It happens…. are you wondering what?? Well let’s face it life happens!!! This past year and a half has been one for the birds but we are moving on and working on building a new future that I never would have imagined, and while it has been a painful road it has been one that has taught me a lot. You see back in 2014 I posted how I hit lifetime with Weight Watchers (you can see the juicy details -> here) and I swore up and down my I would never go over 160 again………..
What’s the saying never say never?? Yeah I am eating my words but I have to say even though it sucks to see that number…….. I am still pretty freaking awesome. However the past couple weeks I have been uncomfortable in my clothes, not as active as I wanna be, and not to mention your body really starts to feel the extra weight. It’s summer time and I busted out my summer wardrobe to put on and instead I busted right out of it!!! Being frugal the last thing I wanna do is spend more money on clothes, so let’s shrink the body down some more??
Hit #lifetime at @weightwatchers this morning!!! 70lbs gone for good!! #weightloss #weightinwednesday #weightwatchers #wwdiary #wwarmy #wwsupport #wwsisterhood #ww360 #wwmafia #fitnesswomen #fitfam #fitmom A photo posted by Jennifer Johnson (@pennypincherjen) on
Part of moving forward is looking at where you have been. I hit lifetime in September 2014 and I am proud to say I maintained it right up to thanksgiving, even ran my one and only half marathon with no training!! But then I got really sick and laid up in bed for months, I was barely holding my head above water and getting in a work out was not gonna happen and I fell back into the fast food trap!
I am extremely proud to say that while still struggling with being sick I ran a 10k in December 2014. My next accomplishment (borderline stupidity) was I did a marathon with almost no training in June of 2015. I remember looking back at the pictures of the marathon the next week and being sad I could see how much I could see the 20lbs I regained while sick and not working out. Well sadly the next month I realized my marriage just wasn’t going to work out after years of effort to improve it right before my ninth wedding anniversary. So I had to start preparing to be a single mom and figure out what my next move was for my kids. And as a mom we all know that means any me time for work outs just went out the window, I was no longer a priority.
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The kids and I moved out in November 2015 (almost a year after I had started regaining the weight if you are keeping track) and actually due to stress I had gotten back down to 160 in December 2015. I did manage to do The Seattle Hot Chocolate in March 2016 with no training, and was so excited to cross the finish line without dying!! Now because I don’t do anything at a pace anybody would consider normal, I started dating and figuring out who I am after moving out. I am sure by all normal people’s standards this may not be the smartest thing, but after having fought so long for something to fail I was ready to find something right. Plus it sure beat sitting at home staring at the wall while the kids were off at visits with dad.
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Now I never thought in a million years 1) I would have a failed marriage or 2) I would date online. But lets face it when you are a single mom who works at home, and only has a handful of local friends where do you meet people?? I resisted for a bit, but then a girlfriend helped me to set up my an online dating account and oh my gosh the things that people put on the internet and think you want to know about them. I have to say I learned a lot through dating about who I had been before becoming a mom, rediscovering my love of an active life, love of really being outdoors, and in time becoming a better mom with it all. I will say thank goodness I found an amazing man in a decent amount of time because oh my gosh there are some crazy stories out there. (watch for an upcoming post on my online dating tips) But with dating and growing new relationships comes dates, which of course 90% of the time involves food, sitting, talking and getting to know each other. And lets be honest who wants to start their date out with a potential Mr Right with “wait let me track this,” so I kinda let tracking go to the way side and got comfortable eating whatever.
Time for a #thanksgiving #roadtrip and some miles in the new minivan!!!
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As well as the dating and being a single mom my world was rocked with my first huge loss in my family. We knew my grandfather had been sick since November 2015 of and on, but we found out on May 12 he had terminal cancer and he passed on June 18th. All the trips up and down to Vancouver and family gatherings were all centered around food as well. So while I had hit my lifetime weight at the age of 30 and said never again, I am here at 32 eating my words saying here we go again. Only now I realize it’s time for me to grow more as a person, I know from watching my kids that their parent’s habits are what thy learn from and I have to be sure I am setting the right example. How many times have the kids heard me complain about feeling bad my pants don’t fit but then do nothing about it?
Especially with having two girls I have to be sure that I set a good example for them. So there you have it. I am owning my story, this is my why I am on a new Lifetime Weight Watchers journey, and my reflection to how I weighed in on July 6, 2016 with a +28lbs on that sticker in my weigh in book. And you know while it royally sucked to see that number but I know what I have to do to get back to where I was and it all is done just one small change at a time.
Muffins with mom today at school!! #instamom #family #momlife #familytime
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My Small Changes Involve the kids in all the better choices More water for all of us Track everything More active family activities (hiking, 5ks, walks, etc) Everyone outside for at least a half hour a day (it is Washington with rain) More vegetables and fruit Portion control for all Work out three times a week Attend Weight Watcher meetings every week even if I have to take the kids
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Are you on a weight loss journey?? I would love to hear about it!! What has worked for you?? Are you re-losing the weight again?
Other great Weight Watchers Posts to Check Out:
What I Wish I Knew Before Joining Weight Watchers
Tools To Be Successful At Weight Watchers
Tips For Getting Started With Weight Watchers
How To Stay Motivated With Weight Watchers
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Good on you, I think you are awesome at any size! I think everyone should work on their degree of happiness in life and not stress too much on the scales and weight .If you are healthy and well it’s a blessing.
I lost over 50 lbs between April 2012 and the fall of 2012. I decided I could handle the rest myself so I quit…well 25 lbs later I went back this year in April. I am now down 25 lbs with more to go…going to reach lifetime this time and stay there by attending meetings. Many in my meeting are lifetimers who kept the weight off my getting weighed and continuing to track or use simply filling. I will never recover from my weight gaining tendencies. I am aiming for health now. Good luck in your new life…and on your journey. You may reply if you choose. Have a great day.