Lifetime!

I made it through the 6 weeks of maintenance to become a lifetime member of WW.  It "only" took me 25 years, but I finally made it.  Now, comes the "hard" part, maintaining this weight for the rest of my life.  I think this time, I have finally changed my relationship with food.  I really don't want to eat until I'm uncomfortable anymore.  And passing by the deep fried food vendors at the fair this year really made my stomach turn.  There is a first time for everything!  I still have "issues" with cookies, but I'm able to control my urges, most of the time.  So, it took me 2 full years to lose 91 pounds, and I don't really ever want to go back.  I plan to attend meetings every week, and even find out of town meetings when we are visiting family or on vacation.  And with hubby on this journey with me, we will keep each other honest.  I'll try to get back and post updates on this journey and maybe some of my favorite recipes, but life has a tendency of getting in the way at times.  #2 daughter is back at school for her junior year of college.  #1 daughter just bought a house, so things are moving right along for them.  I will be going to visit my mom in Florida for an extended stay at the end of September, and believe it or not, she doesn't have (nor want) internet connection.

I have changed my profile  picture to reflect the person I am now.  It's been a long, long journey, and it's not over by any stretch of the imagination.  This is a lifelong process, and I've just finished the first leg.

Maintenance, Week 3

I've been at goal for about a month now.  And while I like to think I can do this, it's still really hard.  Adding those extra points is sometimes hard, sometimes, they just add up.  I've lost a little, then gained a little.  Last week was weird, I had spent the week beforehand at #1 daughter's new house, painting.  I was not eating on my "regular" schedule, nor drinking as much fluid as I normally do.  I could tell I was retaining water, since both my knees and ankles were swollen.  At weigh in on Friday, I was up 3 pounds.  It actually put me back into that "+/- 2 pounds from goal" range that I have to be in for lifetime.  This week has been much more "normal", so depending on what my scale says, I will either wear my "weigh in" dress or something a bit more substantial!  If all goes as planned, I will reach lifetime membership in 2 weeks.  It's only taken me 25 1/2 years to get here, but I think I've finally made peace with my relationship with food.  Yes, I still want the cookies and ice cream, but fried stuff kinda makes me want to gag anymore.  And if something doesn't taste good to me, I no longer feel I have to continue eating it, just b/c it's there.

So, while the weight loss journey is coming to an end, the maintenance and struggle with food choices continues.  I guess it is a new journey to a much healthier lifestyle.

Goal, part 2

After 2 years and a lot of tracking, exercising, complaining, etc., I have finally reached the goal my doctor and I agreed on.  Hubby reached his in April, and became lifetime WW in May, right before our Alaskan cruise.  So, without further ado, I present before and after pictures:

At #1 daughter's college graduation, May 2011

May 2011

July 12, 2013

As you can see, we are a lot smaller.  My total is 90 pounds.  Hubby's is 95+ pounds.  I couldn't have done it without him, and he says he couldn't have done it without me.  So, yeah, the buddy system really does work.

GOAL!!!!!

Exactly 2 years from when I started this time, I FINALLY reached goal!  I've lost 90 pounds, and eventually would like to lose the last 10 that WW says I should, but I have reached goal, and with continued diligence, I will become a WW lifetime member. Gee, that's only taken me 25 years.  Will post pictures soon.

One pound from goal!!!

So, my "birthday week" is starting out wonderfully.  Last night at WW, I weighed in at one pound away from my goal.  For those of you who have been with me from the beginning, that equals a weight loss of 89 pounds and a weigh in of 161.  I haven't been this small since before #1 daughter was conceived!  and she will be 24 in a few days.  Imagine that.  And if hubby hadn't been with me on this ride, I don't think I would have come this far.  He's lifetime right now, and still helping me live this lifestyle and lose this last pound.  Maybe, with perseverance, I will hit it next Friday.  That would be an excellent birthday present!  #2 daughter is making a WW vegetable Thai Pad tonight.  Then we will go for a walk, since hubby and I spent the entire morning grocery shopping and running errands.

So, if you hear a shout of joy next Friday, you know that I hit my goal.  It's taken me almost exactly 2 years to do this, and believe me, it is so worth it!!

Summer is here with a vengeance

The first official day of summer was Friday, and the weekend temps were in the 90's.  I guess when Mother Nature decides to make it summer, that's what she does.  Oh well.

Hubby took me to Bannerman's Island on Saturday as an early birthday present.  In the late 1800's to early 1900's it was used as a munitions warehouse, until it blew up in 1920.  There are the remains of a "castle" and the house the family used.  It's now a park and there is a private foundation trying to raise funds to stabilize the structures.  Very nice tour and it was fun taking a boat ride to the island.  We also went to the Renegades home opener on Friday.  They won, so that was fun as well.

I was down .6 lb this past weigh in.  Not quite sure how that happened, but I am "only" up 0.2 lb from before the cruise.  I am 2.6 lb away from goal.  Don't think I'm going to make it before my birthday, but stranger things have happened.  I will settle for hitting goal during my birthday "month"!

I've been going to the acupuncturist for about 3 months now.  And while I'm in less pain (most of the time) than I was before, I don't really know how much this is really helping me.  Insurance is covering almost all of it, and I've met my deductible for the year, so unless I start feeling like it's a total waste of time, I will continue to go.  He's going to give me the series of 3 shots in each knee starting next week.  And what's interesting about the shots, is that I don't think they are working, but when they wear off (like now), I can really tell that the effect has worn off!  So, hopefully, I can get another 6+ months of less pain out of these next series of shots.  I really can't imagine how my knees would be if I hadn't lost the 88 lb.  That's just scary even thinking about it.

Next month will be the 2 year anniversary of restarting WW.  I think it would be cool to reach goal during that month.  I can do it.  And after 25+ years of paying for WW, I can become lifetime! and not have to pay if I stay w/in 2 lb of my goal weight.

Oh my, it's been over 2 months. ..

Where has the time gone?  It's been 2 1/2 months since I posted.  Um, a lot has been happening.  Hubby and I went to Florida at the end of April to visit Mom and help her get some more stuff out of the house.  Short visit, but we got a lot accomplished.  The weekend after we got back, it was a trip to #2 daughter's college town to arrange for a storage unit for the summer.  Ten days later, we moved her home for the summer.  The following week, we drove up to see #1 daughter.  She is buying a house and wanted our blessing before she put in an offer.  Since then, the offer has been accepted and she's been approved for the loan.  She hopes to close within the upcoming month.  Then, we took our Alaskan cruise.  It's gorgeous, and there isn't much I can say that will do Alaska justice.  If you ever get a chance to go -- GO!!.  We were home about a week, and then had to go to Ohio for my dad's celebration of life party.  That was nice.  I got to see aunts, uncles, cousins and friends that I hadn't seen since probably my wedding!  On the way home from that, we got a flat tire in the middle of freaking nowhere.  Luckily, we found an auto repair shop and they plugged it for us, we made it home, and I just finished getting it checked out by the tire shop where we bought it.  I always get the extended warrantee on tires.

Okay, so that's the scoop on my long absence.  Now about the weight loss.  As of the Tuesday before we went to Ohio, I was 3.2 pounds from goal.  I would like to reach goal by my birthday, which is less than 2 weeks away, but we'll see.  Back on track (after the cruise and the party) and back to tracking and doing the  activity that I need to do every day.

And other than #1 buying a house, that needs a lot of painting and updating, we have done our summer travel.  Maybe this summer, I can get my bedroom painted!

Yeah, I know, it's been a while. . .

First, after consulting with my doctor, my goal weight is now 160.  It also means that I'm 7.8 pounds away from goal!  Whoo Hoo!  Hubby is 0.4 lb away. So, we both are getting close.  That being said, it's going to be an interesting couple of months.  We are going to Florida to see Mom at the end of April.  We'll get back, just in time to start moving #2 daughter home from school for the summer.  Then, in honor of our 30th wedding anniversary, Hubby and I are taking a cruise to Alaska at the end of May.  Cross that one off the bucket list!  Then, Mom is having a celebration of life/memorial service for Dad in June.  That means a trip to Ohio.  Hopefully, that's the end of the travels for a few months.  Oy!

Anyway, Hubby and I have really kicked up the activity for the past few months.  And since it's been nicer out, we've been trying out some of the local trails.  Last week, we hiked the FDR farm trail.  It's about 3.7 miles, round trip.  We did that in 75 minutes, which was a good time, I think, especially since it is NOT flat!  Today, we were going to do the Bard Rock Trail at the Vanderbilt Mansion, but the gate was closed.  So, we went back to FDR and walked the forest trail loop.  That's a 3.3 mile round trip, and it's got some steep areas.  Did that one in 66 minutes.  While going uphill feels better on my knees than down, it's still a killer coming back up from the Hudson River.  Although, I must say, I didn't have to stop and catch my breath every few minutes.  Tomorrow, we may do something "easy" like the Walkway, if it doesn't rain.

So, there you have it.  I'm closing in on my goal, and taking a lot of vacations this spring.  Talk to you later!

Time "marches" on!

I hit the -75+ lb. tonight.  It's amazing.  Hubby is 3.6 lb away from his goal weight.  I am about 23 pounds away.  That is, if I go with the range for 5'5".  Hubby measured me, and I'm 5 foot, 5 1/2 inches.  So, I can either go with 5'5" or 5''6", which is 155.  I'm confused and don't know which way I'm leaning.

I also started with an acupuncturist today.  We'll see how that goes.  Right now, I can use anything to help with the achy knees and painful climbing and descending stairs.  He also does physical therapy, so hopefully, this will do the trick, at least for a while.

All for now, I'm tired, and I just wanted to say Whoo Hoo!

Happy President's Day weekend

I've gotten lax in posting.  It's been a weird winter.  We go from frigid cold to temperatures in the 50's within a week.  I'm plodding along.  Since I restarted on WW, I've lost 74.8 lb.  Which means that I'm 25.2 lb away from GOAL!  It's actually in sight, and I know that I can do it.  Hubby is a whopping 7 lb away from his goal, so that's fantastic as well.  So, with continued effort, both of us should reach goal and lifetime this year.  Amazing.

#2 daughter is home for the week, so it will be an interesting venture. Whether she wants to go to the gym with me or not.  But spring is coming, and I really can't wait to get back walking outside.

All for now.  I just got home from the gym, and I'm a little worn out. :)

January, and the winter is back!

I know, it's been a while, but I didn't feel like posting.  I lost a few more pounds, I think I'm at 177.6, but it's been gain a little one week and lose that the next week.  I'd really like to be below 170 when I go see my doctor in March, but we'll see.  It is what it is.

One of the "problems" with losing this amount of weight is that you start to not be able to wear anything in your closet.  Yeah, I know, it's a shame that everything is too big.  But, when you work and have to wear clothing to said job, it does become problematic.  Even the clothing I bought last fall is starting to hang on me.  I don't want to buy a lot, since I'm hoping to lose another size or 2, but I do need to have clothing that looks decent to wear to work.  Good thing it's clearance time, and I can get a few things to, hopefully, tide me over through the end of the school year.  Hubby just packed up a bunch of big clothing. Why he's saving it, I don't know, but he'll learn.  I have yet another bag to go to the clothing drop at a church in Hyde Park.

Daughter #2 is getting annoyed, because I keep asking her if she wants any of the clothing that's too big for me.  She accused me of "not understanding". Yeah, right.  Oh well, if she doesn't want it, most is in pretty good condition, so hopefully, someone else will be able to use it.

We had an arctic front blow through here yesterday, and the temperatures have dropped.  It's going to be in the freezer for this week.  Which makes motivation to go to the gym little or non-existent.  That being said, if I don't exercise, my knees throw a revolt, so I'm pretty much stuck.  I have to do it, but sometimes, I just have to force myself to get my butt to the gym and on that treadmill.

Otherwise, not much is happening.  #2 is back at college.  #1 is thinking about buying a house.  Hubby and I are talking about an Alaskan cruise for our 30th wedding anniversary this summer.  And it's winter, but at least January is 2/3 over.

Happy Martin Luther King day!