FIVE YEARS!!

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Taken about two weeks after joining Weight Watchers
July 2010

When I started Weight Watchers over FIVE years ago I didn't actually think I'd stick with it.  It wasn't that I didn't believe in the program; it had much more to do with not believing in myself.  Having the encouragement of friends (Sheri & Bri) who started with me and then making friends with the members at my meeting kept me wanting to come back, week after week, even when I knew the scale wouldn't be my friend.

Taken last week
July 2015

Then two years ago when I started working for Weight Watchers I used the picture above as my "THEN" photo.  When I hit my goal weight I wanted a "REDO" at that photo but that required a trip back to Oregon and the Oregon Brewers Festival.  Last week we spent the week in Bend/Portland, Oregon and I got my chance!

I told my husband early on in the week that I didn't really have any expectations for our trip but that I wanted this photo.  We arrived at OBF (Oregon Brewers Festival) a little early and after we got our wrist bands and got onto the grounds the first thing he said was let's find the barrel and get your photo.  I was a little surprised by how important this became to him.  I asked a few volunteers if they knew where this barrel was and some shook their head and said they remembered it from past years but they didn't know if it was there this year.  Finally, we were pointed in the right direction and Dan took the photo.

Now I have a new "NOW" photo to compare to my "THEN" photo and while I knew that I was unhealthy then but to compare the two photos was shocking to me.  I know that my journey to stay healthy doesn't end.  It'll never end but a few thoughts kept popping into my mind last week while we were on vacation.  The first was that we chose to be active -- hiking, biking, walking when we could.   It was hot the day we spent in the city of Bend so we decided to rent bikes and biked all over sampling some of Bend's restaurants and breweries.  When we got to Portland we returned our rental car in favor of renting bikes and we biked or walked everywhere we went, with the exception of the airport on the day we flew out.  

My second thought was that even though I figured I would gain weight on vacation (probably more than I'm happy with but won't know until after weigh-in tomorrow) I realized that I wasn't worried because we were being active and I knew that when we got home I'd get back to my healthy habits of regular workouts/training, healthy choices and drinking more water than beer.  

How do you stay on track while on vacation or do you just pledge to get back to healthy habits when you return home?

Bondi Band Winner!

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One of my favorite designs!

Have I shared my love of Bondi Band with you?  If not, let me tell you - I love this company!  You see, when I run or bike I sweat.  A lot.  I tried a few different kinds of headbands but apparently my head and/or hair is slippery (which sounds kinda gross but it's not) because they'd always end up moving during my workout.  Until I found Bondi Band.  I love the heavy wicking headbands.  They stay put and collect the sweat so I can focus on the activity at hand.

I also love them because the band is wide enough that on the cool mornings I can pull the headband down over my ears for a little warmth as well as sweat collection.  Dual purpose in my book is awesome!

When Bondi Band introduced compression to their product line I practically squealed with delight.  In fact, I think I did!  The patterns they offer were fun and practical so I ordered up a pair of these argyle sleeves.  I've worn them after my long runs and races this year with great results.  After 8-13.1 miles there is no better feeling than pulling on some compression sleeves for a few hours!!  Plus, I've gotten quite a few compliments about them!

Last week I celebrated reaching my goal weight by kicking off a contest to give away some of my favorite work out gear from Bondi Band!  The fabulous folks over there offered to give away three headbands and a pair of compression socks!  I'm thrilled to announce that Erika L. is the winner!!  Congratulations Erika!  I'll be in touch shortly!

Thank you to everyone else for celebrating my anniversary by entering this contest!  If you haven't ordered up some Bondi Band products yet, do it now!!

Happy Race-aversary

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It was THREE years ago that my sister, Brenda, convinced me to make one of the best decisions of my life.  Saturday will mark the third anniversary of my participation in the Journey's 5K Race in Eagle River, Wisconsin.  I can't help but be tremendously thankful to Brenda for the encouragement to start my journey to being more active because without her I know I wouldn't have (among other things):

Yeah!  More Race Photos!!

• Lost an additional 118.2 pounds
• Completed an additional 22 races of varying lengths
• Met some of the greatest friends I could ever imagine - my #TeamChallenge teammates

That first race was hard - it was cold and rainy and this was LONG before I knew anything about wicking/dry-fit clothes.  I completed that race wearing layers of cotton everything!  From a short-sleeved t-shirt and long sleeved t-shirt, yoga pants, and socks!  I topped it all off with a fleece sweatshirt, winter hat and gloves.  Brenda (who was running the 5K) and I stopped at a Walgreens for pre-race bathroom needs and on the way out we grabbed two rain ponchos.  There is nothing like sweating your way through all that cotton clothes and wearing, essentially, a plastic bag over yourself to hold in all the sweat/heat!  

It didn't matter, the course was nice - imagine country roads winding through the most gorgeous northern Wisconsin woods - though hillier than I was used to.  My goal was just to finish and while I didn't doubt that I would I was terrified at how long it would take me.  I walked that day for 57 minutes and 41 seconds before crossing the finish line.  I was hot and sweaty and my feet felt raw from walking in wet cotton socks for so long but as I approached the finish line I could see and hear my friends and family cheering for me.  I felt like such a badass!  I also knew I was hooked!!

I can't wait to run this race this weekend and while my goals have changed significantly (aiming for a sub 29:00 finish) from that first 5K three years ago I know that it'll be an amazing race and I feel so fortunate to have been given this gift.  I cannot believe all that I have accomplished and I look forward to everything that is yet to come, including more feeling like a badass!

 

Two Year Weight Loss Anniversary

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July 2010 - About a week after starting Weight Watchers

Do you guys know what this week is?  It's the two year anniversary (or weightiversary as Jen called it) of when I started Weight Watchers!  I can't help but feel eternally grateful to a very special friend of mine.  Sheri called me and told that she was going to join and asked if I wanted to join as well.  I am so glad that I said yes!  When I started I honestly didn't know how long I'd be on the program.  I mean I'd been a Weight Watchers member before but I quit and my track record of losing weight, quitting and gaining it all back again was staggering because I'd done it so many times before.  I didn't know this time would be different.

July 2012

Fast forward two years and I can't imagine NOT going to my meeting and catching up with the friends that I've made through the meetings.  I love that I can text several of them for guidance and support throughout the week.  I also love the Weight Watchers members I've met via Twitter and the other healthy living blogs that I read.  I didn't realize how important it would be to me to realize that I am not alone in this journey and we can rely on each other for support.  I have learned so much from all of these friends and most importantly to not give up because at the end of the day this journey, while bumpy and uncomfortable at times, it absolutely amazing.  


So what did you guys do this week?  Hit any milestones or recognize any non-scale victories?

Time flies when you're losing weight!

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Dan, Bob, Sheri and Me - Founders Brewery - May 2011

One year and two days ago my friend Sheri called me and said that she was joining Weight Watchers and she asked if I wanted to join as well.  I blogged about it in the post Fatties Unite Tonight. 

It's been an exciting and terrifying journey all at the same time but I've learned a lot about the things I'm capable of and what I really want to achieve.  I want to be healthy and I look forward to completing more races - maybe even longer than 5K!

Dan and me - Goose Island Brewery - July 2011

So, this post is really just to say  THANK YOU to Sheri for getting me started on this path.  I wonder what the next year will bring?