How I Lost Forty Pounds and Kept the Weight Off

Even though I was forty pounds overweight, I considered myself a healthy eater and an active person, blaming my excess weight on a sluggish metabolism. I did not realize that I created that sluggish metabolism with the food I ate and the way I ate it, and that my activity wasn't enough to burn the calories I consumed. After I married and had a child, I really started to put on the pounds. I avoided mirrors, photographs, and clothes shopping. When my sister told me that she was joining Weight-Watchers, I agreed to join, but only, I believed, to help her. I felt certain that my weight was beyond my control and beyond my ability to repair. Eight months later, I celebrated my 40^th birthday in size 6 clothes, and started training for a half marathon. I learned that no matter what weight loss program you join, you need to be the person in the driver's seat, to use the program as a tool, and only a tool. It is your life and your weight.

I first had to learn to use my weight loss program strategically. It was hard, but I needed to assess myself and to be honest about my shortcomings. I used the Weight Watcher's program to understand my eating habits. Their point system was invaluable to help me get a clear picture of what I ate and how much the things I ate cost me. I realized that my love of pasta and bread was slowing my metabolism and feeding my fat. I also learned that my portions were twice as large as they needed to be.

Once I had a clearer vision of my eating habits, I decided to learn how to eat better. I switched to Weight Watcher's Core program, which taught me how to measure how hungry I felt and provided a list of healthy foods. I followed it, learned from it, and sought tasty recipes from these foods. I also changed the way I ate. The old me would skip breakfast and starve myself until dinner when I would gorge on heavy carbohydrates. When I learned to listen to my body's hunger signs, I learned to eat several small meals throughout the day. Now I seldom feel hungry, but just as seldom feel stuffed. The food I eat keeps my body idling steadily throughout the day, and my metabolism working just as efficiently. I wake up energized.

Not only did I have to relearn my relationship with food, but I also had to relearn my relationship with sweat. It took awhile, but now I build my workouts into my day the same way I build in my meals and time with my daughter. It is that essential. When I'm tired, I tell myself that a workout is just what I need to feel better, and I'm always right. I have learned to diversify my activities, set goals, and find fun ways to keep active.

It has been a year since I lost my weight and I seldom step on a scale, but when I do, I'm at the same weight I was when I graduated from the Weight Watcher's program. Yes, I have days when I've eaten too much candy or had too much fatty food at a restaurant. But, now I don't get upset with myself. I just return to my healthy routines the next day, and make sure to hit the gym a little harder. I no longer track what I eat, but I do pay attention to the types of food, the labels on containers, and the amount I eat. I know my body more intimately than I ever did before, and I think it appreciates the new attention, both by me and others. Most importantly, I learned that weight loss isn't about starving myself for two weeks and then returning to my old life. It was about taking charge and making changes for the rest of my life.