Gaining through losing

I just reached a milestone with my Weight Watchers group, and have lost 19.6 pounds in the five months since I first joined at the WW at Work program, generously cosponsored by my employer, Hawaii Medical Service Association, HMSA.

I have tried WW Online, have the application on my iPhone, but, it’s not the same as seeing colleagues at work sharing the struggle, fighting the good fight, logging in the hours at the company fitness center.  I kind of have a handle on the way WW calculate points, but for that I have yet another iPhone application, PointCalcLite. Enter the calories, the fat, the fiber per serving and out comes the points. Great for grocery shopping, budgeting the day’s intake. It keeps a daily tally. I’ve recommended it already to some of my fellow points counters, but it isn’t officially sanctioned by the WW organization.

It actually took me three weeks to finally weigh in minus 1.2 stubborn pounds to make my goal. I got my 16-week charm for perseverance at 16 weeks, of course. I asked where I should put it and the counselor said to me, “On your WW key chain, which you get when you reach your first goal.” Nothing snarky about her comment. Absolutely no maliciousness. I was having quite a battle. When I finally got that charm I sent out a Twitter and made a Facebook entry that indicated I was “Doin’ the Snoopy Dance, under the disco ball, playing the air guitar” all at once. I was THAT HAPPY. I AM THAT HAPPY.

This past weekend, I bought a pair of Calvin Klein jeans, size 10, as a target. Since I was at Costco, I couldn’t try them on in the store. I had to make that $19 purchase on faith, knowing that I could bring them back if I wanted, if they never fit over the next 90 days before the return cycle ended. I took them home, I stepped into them, and I showed my husband. Thumbs up.

The HealthPass program at work, for which employees can volunteer to participate, has set my ultimate goal at another 15 pounds less than what I weigh now. The hardest thing about my being in a pair of size 10 jeans is that I’m happy about it. I feel like I’ve accomplished a worthy goal, that I look good, and that the six-day-a-week routine I have going to 24 Hour Fitness in Hawaii Kai is working for me. It’s part of my life. If I don’t workout, I get all futless and cranky. John set my bicycle up on a trainer at home for my one day off from the gym, just so I can get that endorphin rush from a pumpin’ workout.

Here’s what I’m thinking: I really do need to see if I can make this goal of another 15 pounds. My deadline is October. I get $100 if I make it. I got $100 for signing up and making the commitment. It’s six months away. Can I do it?

Enthusiasm for the Weight Watchers at Work program is waning. We only have five people interested in signing up for the meetings that begin April 15. If we don’t get enough interested, I will try to find one in my neighborhood that I can attend so I can continue on my quest. If I make goal, and I stay within two pounds of that goal, I get a free life-time membership. I’ll only have to weigh in once a month at that time, but I would love to continue to attend the meetings, especially at work.

My past is punctuated by several weight-loss battles. I’ve done so many different things. But I’ve learned that Weight Watchers, being conscientious about journaling food intake, and waking up at 3:30 in the morning to exercise at the butt-crack-of-dawn works for me.

I had to make a commitment to myself about not only wanting to not be a fat old lady, but to be the fit and trim wife and mom who is a perfect match to her husband and kids. I don’t see the point in letting my health deteriorate because I am in denial about letting food control my life. It really is possible to say no to the salivary glands, to push the second helping away, to say yes to you and no to another half-dozen notches on the belt.

It becomes more about you and less about the food.