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Blog Entry 26 of 26 The Incredible Shrinking Woman

DIET is a four letter word. My weight issues began in elementary school, when I started stealing and hiding food to comfort myself. In my early 20's, I really began packing on the pounds when I had 3 children within 8 years. I tried several diets, which WORKED, if only I would STICK with them. I used every excuse in the book: Life happens, I deserved it, I'm stressed, my fatness was everyone else's problem, people should accept me for WHO I was, not for what I looked like, who cares anyway? I lost weight for the wrong reasons, and the bad taste in my mouth stayed with me like a burnt entree. At my heaviest in December 2000, I weighed 237 lbs., morbidly obese for my 5'1" frame. A month later, I started a diet and joined a gym and got down to 159 by September. After a family crisis occurred and lasted 4 years, my turning to food for comfort took its toll. Still I searched...magazines, books, supplements, but never found the missing link until Nov. '06, when I looked at my recovery from an emotional, spiritual, physical and mental standpoint. Finding an exercise regimen I could live with for the rest of my life was crucial as well. Won't you join me on my journey as I whittle myself down to my goal of 123 lbs. by March 2008?

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First Milestone Reached

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Contributed by: Stephanie Johnson on 2/16/2009

I am proud to report that I reached my first weightloss goal this weekend!

Weigh-in on Saturday resulted in losing another 2.2 lbs., totaling 11.4 lbs. to date. It has taken five weeks, but I made it!

Pat Gilaspy, my favorite Weight Watchers leader, is the reason why I return to the 8th Street location every time I rejoin. Not only could she be a comedian (she says she's "cheap entertainment"), but she never judges anyone for dropping out, gaining weight, or coming back. Besides, I never get tired of hearing her spiel: "I'm Pat Gilaspy and I've lost 135 lbs. on Weight Watchers and I've been a member for over 20 years. One thing you need to remember about me is that I had to join 28 times before I could get it right!"

I've rejoined so many times that I think I've broken her record!

Anyway, I excitedly accepted my 5 lb. sticker for hitting 10 lbs., and my 5% sticker for losing 5% of my initial weight (221.8). As soon as I got home, I stuck them on my "Star Catcher" bookmark that I keep on my refrigerator for motivation and accountability.

The Star Catcher bookmark is another change for Weight Watchers this year in addition to their new " Momentum" program (has anyone seen the new commercials? They're hilarious!). The bookmarkers used to be red, and we earned them after we lost our first 5 lbs. But now we get the Star Catcher bookmark when we return the first week. The name comes from the star-shaped stickers we earn for every five pounds we lose.

Meredy, life-time member and receptionist for Weight Watchers, nearly cried when she saw me again after being gone for so long. Her reaction made it worth coming back, even though I had been resisting for many months. She told me about the Star Catcher bookmark and confidently announced, "You're going to build your own constellation!" I was honored that she has so much faith in me, especially when she has lost over 100 lbs. herself, and kept it off all these years!

So, I'm still tracking the food I eat in my daily journal, I'm still drinking plenty of water every day, I'm working out at least 4 times a week (most weeks), and I'm even remembering to take my daily vitamin! As an added bonus, my fingernails are growing!

My next goal is to reach 10%, or 22 lbs., by my birthday, which is March 26th--I'll be turning 42. My next goal after that is to lose 50 lbs. by my daughter's graduation on June 6th, and my third goal is to reach 75 lbs. by my friend's wedding on October 3rd.

Stay tuned, and watch me catch a few stars!

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