Losing for Her 60th Birthday

My mother had just celebrated her 80^th birthday. I wasn’t in any of the pictures from the party. I turned to friend and said “I’m so glad I was the photographer.” And that was my a-ha moment. My family was celebrating a milestone and I had taken myself out of the picture literally and figuratively. Before Weight Watchers I didn’t want to go anywhere, I didn’t want to do anything. I wanted to be the person on the outside that I felt like on the inside, but I didn’t know how to get there. Once I had that direction the rest of it was easy.

First steps

I thought losing weight was too big a job and I was too old to start. I thought, “As long as I am happy and healthy…” But who was I kidding? I was embarrassed about my appearance and avoided social situations. I was also taking medications to keep high cholesterol and blood pressure under control.

I started Weight Watchers as a birthday present to myself. I walked into a meeting and my Leader asked, “What do you really, really want? What made you walk in this door? What are you willing to do to get there?” I thought, “I don’t have the faintest idea.” The easy answer is, “I want to lose weight.” And I left that meeting with homework and I thought about it during the week. That’s when I realized I needed a lifestyle change.

The meeting room

At each weekly meeting I learned new tools and strategies to keep me focused on my goal. We do everything else in life with a plan and now Weight Watchers had given me a plan to deal with my weight.

Once my meeting group tried eating “from the rainbow.” So every week we’d pick a different color and try something new in that color. There were fruits and vegetables I’d never tasted before. When I had white I tried jicama, radishes and cauliflower. I just assumed I wasn’t going to like them, but I tried them. And now I have a whole array of foods that I enjoy that keep me on Plan. So I don’t feel deprived. Now I have more vegetables on my plate than I’ve ever had before. And I never walk away from a meal hungry.

I also use Weight Watchers eTools regularly and find recipes on the site. And I take a notebook to every meeting and take notes. Every week we get new recipes, strategies and techniques. It’s become my Bible. I take it home and read it and always get new ideas.

Making changes

The first thing I realized was that I’m not on a diet. There are no forbidden foods so I didn’t have to eat myself silly on Sunday because starting Monday I couldn’t have it again. Everything’s allowed if I track it and work it into my week. I learned to change the way I eat in terms of portion size, how fast I ate and how often. And I learned to eat foods that satisfy me and fill me up but work in a weight loss program.

I eat three meals a day and have light snacks and the foods I choose to keep in the house are foods that fill me up. I take smaller bites, I cut my food smaller, I put my fork down between bites so I appreciate what I’m eating. I’ve experimented and I’m trying new foods.

The benefits

Before, I had pains in my feet and knees that impeded my ability to walk comfortably.

Once I had direction, I knew what I would do to get back to enjoying life again.
It’s never too late to get started. I have made my body my job and my number one priority. I now plan my meals and schedule my exercise. I attend meetings every week and I look and feel better. I’ve also eliminated my medications for high cholesterol and blood pressure.

I feel younger and healthier than at any other time in my life. I love to go out. I love to go shopping. I love to see people. I just became a grandmother. I can get on the floor and play and then get up again with no problems. That’s what it’s all about. At my 60th birthday party I was 64 pounds lighter — and I was in every picture!