I started going to Weight Watchers back on July 9, 2002. At the time I weighed 247.2 pounds. I was fat! I was fat, with a family history (on both sides) of diabetes. In addition, I was constantly thirsty and went to the bathroom alot. I know that it is probably only a matter of time before I come down with it myself at some point. However, I figured, if I can put it off for a few years by losing some weight, all the better.
The first week on the program, I lost 6 pounds. Needless to say, I was thrilled. I never lost six pounds in a week after that, but I maintain a fairly steady weight loss. By the time the following June 1 rolled around, I was down to 155. I had lost 92 pounds. I felt much better about myself, and I felt better physically. I had energy and stamina that I hadn’t had in years (if ever). In addition, I was getting lots of compliments (nothing like a good ego stroke to help keep you going).
However, after that, I figured I could stay on the program by myself. Alas, it was not to be so. Here it is now, about 18 months later, and I’m back up in the mid 190s range. So, before I gain it all back and make my job all that much more difficult, it’s back I go. I’m headed to my first WW meeting in a year and a half tonight. I hope I don’t disappoint the leader who was so proud of my accomplishments last time.
There’s probably some truth to that. When you’re sleeping, you’re not eating. There have been countless times in the last 18 months when I’ve found myself noshing at midnight and thinking to myself “If I was sleeping now, I wouldn’t be eating…”
Oh, zev, I wouldn’t worry about that. In fact, I bet your leader will be pleased that you’ve returned to work at it again. It’s a fact of life that sometimes we falter and lose sight of our goals. The important thing is that we don’t permanently give up and never try again.
I’ve been a leader for about 7 years, and I would never characterize my thoughts as “disappointed” in anyone. Sometimes it’s unfortunate, but it doesn’t make you less of a person.
Then I should make Callista Flockhart look like a sow.
Um, I don’t.
I have read that people tend to eat when tired, because their bodies are trying to come up with something to give them energy. Anyone know if that’s true?
Zev good luck! I tried the WW thing and it completely back fired. I didn’t know the 3 fish, 2 beef, 2 chicken was a weekly thing, and I ended up gaining…
Just kidding Fellow WW here, I’m at 235 and going down, down, down… Goal is 200!
I’ve read the same thing, though I have no cite. I can tell you that when I’m overtired, I tend to eat more. Also, I tend to eat more junk food, because I’m too tired to cook a real meal and pick up food on the run.
Zev, good luck with going back to Weight Watchers! It’s encouraging to know that you lost so much weight with them, as I’m trying to lose a bit myself.
Oh, man. People join, quit and come back ALL. THE. TIME. It’s rare to find an adult that comes in that hasn’t been a member before.
I joined up 3 times - the 3rd time was the time I got to goal.
I think to successfully lose and maintain your weight, you need to be real focused and determined. It may take a few times fumbling around for it to work. So I don’t think that just because you’ve joined and quit before, your chances of success are any worse. Maybe they might even be better. It just depends on whether or not your heart and mind is in the right place. That’s the time it’s going to work.
We learn from our mistakes (hopefully!) so maybe it takes a few unsuccessful goes at it, I’m not sure.
Ever since I left WW (which I enjoyed) a couple years ago, I’ve been backsliding a lot; part of this had to do with being diagonosed with HBP and staying vigilant on the points and keeping the sodium down (under 2000/day) was too tough.
But as of six days ago, I’m back on (and have lost 3 lbs in the process so far! ) and am really enjoying it again (as is Mrs. AG, who introduced me to WW back then). What’s helped immeasurably is that we’ve set up a pretty complex spreadsheet that makes tracking the points easy, mapping out daily meals a snap, and storing point values (so we don’t have to constantly recalculate) extra convenient.
So here’s looking at dropping the weight and the BMI, as well as starting up my workout routine (also abandoned for several months) again. Congrats to the OP and everyone else who are paying more than lip service to their weight loss “resolution.”
Yup, I’m back on WW as of today, too, Zev. This time hubby is joining me We do the WW-at-home thing since there doesn’t seem to be any way for us to make it to a meeting (both of us work FT with a toddler and an infant). I lost 20 pounds on it a couple of years ago, then gained it all back with my last pregnancy. Now I need to lose that same 20 pounds all over again!
Hubby is facing a much greater task: he needs to lose about 50 pounds. He seems determined to stick to it, and I can’t wait until he starts to see results!
Another WW participant checking in! Starting weight was 290. Goal–145. I lost 43 pounds and then with Ivan blowing through, and some other factors, I got a little careless and put back on about six pounds. That scared me straight and I’ve lost three pounds since. I bought the books and calculator on eBay and have been doing it on my own. I hope to lose another 105 pounds over the next year-year and a half.
Then I’m getting a T-shirt that says “I’m only half the woman I used to be!”
Long, long time ago I read some trashy novel – may have been one of the Valley of the Dolls ones, where they did this. The girls went to some clinic where they put them to sleep for a week, then they woke up weighing less. I remember something stupid about the nurses getting them up to go potty, or some such thing.
I’ve got a bet with a buddy on who will lose the most % weight by end of February. Since I made the bet I’ve gained 5 pounds.
Shalom, Zev. I just put 7 pounds back on with 3 weeks of low exercise. It’s a drag to have to pay attention to my body in this way, rather than getting the weight off and moving to something more intersting.
Is it time to start The SDMB Weight Loss Thread #6?
