Jan is just like a lot of people that want to lose weight. She moved and the life changing event of moving caused her to eat more than she did before. She joined Weight Watchers and has since started losing weight until she reached her goal.I hadn't always been fat. I gained weight after I moved to Las Vegas and was missing old friends and using food as a replacement. There's a lot of inexpensive food here in Las Vegas, especially at restaurant buffets.
A friend wanted me to go to Weight Watchers meetings with a group from our church. I didn't want to, but then we started talking about another friend who had weighed between 300 and 400 pounds and had recently died. I realized how much my health was in danger from my excess weight! Something just clicked and I agreed to attend the meetings and I kept going. All of my friends dropped out and didn't lose weight, but I never veered from the plan.
Changes that Work
To avoid the buffets at restaurants, my husband and I started eating at home a lot more so I could prepare healthier meals. I found fake butter spray that I use on potatoes and a non-fat Parmesan dressing that is only 10 calories per tablespoon. I have about 10 bottles of it in my cupboard!
Inspired By…Me?
While I was losing weight, I would occasionally bump into people who wouldn't recognize me because they didn't know I had lost weight. I liked that experience. Now, I enjoy it when people tell me how good I look!
There have been a lot of women who have told me that they lost weight because of me. And some of my friends who still want to lose weight want me to talk to them about what I've done. I just tell them, "It's Weight Watchers—that's all you need to do." It's so much more sensible than a fad diet that requires you to drop an entire food group. I tell them this is something they can live with their whole lives.
A Bolder Style
Losing the weight totally changed my life. I'm a lot more outgoing, confident and fun to be with. I don't want to be fat again!
I have a really nice wardrobe of cute skinny clothes and it feels wonderful to go shopping. The first time I didn't have to go to Lane Bryant, I walked past the store and started crying. Now I wear size 2, 4 or 6. Another thing I can do now is layer sweaters over camisoles. I never would've thought to wear a camisole before!
I have a lot more fun with makeup now and I've also changed my hair. I'm coloring it a bright purplish-red color and it's short and funky.
Jan's Tips:
* Weigh-ins are a valuable compass. I've been faithful about the monthly weigh-ins and have only missed one since reaching Lifetime status. If I gain a pound or two, I work hard to take it off by being extra careful about what I eat.
* It's okay to have rough patches. When I find myself reverting to my old eating habits, I try to figure out why I'm doing it and find ways to deal with the problem without turning to food. A little bit of unhappiness isn't cured with food. I'm not putting the weight back on—no way!
* More self-confidence leaves more time for others. I can be more concerned with other people because I'm not thinking about myself all the time. I used to go to bed every night consumed with self-hatred because I had spent another day not able to control my eating.
* Working out doesn't have to be done at a gym. I have a split-screen TV, so I put an exercise video on one half and watch TV on the other half. I do that a couple times a week and lift weights on other days. I keep track of my exercise every day so I can make sure I'm doing enough. I still hate exercise—I'd rather just sit in my chair and read—but I do it anyway.
* Plan ahead for eating out. I'm a little tired of cooking since it's just me and my husband. So now we do eat out, but first I look on the restaurant's website to get nutrition information before we go. I decide ahead of time what I will order so I'm not tempted by unhealthful foods. Also, my husband and I split one entrée to control portion sizes.
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