I’m 25 years old, and have been battling obesity my entire life.
Ever since elementary school, I’ve tried diet after diet in a desperate attempt to gain control over my weight issue. I’ve been referred to an endless string of doctors, nutritionists, and psychologists. I’ve tried wacky pills, fat-burning teas, and good old-fashioned starvation.
Nothing ever worked. I’d manage to lose 20 pounds, then gain it right back. Two years later I’d drop 60 pounds, and then (you guessed it!) gain it right back. I’d go on crash diets to fit into a dress for the prom or a friend’s party, but the moment the event was over, so were my weight loss efforts. Any progress I made was lost the moment I gave up on my current “diet” and returned to my old ways.
It wasn’t until tipping the scales at nearly 270 pounds at the age of 22 that I had finally had enough. I couldn’t take it any more. I decided that it was time to change my life, and I finally began to make some headway in my lifelong battle of the bulge.
As a result of drastically transforming my eating habits (thanks Weight Watchers!) and joining a gym, I shed more than 80 pounds in one year.
But then I got stuck, and have been struggling to reach my goal of losing 120 pounds since the end of 2008. Dropping these final 40 pounds would bring me to a healthy BMI (body mass index) for the very first time in my life. At 5’4 and 180 pounds, I am still, technically, “obese.”
While the pounds melted off in the beginning, losing weight has become an everyday struggle. I have a long way to go, but I can’t seem to stop gaining and losing the same five pounds over and over again.
On this blog, I plan to divulge my daily weight loss triumphs and failures. I’ll include my tips and tricks, my frustrations, and my realizations, all in the hope that those of you who are also struggling to lose weight can take comfort in knowing that you’re not alone.
It’s the hardest thing you’ll probably ever have to do, but I can tell you from firsthand experience that your health and happiness are well worth the effort.
Please join me on what I hope will be the last leg of my weight-loss journey.
Questions, comments, suggestions? Shoot me an e-mail at jenniferlnelson.writer@gmail.com. I’d love to hear from you!
For blog updates, follow me on Twitter (http://twitter.com/jenniferlnelson) or friend me on Facebook (Jennifer L. Nelson).
For more of my story, be sure to check out my first post: http://thefinalforty.wordpress.com/2010/01/04/meet-the-former-fattie/
How long did it take you to lose 80 pounds? When did you start weight watchers?
Hi there!
Thanks so much for checking out my blog.
I started Weight Watchers in November of 2007. I lost 80 pounds in my first year on the program.
By February of 2009, I hit 90 pounds lost…but then for the remainder of last year, I struggled. I basically kept gaining and losing the same 5 pounds over and over again. But now I’m back on track!
Hope that helps. Feel free to keep stopping by for updates, and if you have any other questions, please don’t hesitate to ask!
Jennifer