it's a community who is going through this journey with me.  Whether they know it or not, they've spoken volumes to my soul.