Three years!

Three years ago today I drug my Obese self to the doctor and asked him - "Why am I feeling so run down? - Why do I feel sick all the time? Why do I just not feel "right"?" His response to me was - "Your blood pressure is high and I think it's time to put you on some medication." I didn't and still don't like taking medications so I asked if there were other options. He told me I could stand to lose some weight and it might help me get off the medication but he couldn't guarantee it. I asked him where I could start and he told me he recommended Weight Watchers. I left that appointment with my new pills in hand and went directly to the Weight Watchers center. They were actually closing up for the day and the receptionist gave me the hours and asked me if I would come back for a meeting - then she looked in my eyes and saw something.... She told me that she was going to stay and sign me up right then because if she didn't I wouldn't come back. She explained the program, took my money, answered my questions and made me feel like there was hope. It was a very low moment in my life and walking through that door was about the hardest thing I have ever done, but what I have gained in the three years since is priceless! After I hit my 10% weight loss (26 pounds for me) I went back to the doctor, had him monitor my blood pressure for a month and then he took me off those darn pills! Huge victory number one!! They say there is something sweet about the taste of victory and I decided there would be many more moments to come! Hitting milestone after milestone, fitting into regular clothing and no longer wearing plus size stuff, completing my first 5K, 10K, 10 miler, Half marathon and the my first full marathon, feeling better about myself, wearing a sleeveless bike jersey for the first time, earning my 25, 50, 75 and 100 pound rewards at WW, hitting goal, making lifetime and maintaining my weight loss now for almost 8 months and many more I have left out due to time issues.

It all started with one step - the step into the Weight Watchers center and an interaction with a person who had been there herself and new exactly how I felt.

I think it is very appropriate that I have been asked to speak at an open house at our center on the 3rd anniversary of me making that first step. I hope to give back today and inspire someone else to take that first step, sign up and change their life!