Wait Watchers!

I am officially announcing that I have been on Weight Watchers since June 16th. I have lost 33 lbs. thus far and am very happy with my progress... though it is slow going. However, with having hypothyroidism this does not surprise me, I expected it to go slow. So, I am patiently waiting to lose all the weight that I need to lose, :) but doing so happily! Because progress is progress and it is something I haven't had for a very LONG time! I am almost halfway to my goal and I have all the time in the world to get there, so I am good!

One of the interesting things that I realized shortly after joining WW was that I did so on the anniversary of my dad's death. I didn't even realize it when it happened. To me it is symbolic of the reason I am losing weight, he died at age 64 (almost 65), and I simply don't want to. That is only 10 and 1/2 years away for me to be the same age that he was. :( Not going there, not doing that, so now is the time for me to be who I need to be.

So here is a list of the many reasons I chose to lose weight, well, to adopt a new lifestyle in eating healthier:
1) my back. i have stenosis of the spine in my L4 & L5 areas. Not fun.
2) my ankles were killing me - turns out it was my shoes that were hurting me from the walking I was doing. weird. they caused me to have Achilles tendinitis
3) my knee - did you know that when you lose one lb. it's like taking 4 lbs. off of your knee? great blessing!
4) my family - I want to be around for my kids and grandkids, and possibly the great grandkids! I want to be 'grandma great' to someone too!

Honestly I didn't tell many people for a long time that this is what I was doing because I was so fearful of failing. After Rach was born I had lost all my weight by doing WW and was doing really well. Then, suddenly, I began gaining weight - 10lbs. here, 20 lbs. there, and I could not control it! That is when we discovered my thyroid condition. I felt like a failure, and I didn't feel there were any options for me. However, last year when our bishop and his wife, Catherine, began losing weight I decided to give it a go. I go online and manage all that I eat, counting points faithfully. Rachel and I are walking on a nearly consistent basis (that is when it's not raining or I'm not sick!). It is making a difference all around. I am happier with who I am and am grateful for the blessings this has brought me.

This is all worth the wait, believe me!