Hi – I’m Lori, and this is the story of my weight loss journey. I am known as "Beach_Baby" on the 100+ board on
weightwatchers.com.
I haven’t always been overweight. As a teenager I had a great figure and looked good in a bikini. I pretty much ate what I wanted to, but we all know that our metabolisms function much better when we’re younger. I was also very active – I was in marching band, I played tennis on my high school team, and I skied regularly in winter months. So what happened? I went to college, and instead of putting on the “freshman ten” I think I put on the threatening thirty. In only one semester I went from wearing junior sizes 9-11 and medium tops to squeezing into 15s and busting out of large tops. I worked in a factory over the winter break and some of the weight came off. That summer, I was able to take all of the remaining weight off. I went back for my sophomore year of college as slim as when I had started but soon started putting on weight again. The following summer I dieted ferociously, exercised, and took off even more weight, fitting comfortably into size 9s again and even a few 7s. My weight fluctuated from 120-125 (I am 5’-6”). I held steady at that weight for a couple years.
So what happened? I could blame it on a lot of things – bad choices when it came to men, what I now recognize were eating disorders (which began when I was 14 and put myself on the yogurt diet), a serious car accident – but ultimately I am the one who made my own choices. After gaining weight over a few years I ran into a high school friend whom I barely recognized. She had been overweight in school but now looked wonderful and she told me she had gone to one of the popular diet centers where you eat only their pre-packaged food. I decided to give it a try. To my horror, I weighed in at 224 and was told I needed to lose 100 pounds. That was a bit overwhelming but I dedicated myself to it. I was successful, losing 50 pounds in six months, but it cost $1,000 – plus the weekly food supply, which ran around $60-$70. After six months, they told me I had not met my goal (they expected me to lose 100 pounds in that time which I now realize is totally absurd), and I would have to pay another $1,000 to continue the diet. I couldn’t afford that. Disillusioned, I left the center, determined to do it on my own. The problem was – they hadn’t taught me how to eat anything other than their pre-packaged food. I tried my best and began walking on my lunch hour but the weight slowly came back on. Desperate, I decided to start back on that diet again. In only 10 months, I had re-gained 25 pounds. The program had changed its price structure so that I only had to pay a much smaller entry fee and the price for the weekly food, so it was much more affordable. I did go to a different center where the people were much nicer. In nine months’ time I went from 200 to 125 and was extremely thin. I moved and transferred to another center where I expected they would put me on maintenance. When I went there and weighed in, I was shocked when I was told that 125 was still considered overweight for 5’-6” and I should lose another 15-20 pounds. I decided right then and there to quit, but it stuck in my mind that I was overweight. Again, they had not taught me how to eat anything but their food. I managed to lose even more weight during this time but not in a healthy way. I starved myself, limiting my daily intake to a diet shake, some rice cakes, and a frozen diet meal for dinner. When I went out to eat, I limited myself to a salad and broiled seafood. I got sick often, as my body was not getting the nutrition it needed.
Next up was a major life change – I left my husband and moved into my own place. He had constantly been cautioning me about what I was putting in my mouth and had made me extremely self-conscious about my weight. As soon as I left, I rebelled – or so I thought. I began to stop caring about what I ate and started putting on weight. At times I would get disgusted and diet in spurts to take some weight off, but it always came back on – and then some.
Fast-forward to May 2002. My husband and I went to an amusement park to ride the roller coasters and I was so overweight that one of the rides had to be delayed while they found a seatbelt extension for me. In July 2002, one of my best friends told me she was doing the Weight Watchers program. She told me she loved it and it was working for her. She is tall and didn’t have a lot of weight to lose but she was uncomfortable with herself and this restored her confidence. I asked some questions, and wondered if it could be done online. I am a market research professional, so I found their
website
and discovered I could indeed do it online. I couldn’t even get on a scale in the privacy of my own home, so I was not comfortable with doing it in front of others. I researched the site thoroughly and decided to give it a try. I discussed it with my husband that evening. He looked surprised but said he would be supportive. He agreed to try the things I would be eating (he did not need to lose much weight). So I signed up online. We went out and bought a digital scale for the bathroom and a food scale, and we planned our meals and shopped accordingly. I finally got the courage to step on the scale and was shocked when it said 258.5. How could I have let this happen? I stared at myself naked in the bathroom mirror and I realized I had to do something now. I set my goal at 150 and tried not to focus on the fact that I had over 100 pounds to lose.
I lost 5.5 pounds the first week and that really motivated me. I knew a lot of it was water weight but I didn’t care – it was a step in the right direction. The first few weeks were the hardest part – adjusting to eating a new way was a challenge. I got the munchies at times. I learned that I should eat when I was hungry so I didn’t get ravenous and sabotage myself. I just needed to eat the right things. Keith – my wonderful husband – has been so supportive. He eats what I eat when he’s home, and he makes better choices when he is out to lunch at work.
We have learned that we can eat healthy but not really sacrifice variety or taste. We recognize now that our biggest problem was portion control. We would buy a pound of ground beef and eat six tacos each. Now we can stretch ¾ pound of ground beef into two meals. We used to dump scads of shredded cheese onto everything, and we weren’t really able to taste the food. We have a great variety of recipes and we will share some of them on this website. Check back often, as we will keep adding recipes as we come up with good ones. We have made this a lifetime commitment. We are constantly surprised by the amazingly good meals we make. We’ve learned so much about cooking, and the food is so good, we can’t imagine why we wouldn’t want to do this!
Update: December 22, 2003
I realized it's been awhile since I updated this page. Well, the weight loss has definitely slowed down but so much has come off in the last 17 months that I understand it. The good news is - I know how to maintain, ha ha. Seriously, that is something I will need to do in the future. We took a vacation to Florida in October (I felt and looked great) and I didn't deprive myself but I didn't overdo it monstrously either - and I had lots of great gulf shrimp! As of December 20, I weighed in at 182.5 pounds. I know - not a lot in the past few months - but that is now officially 76 pounds. I went to the doctor for a physical when I was 185 and he said another 20 pounds and he'd be very happy with my weight.
My back had been bothering me this summer and fall, which I found confusing because I thought losing weight should take pressure off my back. The doctor checked me out and told me the reason I was having back pain is my breasts! When I started back in summer 2002, I was a 44DD. Now I'm a 40D (probably should be wearing 38s - if I lift up my hands sometimes things pop out!) but my breasts simply haven't reduced to keep pace with my weight loss. He recommended reduction surgery but that is drastic and I think I will do everything else possible before resorting to that. Besides, my husband wouldn't let me!
Some new and unusual things I've noticed lately after taking off 76 pounds: my shoes were all too big (stretched out) and I had to get new ones. All my rings fit again. I've had better dental check-ups - there is less tartar on my teeth and the dentist attributes it to a better diet.
Update: October 5, 2003
Wow, two weeks in a low with a weight loss. I remember what this used to be like! I lost 1 pound this week, down 74 pounds. Oh how I wanted to hit 75 pounds down! I will strive for one more pound this week. What is disconcerting is that I was not able to play tennis this past week and I lost weight. I still don't get that. I went shopping yesterday and it is so great to go into the regular size departments and know things will fit. I even got misses medium in some things! Woo hoo! I still don't like shopping for clothing that much, but I do enjoy wearing new things that look good. I am really looking forward to vacation in Florida in a week and won't hesitate to step into photos!
Update: September 28, 2003
Yay - I lost some weight this week. 1.5 pounds, but I'll take it. I was 185.5 yesterday, down a total of 73 pounds. My next mini-goal is to lose 2 more pounds so I can hit 75 pounds lost! The weight loss has slowed down so much. I am being good with my food. If only I could have these losses two times per month instead of only one time, but I will take what I can get. It is so great to be able to walk into any store and buy "normal" clothes. Of course, my long-term goal for next summer is to wear a 2-piece bathing suit and I really want to be able to wear low-rise jeans and a short top! OK, I am 40, so that might be scary, but a girl's gotta have a dream! My life is so completely different. It is worth everything I have gone through the past 14 months, and if it takes 14 more months to get to where I want to be, so be it.
Update: September 21, 2003
Well, I was waiting to lose more weight before updating this, but I guess I just have to accept that my weight loss is slowing down. No matter; I will prevail and will lose next week (I hope). The good news is that I have had some small victories. Last weekend we went away on a winery trip - visited 6 wineries including multiple tastings and ate some excellent meals, including 2 great breakfasts at the B&B we stayed at. I must have made good choices because I did not gain weight.
It is fall now and nothing from the spring is wearable, so I had to break down and go shopping about 10 days ago. What an ego-boosting thing for me! I tried on size 16 low-rise jeans and they were too big and I happily bought 14s! Keith said maybe they were a little baggy as well! I bought some other more body-hugging clothes and was getting compliments at work this week - those who are more intimate with me have told me it is nice to see me wearing clothes that actually fit, and that they can see my figure and my waistline. I am desperate for clothes - I've got to get a winter jacket too! I will never go back to where I was. Knowing I still have 52 pounds to go if I really am going to hit that high school weight of 135 is tough and frankly, may not be realistic. I'm thinking I would be deliriously happy to be in the 140s somewhere. We'll just see what the future has in store. I am loving life and honestly, we are eating the best food!
Update: August 30, 2003
I swore I would not update this until the scale finally moved in a downward motion. 8 weeks with no weight loss! I was really getting dejected. The worst part is I had been playing tennis a few times a week and it sort of seems that was hindering things - but I'm not going to give up because I like that too much. Well, this week it was too hot and I only got out on the tennis court one time (Sunday morning). I was so good this week with my food (I usually am anyway). This morning when I got on the scale I just wanted to see a pound's loss - so it would say 180-something. I didn't care if it said 189.5 - if it was in the 180s, I'd be happy. I GOT MY WISH!!! I lost 3 1/2 pounds this week and now weigh 187! Woo hoo! I am doing the happy dance! Now I feel hope like I will keep going down. This 8-week plateau was such a challenge for me, but I beat it! OK, 71.5 down and 52 to go? I really do not see myself reaching 135 but we'll see what my body wants to do. I'm in this for life.
Update: August 3, 2003
You guessed it - no weight loss again. But to be honest, the scale was actually up a few pounds the past few weeks, and I am attributing that to the exercise. I was out playing a couple times again this week. At least the scale read what my lowest weight has been yesterday so I am starting to feel that hopefully it will head south soon. This has been difficult for me. What a way to celebrate one year of eating healthy - by hitting a plateau for a month! I went shopping yesterday to pick up some late summer bargains and it is so great to go right into the normal sizes and find things that fit. I'm not afraid to look at myself in the mirror anymore when I try things on. I even got into a medium - although the dress itself was not flattering so I didn't buy it.
We are headed to the beach later this week for 5 days and I have some brand new clothes and bathing suits to wear. I look so different than I did when we went there last year and I was 60 pounds heavier. I think I am better equipped to handle 5 days of restaurant meals as well. Since I'm going on vacation, I know there is a good chance I won't lose weight for the next couple weeks but I don't care; I need my vacation! Five months at my stressful job and I need a break! So I won't be updating this next week; I'll be busy relaxing!
Update: July 26, 2003
OK, this is getting old. I did not lose weight again this week! I was a good girl too. I knew it, because this is that week of the month when I never lose. I played tennis two times this week. Keith keeps telling me it is probably the exercise. Great. I get up off my fat butt and run around the tennis court and now my body decides to turn some stuff into muscle and stop me from losing weight? I'm not going to stop playing, though - I like it too much. And I've been getting more compliments so the exercise must be helping to firm things up. I just need to get through this. There is no way the weight my body is supposed to be is 190 pounds! I won't put up with that. I have come too far.
Update: July 20, 2003
No loss again this week, but I have played tennis 4 times in the past 7 days. Keith says my weight is re-distributing itself. I was a good girl this week and stuck to the program. I am really enjoying tennis and it is all coming back to me, so I am not going to quit. Eventually I'll go back to losing again.
Usually I post on a Saturday but I decided to post on Sunday because today is a special day - I started this program exactly a year ago today. The changes in our lives are just incredible. We are much healthier and look so much better. We are eating good, tasty food and are appreciating it so much more. We are playing tennis again - something we both used to love! I have an all-new wardrobe that is constantly changing as I keep losing weight. Hey, 52 weeks and 68 pounds! This is a reason to celebrate! Technicall I have 55 more to go, so it will be another year, but this is for life, truly. I will never be fat again. Yes, I can say I was fat because I really was a big bunch of lard! Well, there are still things that scare me about my body when I am looking at myself naked in the mirror but now I do it honestly and without flinching. I am loving social occasiona. Last evening we attended a wedding reception of a cousin and of course I don't mind all the nice compliments. Keith put on a suit he hasn't worn for 7 months and it was loose! It's beautiful and I am off to enjoy the day!
Update: July 12, 2003
Well, as usual after a decent loss last week, no loss this week. But I can't be upset about it because I am down 68 pounds. Next week is my one-year anniversary on this plan and I was really hoping I could get to a 70-pound loss but I know chances aren't good that I will lose 2 pounds this week. So be it - I am a new person anyway! We went out on the tennis court this morning again. It is the 3rd time in 2 weeks. We aren't playing games yet but hitting around and our old skills are coming back. I bought new tennis shoes and cute little tennis outfits (size L at the sporting goods store!) which dramatically improved my performance, along with the tape Keith wrapped our grips with (to keep them from sliding around in our hands). Anyway, we hit around for 40 minutes today, the longest yet, and I was on my feet for over an hour at the grocery store and I wasn't exhausted - I just feel good about myself for being active. Tomorrow we are going to see relatives for a nephew's birthday and it is a pool party. I feel great about being able to show off my new body in a nice new suit. What a difference from a year ago, when we celebrated his birthday in the pool right before I started this (and 68 pounds ago!).
Update: July 5, 2003
I played tennis - two times! OK, last week's attempt was pretty pathetic and I even fell on my butt. We only hit - we were nowhere close to serving. We went back yesterday morning since we were both off for the holiday and tried again and did a lot better. I do have to get much better tennis shoes. I have a long way to go but I'm also carrying more weight than before and I'm not exactly in the kind of shape I was 20 years ago. But it will come.
Oh...I lost weight this week! Finally - 2 pounds! I really needed a decent loss. I did change some things a little to stimulate the loss. I ate more veggies and fruit this week and I walked a bit more. I think it's helping. I got more stuff from Land's End this week and let me tell you, there is just nothing like the feeling of being able to order things in a normal size online without the fear that it won't fit. It all fit and looks great. Actually, the capri pants are a little big and I am going to try to shrink them! I am on cloud nine today. I did a check on the scale yesterday morning and had lost one pound, and then today (my official weigh-in day) it was down one more pound! I was afraid to get on the scale because yesterday we went to Applebees for lunch and I had their veggie patch pizza (I didn't eat all of it) and some tortilla chips, but I guess I balanced things out OK. Afterwards we went to the movies to see Legally Blonde 2 and since we were full from lunch we did not get popcorn - an absolute first for us. My mom thinks that my goal of 135 pounds may not be realistic for me and that I would be skin and bones. I'll be happy just to hit the 140s. And even the 140s are only 30 pounds away now! I am loving life. Why oh why didn't I do this before?
