Hi all. I'm new to this forum, but, I am here to talk about my weight loss. I have been on Weight Watchers for the last 20 months and have lost 114 lbs. I never thought I'd lose that much weight and sometimes I am shocked myself that I succeeded. I still have about 30 lbs. to go and am committed to lose this weight.

In the last 20 months, my main goal was to lose 10 lbs. at a time. I work for those little stars that you get at Weight Watchers. I figured if I worked only 10 lbs. at a time, it didn't seem so hard. I'm also committed to getting to goal. Even when I cheat, I get right back on the program and tell myself that I can do this!

Also, I am doing a Weight Loss Challenge in Rosie Magazine for the rest of the year. You can read about my story in the July and August issues. Then, I will be in her magazine in the September issue and every other month for the rest of the year. Doing the weight loss challenge keeps me going, too. Of course, I would still be losing the weight even if I wasn't doing the articles, but, it helps me.

Having buddies to help you get thru the rough times is the best way to lose. I've made many great friends at Weight Watchers and we have helped each other thru many rough times. This forum is the best, too. If you need help, there is someone here to advise you. Seeing how everyone else copes with obstacles, gets me thru problems when I need that little extra boost.

If anyone needs help or suggestions, I would be happy to answer your e-mails. We need to do this thing together. Pat Hatt
[email protected]

Pat .... I AM IN AWE! 114 LBS! YOU GO GIRL!!!

You seem to have WW down pat.

Please join us at the Countdown thread. We can use you support and suggestions to help us in our journey.

Have you reached, or are you near goal? What are you doing for exercise now and what did you do to start?

Glad you posted,

Thanks J-Ann for the nice comments. I have about 35 pounds to go. For Weight Watchers I have set my goal to 155. I'd like to get to that goal and maybe, see how it goes, get to 149 for Rosie magazine. Then, I can say I lost 150 lbs. But, I'm struggling right now trying to lose a pound a week, if that. For the magazine, I want to do it till the end of the weight loss challenge which will end sometime in April. (for the July 2003 issue).

I was stuck for long time. I knew I needed to exercise or do something to speed up the losing. I now try to walk as many times a week as time will allow. I started out with small walks and now I do about 2.5 miles each time I walk. My goal is to always do one big hill! Sometimes I walk with a friend and they sigh when I say..Head for the Hill! LOL. Anyway, about a year ago, I couldn't even think about walking 2 blocks, let alone 2 miles. I could barely get up the steps. It was a struggle to do the wash in the basement.

Losing the weight has been a struggle for me, but, being committed is the key for me. I WILL NOT quit. And, this is a lifestyle change for me. Not a diet. I have to do this the rest of my life. I never want to get that heavy again.

I will check out the Countdown thread. Thanks for letting me know about that.

One of the reasons I did the Rosie Magazine article is to help someone else. I hope I can do that thru this forum, too, although I am not perfect and need help myself at times.

Look forward to seeing more messages on this forum.

Take care. Pat

Congratulations Pat! What a great job. You must feel great. I'm proud of you. Come join us at Counting Down thread. We would love to have you. Take care and God Bless. Cathy

Hi All! My name is Raff (Short for Raffaella). I've been on WW since December and have lost 35lbs. I have about another trillion to go.

I was wondering if anyone has any tips on low point foods and snacks because I am one of those people that needs to stuff my piehole all day long. I can't seem to make a filling breakfast under 5 or 6 pts.

Anyone have any ideas or maybe you can tell me how you worked the WW plan to lose weight.

Thanks,
Raff

Dear Pat,
You are such an inspiration! I need to lose 126 lbs! It seems hopeless to me as I have tried so many times! Started WW again and stopped going... I have the info...and don't know if I should re-join or try to do it on my own. You story has given me hope. Thank you for sharing. Any advise would be helpful!

Sincerely, onangelwings

Dear Onangelwings,

Thanks for the kind words. Losing weight is a constant struggle. I never thought I would be down 114 lbs. But, 20 months ago, my best friend asked if I would go along with her to Weight Watchers. I cringed at the thought because I had been there..done that..many times. But, I did like the plan, so, I went. After I got there and looked at the book and the new point system, I thought, well, I can still have different things that I like. I thought, "well, I'll give it a week and stick to it". I lost 5 1/2 lbs. the first week. It gave me incentive to stick with it another week. Then, I got my first 10 lb. star. I really liked getting that star and thats what I work for. My 10 lb. stars. I never look at the big picture. I work for 10 lbs. at a time. It doesn't seem so bad. And, I don't care how long it takes me to get to goal. I'll do it when I do it. No special time. I'm going to be on this for the rest of my life, so, it doesn't matter when I get there. Now, my goal is to get there before the magazine article finished next July issue, but, otherwise, I'm in it for the long haul!

Little changes is what got me to where I am. I exchanged things I ate that were bad for me with things I like that aren't bad for me. Low point items. I go thru the store with my points calculator and check everything out. When, I find something I used to eat and want again, I look at the point value. I love Big Macs. But, when I found out that they are 13 points, I was shocked. Thats more than 3/4 of a days allowance of points. It made me see how much more I was eating that I shouldn't have. But, I love eating at Wendy's and their taco salad (without chips) is only 8 points. I love it! Also, their grilled chicken sandwich is only 6. My goal every day is making better choices. You can get all the point values of food in restaurants here on 3FatChicks or a few other sites.

One of my other changes is that I changed my "But, I can'ts" into "I can's or I wills". Being positive helps a great deal. I found since doing the Rosie magazine that most people tell me that they'd lose weight BUT...and they have a million and one excuses. I was that person, too. I had a million excuses. But, not any real good ones. I stopped making excuses for my weight because in the end, it was my choice.

Onangelwings, you have to be proud of yourself and your accomplishments. Boy, do I wish I could sing! I'd make a dog howl if I sang! You have to start caring about yourself and working hard to get the weight off. You deserve it. You are important. Another thing that got me going is thinking about what will happen if I don't do anything. Soon, I wouldn't be able to get out of my sofa! I didn't want to become someone who couldn't work and had to have a hole cut in the wall to get me to the hospital. And, if I would have kept going the way I was, that might have happened. I would think every day that I have to lose the weight and then eat my way thru 2 big macs and french fries. It was time to do something. I could barely get up the steps. Now, I run up and down the steps. I never thought I would do that again. I was getting old before my time.

My other advise to you is to join Weight Watchers instead of doing it on your own. I don't think I would have gotten this far without the support and help of my friends that I met at Weight Watchers. Our little group helps each other out when we need it. When I feel down about gaining a pound, they are there to encourage me. And, vice versa. Attending meetings gives you ideas and help throughout the time you need to lose the weight. And, by the time you get to goal, you will be stronger and more goal oriented. Another reason to join is because you must be accountable to yourself EVERY week when you get on that scale. I know if I wouldn't have had to get on the scale when I thought I did bad, I may not have stuck with it. I may have given up many times. But, I didn't miss many meetings and I was accountable to me! I am committed.

Please, onangelwings, do this for yourself. You deserve it! You'll feel so much better and live a lot longer.

Please feel free to e-mail me if you need any encouragement or advise. I would be more than glad to help in anyway I can. Take care and good luck!

Pat Hatt - [email protected]

P.S. Check out Rosie Magazine for more on the Weight Loss Challenge

Hi Ladies what great stories. I joined WW in Feb 2002 and to date I have lost 56.4lbs (weigh in is tomorrow) My goal is to lose about 60 more. Yes it is a hard jurney but well worth it I feel so much better. A low point breakfast tip I make myself an omlet with egg whites only from the carton and in it I put things like sauteed onions, mushrooms, green pepper and any other free vegie I like, then I add one slices fat free swiss cheese. With this I have 2 slices hollywood thin bread with fruit spread 1/2 cup fat free yogurt and sometimes a one point fruit 4 points before the fruit, the more vegies you add the fuller you get, I also change the cheese to low fat feta and I add greek seasoning to the vegies. When I go shopping I take my point finder with me so if I see something that looks good I can see how many points it is worth. I find the key to my success is not to eat the samething 2 days in a row just don't let yourself get bored. I make sure that everyday I have my treat 1/2 to 1 cup of low fat frozen yogurt, I save my points for that and sometimes I don't have it so I can bank those points.
I had a set back 8 weeks ago I was in a car accident and the medication I was on slowed the weight lose, I stopped taking it last Fri so I hope my weigh in is good tomorrow. Have a great week ladies.
Keep in mind YES YOU CAN DO IT

Congrats Pat on your 114# weight loss, and even though there is still a hill to climb to shed the rest, know you'll do it, one step, one meal, one snack, one day at a time.

I'm 56 and joined WW in March 2002. Also have hypothryoidism and I'm more amazed than anyone, that I've shed 62# to date following the WW Program. With another 8# loss, I'll be "half-way home", and looking forward to reaching that milestone.
Guess we are lucky in this area, we get 5# loss stars and a nice refrigerator magnet for 25, 50, 75, 100 losses. At the l0% of weight off, we receive a nice WW keychain.

Have been on countless diets in my lifetime, lost weight on all of them, and put it back on nearly as quickly. WW is a lifetime lifestyle change. To keep a food journal and stay within point range is so easy to look and feel healthy.

Darlene

Dear Pat,

Thank you so much for your post and inspiational advice! you are and angel to me! I have decided to return to WW and give it another shot! This time I will not judge myself and get stressed if my numbers don't go down as they should and just stick to the program as best as I can! Your message helped me alot and your success is proof that it does work! Thanks again and I will be e-mailing you ...if you don't mind on occasion!
Sincerely,onangelwings
aka: Dee Etta

Wow, Pat! What a nice weightloss. I'm sure that you will reach your goal as your attitude is just awesome!!

I too have very many pounds to lose and it is very nice to read your story. Actually, I did see the July or August Rosie magazine. Now I'll have to go back and see YOU!

Your diligence has re-enforced for me that this can indeed be done, as long as I stick to it.

I have been a WW since 1998 and I'm ashamed to say that I have taken 1 step forward and 2 steps backwards more times than I can count. I am however still going to meetings and have a renewed energy towards the program once again.

Thank you so much for sharing your story with the world.

WOW!!! What an inspiration you are. I rejoined WW on August 1st and to date have lost 13.2 lbs. My meetings are on Thursday night.

I am a breast cancer survivor and really feel that I have been given a second chance at life. I want to live it being as healthy as I can be. I have 104 lbs to lose to reach my goal of 150 lbs. I am determined to do it this time.

I just love to read success stories like yours. It makes this journey seem real and obtainable. Thank you for your post. I will be watching for your posts along the way. Good luck on reaching your goal - as if you need it!!

Glenda

Thank you. After reading all these posts, I have decided to rejoin WW for the FIFTH time.

Angie

HELLO PAT .ALL I CAN SAY IS "WONDERFUL" OH I WANT TO BE SO DETERMINED.YOU ARE SUCH A BLESSING TO ALL WHO READS YOUR STORY ,IT IS JUST SO ENCOURAGING. WHEN I READ YOUR STORY IT WAS LIKE READING MY FIGHT WITH WEIGH ,I VE BEEN IN SO MANY DIET PLANS AND FAILED THEM ALL ,EVEN WW ,BUT 2 YRS AGO I STARTED WW AGAIN OFF AND ON ,I VE LOST 60 POUNDS IN 2 YRS , "BUT" HATE TO USE BUT ,BUT I COULD OF HAD IT ALL OFF BY NOW IF I WOULD OF NOT CHEATED SO MUCH AND ONLY FOOLED MY SELF.I STILL NEED TO LOSE 100 POUNDS .I WILL BE SUCCESSFUL ,I WILL . THANKS AGAIN FOR BEING THE EXAMPLE FOR ME ,WILL CHECK IN TO KEEP IN TOUCH BYEEEE

Hi Pat, and everyone! It is so good to read about everyone's success. I think it is key to keep the goals small and reachable!! Good for you!

I've lost 17.8 lbs in 6 weeks and I am in my clothes again, so everyone can breathe a sigh of relief I still have a way to go, but for the first time last week, that goal is less than 100 lbs away!! yipppee!!

I eat a lot in the morning, and that helps me all day. I also make sure I have a little snack for bedtime (strawberries are my fav this week) and I sleep soooo well!

Good to meet you all!