3 Goals

 Anyone who has been following my blog for the last 12 years, knows that I have attempted losing weight multiple times.  I have had varying degrees of success over this time but none have been long lasting.  Before the pandemic hit, I had started slowly improving my quality of life.  I increased my activity level and making smarter choices when I ate.  I had slowly lost over 20 lbs and felt good about myself.  Then COVID came and threw a HUGE wrench into my progress, 

Like many others, the pandemic increased my anxiety and I used food as a comfort mechanism.  When you can’t really go out as much and socialize, eating good food is the next best thing.  Not to mention that I love baking and was launching my small cookie business.  As work got busier, I leaned heavier on take out.  It all conspired to get me off my game.  

At the start of this year, I realized I had put on 25 lbs over the pandemic.  I panicked and decided that enough was enough.  I needed to do something.   I was debating between joining Noom and WW.  As I reviewed my options with a friend, she reminded me of my past success with Weight Watchers.  Without even over-thinking it, I joined WW.  The first day was a STRUGGLE!!  I hadn’t prepared for a change in my diet and only had crap food.  But instead of using that as an excuse to postpone starting the plan, I worked around it.  It was time. I needed to get serious. 

WW has changed significantly over the years and their new app and program were a huge help to me!! They have a social media aspect to the app, so I was able to discuss my fears and concerns with other members who were in a similar situation as myself.  The app also had a ton of recipes for me to try and I found some really good ones.  I didn’t feel deprived and enjoyed trying different foods. 

When I initially restarted WW, I didn’t really share the news with a ton of people.  I felt like, here we go again and I would be met with guarded optimism or cynicism.  However, anyone who was aware of my new journey was nothing but encouraging and positive. It was more about me and the shame/guilt associated with the roller coaster of weight loss.  This reluctance to share with my friends, led me to share with the WW community.   This community was comprised of people who knew what I was experiencing because they had either gone through it themselves or they were still on the journey.  It was a comfort to me. 

One of the things that I saw as I scrolled through the app’s social media were goals.  Lists of things my fellow members were hoping to accomplish by following the plan.  At my starting weight, I couldn’t think about my ultimate end goal,  I still can’t.  It is overwhelming when you have a significant amount of weight to lose.  I chose to come up with 3 short term goals: weigh under 300 lbs, lose 50 lbs and finally fit on the Harry Potter ride when I went to Orlando.  I knew I could definitely meet my first goal but wasn’t sure about the other 2.  Here we are 5 months later and I have met all 3 goals!!  

Before leaving on vacation, I knew I had met the first 2 goals because I was faithfully following the plan and weighed myself weekly.  I wasn’t sure about the last one.  I knew the odds were good when I boarded the airplane and didn’t need a seatbelt extender.  I even took a picture to show much room I had left on the seat belt! I was still unsure about the rides at Universal but decided to go through with the trip.  When I tell you the joy I felt when I was able to ride the first few rides.  I couldn’t believe it but I was still not sure about the main one, the Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey.   

When the HP world first opened at Universal, I was heartbroken to learn that I was too heavy and unable to fit the ride.  I lost 50 lbs and STILL was too heavy too fit.  Over the next few years my weight yo-yoed and I stopped trying.  However, this time, I thought I could do it.  When I got to the “seat tester” at the entrance of the ride, I sat down and held my breath.  As I lowered the bar, I looked up at the attendant to see if it was a go.  With a big smile, the attendant told me that it was a GO!!  I could finally ride it!!   I was actually able to ride all of the rides in both Harry Potter worlds.  

It may seem like something small but the fact that I actually set goals and accomplished them was huge for me.  I choked up on the ride because I couldn’t believe it.  I had actually done it!!  While my journey is still ongoing and I have set a couple of new goals, I am basking in this moment.  I can’t wait for the next big one!!

As always, thank you for reading and take care!! ❤