[patch30]

My last straw was 5 years ago. I was dating a guy in Oct '97 who invited me to a Halloween Party. Since I had halfheartedly joined this Marathon training group two months prior I "thought" I was getting toned and losing weight and felt healthier. I may have even lost 5 lbs.

We went to the party and he took photos of me and us - I thought I looked 'hot' in this harem outfit… until he mailed the me the photos. When I saw what I really looked like, I was mortified. I looked like a fat pig. Pasty, dumpy, and 10 years older than I was.

It was about this time I stopped hearing from him. I'm a "closure" kind of gal so I called him and ended up hearing how he decided he wasn't attracted to me. I was devastated, crushed, and then I got angry. It was in its own way the best thing that could have happened. That following Monday, I joined Weight Watchers, and started the process of losing 30 lbs.

If not for this incident, and the amazing Weight Watcher group support, I probably would have quit the Marathon training. Instead, it strengthened my resolve to really prove I could do 26.2 miles (walking). Between the training and the incredible WW leadership and support, I lost the first 20 lbs and became fit... for probably the first time in my life. One month after I finished my first Marathon in April '98, I met my husband-to-be, fell in love, reached goal that July, and got married in Nov '98 (yes - he pursued the heck out of me and did not want to wait any longer!)

It's been almost 3 ½ years since reaching goal (and 5 marathons)... after the last one I decided my body needed a more modified regimen, so I’ve “cut back” to occasional Half Marathons, 10Ks, and 5Ks.

Now, I know we don’t talk too much about “lapses”, but I had one in Nov. 2000 lasting on and off until May ’01. I started missing meetings, not journaling, and definitely not tracking. I put on weight and gained 10 pounds over official goal. I finally woke up realizing I missed the “new” and real me, and went back to my home meeting. Our leader, Susan, was just starting a Weight Watcher 12 Week Challenge, and this motivated me to get back with the program and lose the weight. But key was logging on 3fatchicks and posting a 12 Week Challenge. The support and group effort really galvanized me into action.

Once again, I came to realize how important group support is, and within 3 months re-lost the weight. I am currently at 127, having lost a few more pounds due to focused eating and exercise and am now in the best shape I have been in since my early twenties... fyi, I'm 45 and 5'5" tall. Truly I have WW and 3FC to thank for that.

So, while I threw out those pictures long ago, I will never forget how I felt when I saw myself as others saw me. And while I’ve learned to no longer compare my insides to others outsides, I know I will never go back to that old, whimpy, former me. I won’t allow it. Thanks 3FC and Weight Watchers.

What's your last straw??

I got up to 320lbs, my highest weight a couple of years ago. I was so overweight that just walking was tiresome. I would go to Dodger games and it would be hard to walk from my car to my seats. Or I was walking with a friend to a Clipper game (free tickets for Clipper games were easy to get back then) and I couldn't keep up and I was huffing and puffing.

I then started eating better and occasionally exercising, or exercising more but not eating quite as well. I never seemed to get both going at once. That got me down to around 270 last April. Then I don't know what happened but I said enough is enough. I remember thinking that my extra weight was like carrying around a 50lb backpack 24/7 month after month after month. I got real angry at that. Who wants to carry that backpack around ALL the FRICKING TIME? I know it sounds harsh but thats the way it felt to me and it did help me lose weight.

I found that I didn't miss fast food, didn't miss potato chips, didn't miss steak, didn't even miss skim milk which I love. Note, skim milk does have a lot of calories. Of course its the best milk out there but it does still have calories. I was a high school teacher at that point and had a nice confrence period where I could walk for 30 plus mintues. I found a lot of low-fat, yummie foods, and I just kept thinking in 5-10lb goals. Never joined a weight watchers or did a fad diet or anything. Just searched the web and exercise, low-fat, small portions, eating slow, drinking water kept coming up over and over again as the things to do. Funny thing is, that last sentence is worth more then almost all the diet books out there put together. Add patience and will-power and you will lose weight.

Anyhow I am at 200lb now give or take a couple lbs. I can walk all day, I can play full-court basketball for an hour or more. I am a lot faster in tennis. I can even jump now. It was totally worth it. And a lot less hard then I imagined. I also can never imagine going back. I'm a guy and I catch women simling at me a lot of the time now. It is fairly amazing going from this person no woman ever looked at to handsome again. I was always really cute....so I am pleased. Another great thing. My last drivers liscence I put down I weighed 220. At that point I was closer to 260. Now my liscense is 20lbs over what I weigh....And of course the picture is another nice thing, people are impressed when they see that. Good luck everyone.

larry

the journey is the destination.

[patch30]

Great story Larry. Thanks for posting. It takes a lot of guts and perseverence to "go the distance". Congrats... and keep it up!

Patch

I found a pic when I was about 270/280 and one from a couple months ago when I was around 210ish. I am on winter break now and I don't have my digital camera with me. I will post the 'before' one here, not sure if I can get 2 on one post

[patch30]

I just reread your story Larry and can't wait to see the pics. It's funny, but I recently decided to try and find some before pics and I may have thrown them all out. Will keep searching and if I find will also post before and after.

I'd love to hear from all you out there who I know have amazing stories to tell.

Patch

I don't have software that is good enough to get them down under 40k. I thought I hadn't entered that last message, but oh well. They are small but still over 200k and I read that maximum is 40k....so no pics.