Monday, October 8, 2007

Fresh Start



Exactly 10 years ago yesterdy, October 7th, was the day I found the ONLY thing that has ever worked for me whenever I've needed to drop some pounds. It was the day that I FINALLY listened to what the Lord was telling me, took a step of faith, and walked into my very first Weight Watchers meeting. As soon as I entered the room I knew that I had found my help.



What a ten years it has been. Initially, I lost 36 pounds to get back to what I weighed on my wedding day and all through high school. It felt GREAT! But, it didn't last because I soon discovered Baby #2 was on the way.



I returned to WW after Handsome made his appearance, got down to 148, and 5 1/2 months after giving birth to Baby #2, Baby #3 was on his way.



When Reece Cup was 10 months old I had only gotten back to 162 when... you guessed it, Baby #4 let me know that she was on her way! Well, after all of that, I was terrified of Weight Watchers! LOL! It seemed every time I returned I got pregnant!



I've returned off and on over the past nearly 6 years, but never stuck with it. I've tried to substitute with anything and everything that promised faster weight loss, all to no avail. Weight Watchers is the ONLY thing that works for me. And you know why? Because it teaches you about portion control, making wiser food choices, and encourages daily exercise! DUH! Who would ever think those things would work?!



I'm really looking forward to being a Weight Watcher again. It was a very liberating and freeing time for me. Being with others who are sturggling with the very same issues I am, hearing what has helped them, and working through my thoughts, actions, and feelings helped me to see where my real struggles were and I've never felt better than when I was released of all of that. I felt better, I had more energy, I was happier, I actually played with my kids. I look so forward to feeling that way again!





Recently Sweetie was diagnosed with sleep apnea and had to get one of those sleep masks to sleep with. Have you ever seen one of those things? SHEESH! I put it on and it feels just like when you were a kid and stuck your head out the car window while riding down the freeway! Once you get used to it, the breathing IN is ok, but you never feel like you get a good breath OUT. Plus, the band that goes over your head to hold it on is not the most comfortable thing to sleep in. Not to mention the tube that hangs from it. Makes it really hard to roll over. Needless to say, Sweetie is now MORE tired after three nights of trying to use it. Each night he has eventually given up and taken it off.



They told him if he lost 20-40 pounds he probably wouldn't need the mask, soooo... to make a long post even longer, we're both going back to the Weight Watchers way of living today. I've been gathering yummy recipes from Dawn Hall's cookbooks and I'll be planning out our meals using these recipes. If you haven't checked out these cookbooks, I highly recommend them! I've been borrowing them from the library, but I'd really like to start collecting them so I can have my own collection.



If you're looking for a way to successfully lose weight without feeling deprived, then you should look into Weight Watchers. It really does work! And if you suffer from sleep apnea, all I can say is, I'm so sorry.



Oh, and just as a side note, that is NOT Sweetie in the picture above. LOL! But that IS what his mask looks like.

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

My dad, brother and one of my sisters has sleep apnea. You really do get used to the mask-- and they have come a looong way from the noisy giganto ones of years past!

By the way, my sister doesn't even fit the traditional profile of someone with sleep apnea. She's 5'7" and weighs like 130! So she had to insist on a sleep study as her doctor tried to dismiss her claims. She also strongly believes there is a tie b/t her apnea and the miscarriage she had with her first child (before she was diagnosed).

Anyhoo, your hubby should enjoy some really GOOD sleep once he gets used to the machine!

Happy WW'ing!

Delete said...

WW never worked for me but my mother in law is a weight watcher's leader. She is always looking to hear what participants think works with the program. I'll have to let her know your thoughts and how successful it has been for you.

Good luck!

Jennifer

Anonymous said...

Hi, Christy,

My husband has one of those machines and it has changed our lives! He used to shake the bed snoring!

Thanks for your blog. Mary FL

Chele said...

I can SO relate to your hubby. I was dx about a year ago and haven't been using the CPAP they way I should. I honestly can't say that I ever noticed a difference in the way I felt, but others have said they did. Right now I am trying to have my insurance co cooperate with approving the nasal pillows as the full face mask isn't working for me, nor the nasal mask. Best of luck to your hubby!!!! And in your weight loss. Um, maybe I should join that wagon.

I was wondering where did you find that beautiful picture of the Bible, the rose and the candle?
Thanks
~~CheleLew~~
www.homeschoolblogger.com/chelelew

Red Rooster said...

Christy,
WW worked for me before, too. And I need a fresh start myself. I have about 70 lbs that I need to lose. My problem is accountability. It worked well when my sister and I called each other every day...it was very encouraging. I would love to drop a quite a few lbs or at least a couple dress sizes before dh returns from deployment. I did that last time he was deployed and he walked right past me...my sister had to point him back to me!! He didn't even recognize me--all that was before the onslaught of pregnancies. It gets harder with age, too, doncha think???