The time has come . . .
Ok - I've said it. It's out there in writing. As of May 21, 2012, I am flimsy-paper-card-carrying-member of Weight Watchers! And you know what? So far, I LOVE IT! That may be the nerdy, techie girl in me speaking, but the electronic tracking got me. Sucked me in and is keeping me there. Is that all it took? Had I only known sooner. Will it last?
I hope so! Come with me and see!
UPDATE: March 17, 2013: 43 weeks, and I made my goal! Weight loss at goal, 61.6 pounds - 29.2%!
UPDATE: April 28, 2013: I'm a LIFETIME member now!
Weight loss to date: 73.2 pounds

Friday, July 20, 2012

And so it begins . . .

What spurred this on? Well, a blood pressure recheck and a chat with the nurse. I have blood pressure monitor at home, the kind that goes on your wrist. I have monitored my blood pressure before and it was always within normal range. But, when I go to the doctor, it reads high. So, I had my orders to pop in and see the nurse for a recheck a few weeks after my last doctor visit. Well, both my wrist cuff and the “real” one clocked me at borderline. Lucky for me, it was a friendly, chatty nurse, and she admitted to me that she was in the same boat. Then she mentioned Weight Watchers and how losing weight could bring my blood pressure into normal range. Yikes . . . can I go now???

I do have some prior experience with Weight Watchers. In 2002 I joined “Weight Watchers at Work” – for about 3 weeks. The leader (sorry whoever you were) was hardly motivational, and bordered on straight up rude. Needless to say, to think of voluntarily subjecting myself to that again was the furthest thing from my mind. But this nurse just went on and on about how motivating it was, how they got free samples to taste (my ears perked up a little here), and so on and so forth. She mentioned she went close by, so that would be the closest location for me, too.

But, she did get me thinking about it, and by the time I got home, I decided I would go check it out. Funny enough, after I made that decision I did start to get excited! I pre-registered on line, and waited out the days to the following Monday's meeting.

Finally, the night I had been waiting for arrived. I showed up to the Weight Watcher store, all bright and hopeful with my forms in my hand. That was the easy part. The scale came next. No surprise there, and at least I wasn't the heaviest I'd ever been. But you have to start somewhere, right? And hopefully that is the last time I will see that number on the scale! I found a seat, and waited for my nurse-friend to show up, thinking how excited she'd be to see me and how we would become such good friends. She never showed up. What the heck?!? I thought she couldn’t live without her meetings? Hrummph.

I chatted with a few other girls, and the meeting was so-so. And wouldn't you know - there were no free samples to eat either! I had been duped, I tell ya. Got all excited for this meeting and now, no nurse-friend and no cookies. Then they tell me that since the following Monday was Memorial Day, they were closed and I'd have to pick another time to come. Grrr.

I left the meeting with my little packet of materials, and in spite of all the "disappointments" I still felt excited! Wait - what? I know! But I was. Ok - let me look at their schedule. I decided to go on Sunday morning at 9:30. No need to juggle my work schedule, I am already off.

I thank the calendar that I had to reschedule my day. Sunday morning's meeting was absolutely fabulous! A different leader who was funny, entertaining, very caring and seemed genuinely interested in me doing well. The group of men and women were very friendly. You could tell they were all regulars - their camaraderie was contagious and just what I'd been hoping for.

These days I really look forward to going to my Sunday morning meeting! It is motivating, and I am enjoying the heck out of this program. I even have a little routine going and after the meeting I grocery shop and pick up some of the new, cool stuff I learn from the others. For me, the electronic tracking, both on my iPhone and through eTools has made a world of difference. SO easy! I love the bar code scanner app too, and wander through the grocery store scanning away. My food in my cupboards are all labelled with PointsPlus values. I'm even recruiting my friends to join! It has been 7 weeks, and I am down 15 pounds. I hope and pray this lasts!

8 comments:

  1. Hi Dee. I LOVE your Blog! It's so professional looking! The picture of the salad is amazing! I'm going to Ralphs to get that dressing! Your Blog reflects your commitment to making healthy eating a lifestyle choice that you can do the rest of your life! Just like life can throw us curveballs, so can our weekly weigh-ins. At these times, pull out your weight record or look at your progress on e-tools to get the bigger picture. This isn't about one week, it's about the long term. You have been incredibly successful thus far and will experience peaks and valleys along the way (just as we do in life). What really matters is what you accomplished over time! Give Gracie a big hug! Jacki

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    1. Ahhh, thanks, Jacki! I am proud and honored to have you as the first comment on my blog! My inspiration and commitment come from the support I get from YOU each week at the meeting. If everyone had a leader like you they would all be successful. Thank you for the perspective - and yep, it is for the long term!
      Hugs going out to Gracie . . .

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  2. Hi, Dee! I think you have a fabulous blog! Your writing is so witty and just as engaging as you are in person! I know it will continue to motivate me, as you were the main reason I decided to join. You showed me your etools on your iphone and I, too, am HOOKED. Makes tracking a snap and kind of fun. And that barcode...I am zapping EVERYTHING. People think I'm price checking so I tell them about WW. Thank you for all your recipes and tips. Tried the shakes over the weekend from Dashing Dish. Just like ice cream! Bought the ingredients to make the salad. Found the dressing at my TJ's but forgot your Litehouse brand is less points. Whoops! Keep your favorites coming! I am SO relating to your experience and hope to be as successful. Waiting to hear how you like the Activator gizmo. Plan to share your blog with all my dieting friends. Thanks for the inspiration and for trailblazing the experience for the rest of us!

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    1. Hi Kitti!
      Glad you came to visit! I hope I can keep you coming back. I agree about eTools. If I had to write things down I don't think I would be as faithful to tracking.
      Aren't those shakes GREAT?! I can't believe how thick and creamy they are. I bet if you didn't tell anyone the ingredients they would think it was ice cream. So many flavor combos yet to try . . .

      Thank you for saying such nice things. It is so fun for me to have you join and be so enthusiastic with me! If we stick together I think we'll both be very successful. I'll be out of the "assessment phase" tomorrow so I'll post about my ActiveLink experience!
      See you Thursday!

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  3. We're so glad you had to juggle your schedule around and found us on Sunday, too! You've been such an awesome addition to our little Sunday family, Dee. :)

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    1. You have NO idea how glad I am, too. I seriously feel like this has been the change I needed in my life. I am so grateful to you for your support . . . its like I fell into "weight loss heaven".

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  4. Deean,that is one of the wonderful experience to read. You have motivated me and I am going to try but cannot promise to be successful like you,Radha

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    1. You will be, Radha! You have me, Deanne, and your new WW friends to help you every step of the way. I'm so glad you've joind, and looking forward to sharing the journey with you. YAY!

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