Week Twenty-Two: For LIFE!!!

I woke up giddy about my meeting this morning. No, I didn't. I became giddy 15 minutes after I woke. I just don't wake up giddy. I felt like today was kind of like a graduation. I took it as a day of reflection on my whole journey to where I am today. When I first walked into Weight Watchers, I felt as if I was entering rehab. This was the day I walked out of the rehab center clean and sober and ready to become a sponsor. I became a Lifetime Member of Weight Watchers today!!! I had no idea when I started this thing that 22 weeks later I would be signing the Lifetime Members poster. I remember hoping to lose 8 pounds before Thanksgiving and that seemed like an impossible feat. I lost 18. Now I sit here and type being nearly 32 pounds lighter than I was the first time I wrote in this blog. I have not only changed physically, but mentally as well. I can now say that I am confident in my own skin. I am not ashamed of the face I see in the mirror. I am in control. I am not at the mercy of the scale. It does not dictate my happiness, or sadness, frustration, etc. I know what number is going to show up on that bad boy and if it creeps up, I don't freak because I know what to do. I have learned what to eat, how to eat, and that I CAN eat! Instead of craving chocolate chip cookies when I'm stressed, I crave a run. And while I can still pack away several cookies at one time, for the most part, my appetite is much smaller than it ever was. I just need a tiny bit of a naughty food and I'm good to go.
Though I've reached Lifetime status (meaning I've met my goal weight and maintained it for 6 weeks), I don't feel like this whole thing is just over. To me, being a Lifetime member means that Weight Watchers is my life. Its teachings are a part of me now. I can honestly say that I LOVE IT! And because of my love for the program, I have gotten a job with Weight Watchers and soon will be giving back and introducing others to a program that can truly change their lives too. I was ready for this. I didn't think I was in the beginning. The first 3 weeks were pretty hard. But after about a month, things started to come a little more naturally and now nearly 5 months out, it is almost second nature. I am still far from the person I want to be. However, in this aspect of my life, I am much much closer.
I struggled a little bit to maintain my weight these past 6 weeks because my weight kept wanting to go down. And by struggle I mean I ate ice cream and candy. Such a sacrifice. So my plan now is just to keep at it and see what my body does. I have a 5K to train for and we'll see what happens. If I stay the same, honestly, I'll be happy. I really am starting to feel comfortable in my own skin. But if I lose some more weight, I can't complain either. This is a totally new place for me in life. I have never been as healthy or as in control of my body as I am today. I don't really know what to do next. I feel like I'm not ready to leave my weekly meeting, and the members there I consider family. But I'll be starting my job there soon and might need to just dedicate my time to that. It will just be an adjustment. And just how I adjusted to the program one step at a time, I'll be adjusting to this part of my life one step at a time as well. I have learned how to make new habits by implementing little changes one at a time until they become a habit. So here we go. One little thing at a time.
I think my first little thing should be a makeover. Yeah? Yeah.

My Progress:
Week one:   4.6 lost
Week two:   2.2 lost
Week three: 0.8 lost
Week four:   2.2 lost
Week five:    3.2 lost
Week six:     1.6 lost
Week seven: 2.2 lost
Week eight:  1.2 lost
Week nine:   2.0 lost
Week ten:    3.4  lost
Week eleven: 0.4 gained
Week twelve: 2.6 lost
Week thirteen: Christmas. Didn't weigh in.
Week fourteen: 0.8 lost
Week fifteen: 1.6 lost
Week sixteen: 1.8 lost
Week seventeen: 0.4 gained
Week eighteen: 2.0 lost
Week nineteen: 1.4 gained
Week twenty: On my death bed. Didn't weigh in.
Week twenty-one: 1.8 lost
Week twenty-two: .2 lost

Total: 31.4 pounds lost!