The long weight loss journey...

I got a WW postcard from my secret pal the other day. (Thank you secret pal!!) She was saying she hoped my weight loss journey was going well. Now I wonder if she is a leader or something. And then I thought, "hmm...I haven't blogged much about my weight loss for a while." So, now I'm blogging about it.

First off, I guess Weight Watchers doesn't call it a "journey" for nothing... I've been a member since 2001 (I think? Or maybe 2002...). It's been forever, plus that was the second time I'd joined. And I'm sure I'd already be at goal if I actually followed the plan like I am supposed to... I go through periods of motivation, usually followed by success. Then a plateau followed by irritation and my abrupt fall from the wagon. Which of course leads to a bit of the weight coming back. And then I'm motivated again...and the cycle continues.

I know I'm not perfect at this, and since it's to be a lifestyle, I allow myself to indulge here and there and sometimes (more often than I should) go off the plan completely. But, I have not given up. I know if I stop going to meetings that all the weight will come back.

So, the above photo is the oldest one of me I have on my computer. It's from 2004, after Joie's wedding (which explains why my hair is done and I'm wearing makeup). I don't know how much weight I had lost at that point, but I know I was down a bit from my heaviest. And, as is very apparent in that photo, weight really shows in my face.

This shot is from back in fall 2003, back when I was still a nurse. Just kidding. It's actually from Halloween at my office job (same job I have now, actually). The scrubs were a Christmas gift from my cousin, who works (or at least used to work) for the UC medical center in southern CA.









This one is Halloween 2004. And no, I don't usually dress that way for work. Or ever. In fact, I pretty much never wear orange at all. But, this is another Halloween shot from work. We all came as sleuths, and I was Velma from Scooby Doo. That was the closest to an orange sweater that I could find to work. You can sort of tell that I've lost some weight since the previous year. I don't remember how much though...probably about 10-15 pounds or so.






Here we have summer '05. I think in this shot, I am about 15 pounds from the goal I had set.












And here I am a few weeks ago, 5 pounds away from the goal I had set. (Check this photo against the first one - you can totally see it in my face.) I have been toying with changing my goal to where I am now, because I don't know how another 5 pounds will look on me (or rather off of me). I don't want to completely lose my shape or look too gaunt. (Not that I'm in danger of that anyway.) But, the last 5 pounds I lost made a huge impact on my clothing sizes. Over the past few years I've gone from a 12 down to a 6 in pants (though really depends on what store I'm shopping in...). I was totally surprised a few weeks ago when I was at the mall with a couple of friends and we hit Victoria's Secret - I needed to be remeasured for bra sizing (they just weren't fitting right anymore, and I was really starting to notice it. And, well, gravity is the enemy for people with certain endowments). Just imagine the surprise on my face when they told me I was a 34 band size! (The cup size had not changed, so it is still impossible for me to find cute bras in my size.) And even more surprising was the fact that I now have a smaller band size than my notoriously tiny friend. I never would have guessed it.

Anyway, I'm excited about fitting into a size 6. I can even wear a size small top (in some stores), which is pretty unheard of for me. So, when I was at the Bass Outlet last weekend I spend over $200 on new clothes!! Now, that is motivation for keeping the weight off! (I am nothing if not cheap. Uh, I mean thrifty...). Don't worry, everything in the store was 20%-70% off, so I actually got a lot for my money. Unfortunately, I have been eating like a pig this past week, and I weigh in again tomorrow. So, I hope I didn't do too bad...it's about that time where I need to get re-motivated again. And I think I will change my goal to 120. (It's 115 now, but I think that's too skinny for my height, and my bone structure.)

So...yay me for sticking with it! And here's to me keeping the weight off and continuing to eat healthy!