Hi Everyone!

I used to post daily on some of the support & buddy threads, but I have fallen off the wagon & I think I bumped by head - I don't know where I've been or what I've been doing since March!

So now I'm considering going back onto a formal program... perhaps WW's. I was hoping some of you could convince me to shell out $11/week for this program. Let me give you the summary of how I got here...

Was athletic, strong, thin, got married - ate out ALOT while dating/engaged/newlywed. Gained lots of weight, stopped exercising. Got pregnant (blessed with beautiful, heathy daughter) and not only didn't lose the baby weight, but gained more!

Now I'm struggling like crazy, baby is 2 yrs old, I'm fatter than ever - can't even fit into the most basic clothes. Can't get motivated to exercise & eat like it's my last meal every meal! I had done the 123 program for 12 weeks (when baby was 6 months old) couldn't stick with it - too hard being married to Fast-Food-Freddy!

I want another baby, but I'm very concered about my health - I have high blood pressure that gets elevated during pregnancy & can lead to serious complications, so here I am trying lose again. I need to lose a total of about 90 lbs. I am on a very tight budget & don't want to waste money on a program that's not going to work for me - like last time.

Any advise you can offer would be much appreciated - BTW, my WW at work program offers free membership to our company gym, I just don't know if I want my coworkers seeing me in shorts jumping around looking like a rabid elephant.

Thanks for listening & responding

Roo
(no stats available at this time, I'm afraid of the scale!)

First off be proud you want to do something about it and have thought about finding a program that fits you.

I love the points that W/W has it allows me to eat out with Fast-Food Dan (DH). We at out 3-4 times a week during lunch and a couple times every two weeks for dinner. With the points I am able to plan meals including fast food and still stay within my points range. There are so many sites out there for points from fast food places and restaurants ( my favorite is http://www.dottisweightlosszone.com ) so it just takes a bit of planning - no more excuses.

As for eating like it's your last meal. Take your time and slow down, drink water or a decaff drink with your meals. Enjoy the food.

I have lost all my nearly 50 pounds without exercise...yes I know I'd be better off if I did but well I hate it. You said you were athletic before marriage so you must have enjoyed it...find something that you like to do....walking get the baby in a stroller and go walk....biking get the baby in one of those carts behind your bike and go bike....get DH to watch the little one and go for a jog or walk or to the Y or gym.

If you still have your 1-2-3 materials not much has changed (the way points for activity are counted, capping the fiber at 4 grams, and reduction in total points a day [which you can earn back with activity] is about all the real changes) pull it out and read it. If you don't think you can jump full speed 100% with everything think about taking some baby steps (the first day pick out 1 think in the program you feel you can do 100%, each day or every few days add another aspect of the program until you are doing it 100% - before you know it you'll be on track 100% and losing weight) and get back on track.

Hi Roo,

I've been on and off Weight Watchers for years. I've also tried almost every fad diet out there. I must say that Weight Watchers has been the best for me. I don't look at it as a diet, more like healthy eating. And the people involved in WW are very supportive and very understanding.

I believe that its worth the money. For me paying a weekly fee keeps me motivated. It also provides me with the opportunity to get the support I need from the weekly meeting.

You are not alone...there is lots of support all you have to do is post a message.

Keep your chin up

Good luck,

Jodie (Blonde_in_BC)

Hi Roo!

I agree with Jodie. I am a lifetime member who also tried EVERYTHING but WW is the ONLY thing that works. For me, it is very simple. I too am like Kelly S - I do not exercise. The first time I lost 75 lbs and after many trials and tribulations at home had to go back because WW was the only thing that worked. I am now back on track having lost about 15 lbs with about 40 to go.

It is worth the money each week. You must continue and get your lifetime membership so you never have to re-join. If you fall off track, just get back to a meeting.

Good luck and keep us posted!

Hi Roo,

You and me babe!
My daughter is 5 - I am aching to have another and yet I was so sick in my first preg. because of my weight I won't do it again until I lose a chunk.

For the last 3 years I have tried every diet known to mankind. Then I got smart and read up on what makes people KEEP the weight off. Most studies show a program which has group meetings, weekly weigh ins, no pre-packaged foods, and teaches the client to choose foods wisely & exercise daily.... AND MOST IMPORTANT teaches maintenance tactics once the weight is off and continued support throughout the maintenance period.

WW meets all that criteria!

Yes, the cost is up there - but think of it as 2 fast food meals you can skip each week. I started to diet on my own with my old 123 materials in March. I was 258 and then I joined a meeting at the end of March. I love my leader and his encouragement. I'm now 227 and my mom has lost 34 lbs in the last 10 weeks. This time I am following the program and I can tell you that after 10 weeks on now... I am rolling - hardly any cravings and I'm enjoying the daily exercise. If you look through my journals you'll see in the first 6 weeks EVERY Saturday after weigh in I had my fix of fast food my getting a fillet o fish and scraping off the tartar sauce... now in week 10 - no fast food and I finally don't miss it.

Good Luck with your decision.... I know for me I'm not thinking about it only until I get to a certain number. This is my life now - forever.... it's healthier, it's more active and I will be a better mom for doing this now.

Kim

Roo,

Of all the programs I have tried, and sister there have been many, WW is by far the most economical. I have about figured out that what I am NOT eating in junk may help pay for my weeks fee.

I absolutely hated WW when it was the exchanges. I always wanted more fruit and protein than they allowed. The new program allows me to choose my foods within my points range. I don't know much about the first 123 points program as I just joined in April of this year and the last time I did WW it was exchanges.

I admire you being athletic. I am many things, athletic is not one of them. My idea of exercise is loading and unloading my own groceries. It took me a long time to be able to admit that out loud. I HATE TO EXERCISE!! and I have the greatest admiration for those who do it.

As far as jumping around the gym, don't worry about what other people think. At my advanced age of almost 45, I have learned that what people think or don't think of me no longer seems that important. If I saw you exercising at the gym, I would think, that girl is dedicated!!! My very thin friends still worry about what others think when they see them exercising. I guess it is a universal fear that society sticks us with.

OK off my soap box!!! Do what you think is right for YOU. Weigh (no pun intended) your options and make the decision that is best for you.

Elaine

Kangaroo

I think we all have our reasons for joining weight watchers and you need to think about why you want to loss weight and do you have the support that you need to get there (and I am a firm believer now, that support is very important). When I joined WW 14 months ago, I did it because I was sick and tired of been so over weight and so unfit. I joined WW becuase I had 2 friends that I had watched be very successful at it and when I talked to my doctor he recommended it.

Why have I stayed? Because the program works and the support of the meetings and the leaders and people who attend is needed. Early on I kept being motivated by other members sucess stories and my progress and now I konw that this is something I will do for the rest of my life. I now think of my previous eating habits as an eating disorder and I am on the right track now but I will need to continue with the meetings and support from now on. The price I have paid over the last 14 months is minor compared to what it has done for my health, and mental well being.

Good Luck

Kathy
(239.5/162/160)

Thank you for the replies,

I'm starting to feel something happening, but I'm still struggling with the whole "fear of failure". I think that's what it is, I just haven't had that moment of realization that "this is it, I'm going to succeed, I can do this!"

I've been through this so many times, I just don't want to feel the disappointment of failure, AGAIN.

Any additional advice would be much appreciated!!

Thanks!

Roo

Hi, Roo. About that fear of failure thing. During my past weight-loss attempts, I was focused on being PERFECT. If the diet said no sweets, no carrots, no bread (Diet Center), then not a crumb of that stuff passed my lips. And I lost lots of weight. But this set me up for an "all or nothing" mentality, and that ultimately led to my gaining weight back. Because if I wasn't 100 percent on program, then I went 100 percent OFF program!

I finally realized that I needed to really readjust my thinking. I wanted to learn how to eat ALL foods in moderation -- no forbidden foods. That way, if I put a piece of chocolate cake in my mouth, I wouldn't feel I had "blown it" and therefore wouldn't go ahead and eat the whole cake.

Also, I didn't want to get into another weight-loss race. I didn't want to take off the weight in record time, only to see it come right back on. That isn't healthy. This time, I wanted to take my time. I therefore wanted a program that would TRULY be one I could stick with for the rest of my life, one I would actually enjoy and not think "How much longer do I have to eat like this so I can get thin and go back to eating the foods I love?"

For me, the wonderful Weight Watchers 123 plan addressed my first goal -- to learn how to eat all foods in moderation -- because there are no forbidden foods in this plan. You can literally lose weight eating all your favorite foods. You want McDonalds fries? You can have them. Just count the points, and stay within your point range for the day by eating lighter later on. This is how naturally thin people eat. They eat what they want; they just do it in moderation, and when they eat a lot at one meal they cut back at another.

While I do feel that the Weight Watchers 123 plan helps me meet my second goal, which was to take my time, the meetings themselves became an impediment for me. Although Weight Watchers doesn't say you should lose weight quickly, the fact is that you pay them every week until you hit goal weight. So there's financial pressure to hurry up and get the weight off, and there's therefore pressure every time I got on the scale. For that reason, I stopped attending Weight Watchers' meetings after about a year. I do recommend attending the meetings, though, especially at first until you really get in the groove of the program. For many people, continuing to go to the meetings is what keeps them going. That just isn't the case for me. I've continued to do WW for two more years after leaving. I may go back to meetings again for a "refresher" in a couple months, just to get inspired again.

Whatever you decide to do, I suggest reading "Thin for Life." It's an outstanding book that examines people who have lost weight and KEPT if off. Here's a fact that should encourage you -- and anyone else who has tried multiple times to lose weight. Nearly all the people in this book tried many weight loss attempts before getting to where they are now. In fact, trying many different attempts to lose weight is actually more likely to make you ultimately successful. Each time you try, you learn something new. Eventually, you can take the lessons you've learned and apply them to become successful.

So don't beat yourself up for past "failures." Instead, view them as stepping stones in the journey. When you're ready, just step out onto that next stone and see where it takes you.

Good luck!

--Lauren

Thanks for the input,

I'm going to try to read some of the books I've heard about on this site, "Thin for Life" is one that I've seen mentioned on other posts.

I decided not to join WW just yet, I've started doing the 123 program at home with my old materials & I'm doing OK so far. The hardest thing for me is to journal every day. I'm really good at journalling when I hit rock bottom, but the better I eat the worse I get at writing it all down & keeping track of the points, which leads to lack of planning & falling off the program.

My hubby has agreed to work with me on this, it's much easier to eat better & exercise with a buddy!

Thanks, again, everyone for your input, I appreciate your encouraging words!

Roo
234/230/140
(not as bad as I thought it would be!)

Hey Roo, I have joined WW for the last time. I have joined 5 times, and this time it is totally worth it. I have lose 63 lbs in 16 weeks, the points system is easy and the heathliest way to lose weight.

I just joined WW and paid for 12 weeks in advance hoping that will be a big motivator for me. I've tried doing it on my own with purloined materials. Two years ago I managed to lose 30 pounds very quickly following 123 Success on my own. But, when I hit a plateau I got fed up and went back to my old ways for a while, then, getting scared, went on Atkins plan and other low carb plans as I'd been successful with them in the past. Not so this time though. So, here I am, a brand new member and I've decided to do it "by the book" which means keeping an honest journal (yep, even that extra spoonful of peanut butter gobbled at bedtime when I thought nobody was looking LOL)
I weigh 300 pounds and it's taking its toll on my back, my knees, feet, ankles and my self esteem. (I won't even get into what it's done to my love life )
I'm not an exerciser either, but for the past few years I've made a point of going to the swimming pool at least once a week and usually two or three times. I do my own version of water aerobics in the deep end (you couldn't sink me with a torpedo I'm so bouyant) Now, you may be thinking "Sheesh, I can't even get up the courage to put on shorts and go to the gym never mind a bathing suit!!!" but trust me, at 7 or 8 am nobody is looking at your body. THey're just busy trying to stay awake and hoping nobody notices their extra billows. I'm sure it's the same at your company gym. Get yourself some bicycle shorts and a bright t-shirt and just go for it. YOu will be admired for your efforts, not criticized.
Go for it.

I'm doing it, I'm going to lose weight, get healthy, be proud of myself again. As of today I am back on the wagon & heading down the road to a healthy lifestyle!!

I'm just not going to join WW just yet. I am really strapped for money & am not looking at a raise for at least a few more months - the $10.95/week is just not there right now. Instead I'm going to follow the materials I have from the 123 Success program I did in spring of 2000. I'm also going to get back into weightlifting. My hubby is going to pull our old weight set out & set it up in our extra room. I'm going to watch Oprah's Making the Connection Video tonight while I stretch and then I'll re-read some of my motivational books.

This is it, I'm ready to roll, I'm ready to be fit, healthy, happy (and hopefully... in a few months... pregnant )!

Thanks for the words of advise, it really helps to have peoply rally around and cheer me on. I really do appreciate everthing you've said!

See you all on the boards!

Roo