100 pounds ago, Dec 1 99, I wore size 24. I weighed 292.6 lbs (though at the time, I wouldn't have had a clue just how much I weighed - I had my head firmly in the sand.) I had been gaining weight slowly but steadily throughout high school, university, then grad school. Steadily through meeting my boyfriend, who became my fiance, who became my husband. Clothes got too tight, I bought new ones or just wore the few items that fit. My feet ached at night after I went too bed. I was out of shape, way out of shape. I avoided physical activities. I dreaded small chairs.
Then something started me thinking. I don't know what it was, but I gradually started to contemplate life without all the extra "baggage." I spent a couple of weeks sort of toying with the idea of weight watchers. I'd done nutrisystem at one point in high school forced by my mother (who I've come to realize was doing what she thought was best for me). Sure, I'd lost weight but my hair got brittle, I was anemic, and I came to detest every bite of that prepackaged food I had to swallow. I never got to a proper goal weight for myself and gave up trying. Over years I became much, much heavier than I'd been before nutrisystem. That's why when I started to think about losing weight again it had to be in a way that felt healthy, sane, well-balanced, and gave me choice.
The "click" came when I had to go shopping for a new winter coat. I dreaded the thought of buying a 3X for about a zillion dollars from one of the few stores I could still shop in. I steeled my courage and went shopping. I found a gorgeous grey coat, on sale, in a 2X, that looked perfect. I snatched it up and loved it. But the decision to get my weight under control had be made. I had turned a corner.
I went to the next available local WW meeting. That was 16 months and 100 pounds ago. Now I work out regularly and enjoy it. I wear a size 14 in regular sizes. I can shop almost anywhere. I take the stairs at work (7 storeys up) at least once a day because I can. I eat wonderfully well. I feel great. I know I look great. I feel even younger than my 27 years. I know I'll live longer. I look forward to activities much more than I used to. I've never been shy, but I feel much more comfortable meeting strangers (esp. new clients) than I used too. I never check if I'm the fattest in the room anymore. It doesn't matter anymore. I LOVE getting compliments.
Losing weight doesn't make life perfect, of course, but having gotten this far on my journey I have a more confident outlook on every aspect of life. I still have about 25 pounds to go, but I know I'll get there. Sorry for the book, but I just reached the 100 pounds off mark at weigh in last night, and I felt the need to commemorate it somehow. I also want to thank all of you. Even when I don't post I get reinforcement from each of your successes and struggles.
Good luck to you all! (but we all know it's not really about luck, is it?) Thanks for letting me ramble,
Flib
292.6/191.8/165ish (5'9" tall)