February 8,
2004 - Here
it is February already! Where does the time go? In a couple more months
we will be heading to our 4th DWLZ Conference/Reunion in Edmonton, Canada!
How exciting. I am steadily losing my extra pounds from quitting smoking
and it feels great to be in control again. I'm keeping up with my exercise
and it feels great. My womans bowling league continues to be a great source
of fun and entertainment. We have this 89 year old who just makes me all
warm and toasty inside! I want to be like her when I grow up - walking,
laughing, bowling and just having a grand ole time! That is what this Journey
is all about - healthy body and feeling great in all ways!
Al and I have had a busy month in January. Al's
step-dad was brought up here to Portland, OR by ambulance from Roseburg
(3 hour trip) for some medical tests. He is not doing well with all his
medical problems. He was in the hospital here for about 10 days and then
moved to a rehab center here in Vancouver, WA near our house so Mom could
stay with us. He did not like it (who would) and was very uncooperative.
He is now back in Roseburg at a rehab center there. He cannot walk and is
doing very poorly. It has been very stressful on Al, I and his Mom. Please
keep him in your thoughts and prayers! Thanks!
I'm so sorry I've been absent from the boards
most of this time. Al always trys to post and check in on the Men's Forum
so you can usually find out how or where I am by checking there (all my
close friends do!) when I've been away from the boards for a bit! :)
I have many updates to do and will be trying
to get to them in the next week or so - please be patient with me. I am
the ONLY one who updates/works on my webpage, DWLZ.com. The restaurant section
is a full-time job!
I would like to thank all of you for your kind,
supportive emails. They mean the world to me. Creating DWLZ.com has been
such a blessing to me and I hope it has been for you too!
Success is...achieved and maintained by those who try - and keep trying.
ø¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸¸,ø¤º°GOOD LUCK EVERYONE°º¤ø,¸¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸ø
January
7,
2004 - I'd
like to start this update with saying THANK YOU to all who have been
so supportive as I struggle to find my way back to goal! I really appreciate
your support and help along the way. I am trying to always remember that Success is a Journey, not a Destination. It helps me to remember
that there are different roads of this Journey and at times we find ourselves
on these side roads. It does not mean we have failed; it means we have become
lost and must always work to getting back on the right road of our Journey!
You are NEVER a failure if you are on your Journey, no matter what road
you are on! Sooner or later you WILL find your way back. In the meantime
you need to soak up all the info you can find to help you back. You also
need to continue to surround yourself with others on our Journey. I have
found that by helping others on this Journey helps us in more ways that
I can say. So...never, never consider yourself a failure. You are a winner
and a success because you have NOT given up!
I haven't updated much since June as there hasn't
been much to say concerning my Journey. I topped out at 189 lbs and since
December 13th I have been OP and on Track. I never gave up my dream of getting
back to goal. Some might say I failed because I gained about 40 lbs but
I'm a SUCCESS because I still lost 60 lbs and kept it off all the while
quitting a 2.5-3 pack a day smoking habit. 3 months after quitting smoking
I had knee surgery! Life sent me on a couple side roads but I have now finally
found my way back! I thank all of you for not giving up on me!
I signed up with a Personal Trainer at the gym
and she is a fantastic trainer. I would highly recommend her (for anyone
in the Portland/Vancouver area her name is Margaret Browning, 360-514-8381).
I've been getting in a half hour on the Elliptical and an hour or so with
my trainer 3 times a week; when my training sessions are done I will continue
on my own. I bowl once a week and try to walk with Al once a week (or the
gym).
My weight loss is moving right along and I plan
to continue on downwards right back to goal. Will it be fast? Who knows,
but I do know there is no race. I know by eating healthy, staying within
my points, getting my exercise in and drinking my water that sooner or later
I will be back at my Goal! "Do you like it enough to wear it?" is something I say to myself when I want something I KNOW is going to put
me over Points! It works, most of the time! :)
I would also like to let you all know how nice
it has been for Al and I to have our LeRoy back home with us. This was the
first Christmas we have had LeRoy home in a very, very long time! It was
so wonderful! We are indeed blessed.
Here's to a great 2004! We have our DWLZ 4 planned
for Edmonton, Canada in May - you can read about it Here.
I cannot wait to meet many new Zonies and see some of our friends we've
already had the pleasure of meeting.
Success is...achieved and maintained by those who try - and keep trying.
ø¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸¸,ø¤º°GOOD LUCK EVERYONE°º¤ø,¸¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸ø
June 13,
2003 - I
cannot believe it's been months since I've updated - a busy couple of months
it was! We had a wonderful 3rd Annual DWLZ Conference here in Vancouver,
Wa - Click Here for pics -
A good time was had by all who attended.
As you can see from my Weight Graph I am still
struggling with my weight. I still have NO focus and my concentration level
is ZERO! The good thing is that I have not ONCE wanted to go back to smoking
even though I've had my bad days - more than I care to remember. I NEVER
want to go back to smoking up to 3 packs of cigarettes a day!
I'm trying to keep an eye on how much healthier
I am and how much weight I have still kept off - about 70 lbs - nothing
to sneeze at! Al and I have started the Coon Family Hiking Club - Click
Here - where we take a new hike every weekend. It has been so much
fun, gets us outside and we get plenty of exercise. This has helped me a
lot in the exercise and mental health department! I am still bowling my
weekly league and keeping my average in the 160's. I injured my left hip/leg
somehow last month so I have been taking it easy at the gym - I'm trying
to add it back in slowly.
I really don't have much else to say at this
time except that I am keeping on the Journey and working it One Day at a
Time. I know that sooner or later everything will "click" into
place and I'll be back on my way down the road. I want to thank you all
for always being there for me and for realizing that I'm just another Zonie
on the Journey - I have my good days and my bad days; my ups and downs like
everyone else. I always keep in mind that Success
is a Journey NOT a Destination. It's a Journey I will be on the
rest of my life and life has a way of taking twists and turns - I just happen
to be on one of them now. Thank you for having FAITH in me as I find my
way back. You are the greatest!
Success is...achieved and maintained by those who try - and keep trying.
ø¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸¸,ø¤º°GOOD LUCK EVERYONE°º¤ø,¸¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸ø
March 27,
2003 - Well,
guess it's about time to update everyone again on how I'm doing on my Healthy
Non-Smoking Journey! I have decided to continue on with my Monthly Graph
even though I seem to be in a maintaining mode right now. I have continued
to be a Healthy Non-Smoker since I quit on May 20, 2002. I am still having
problems with my concentration level. I'm sure in time that will improve.
My metabolism has all but stopped since quitting smoking so I am working
the Program in different ways to try and jolt it into submission! :) I have
been faithfully exercising 3-4 times a week - 30-45 minutes on the Elliptical
Machine and 20-30 minutes with weights. I also bowl my league once a week
and maintain a 164 average! I've had a week here or there where I just didn't
go to the gym but they are few in number!
As for Program - I'm doing very well in the
water department and on most days I am keeping my Points within my range.
Of course, I seem to have more of the "endless eating" days than
I did before I quit smoking! It is something that is diminishing but is
not gone yet - I most likely am still feeling a need for "something"
and food seems to be the "something" at this time! Thank goodness
I keep only OP foods in the house - makes the damage control a lot easier!
I am saying, "Do you like it enough to wear it?" a LOT
these days and I must tell you it works in most instances!
My weight seems to have leveled off at about
166 lbs - I go from 165 lbs - 167 lbs on any given day! My personal goal
is to not go over 145 lbs. My Weight Watcher goal is 150 lbs. Both of these
goals will be MINE again in time. I am trying to stay positive with the
thought that RIGHT NOW I am healthier than I was at 145 lbs smoking 2-3
packs of cigarettes a day! I AM a SUCCESS and I will make it back down to
my Goal again WITHOUT the cigarettes!
I want to thank you all for standing by me during
this time and for the wonderful emails of support I have received! Thank
you for your love and support and your friendship! I
think the best gift we can give others on this journey is our knowledge,
our experience and our SMILE! Knowing you are not alone on this journey
makes it so much nicer!
Update on my son, LeRoy - He is now home with
us and will be moving into an apt next week! He is actively looking for
employment in the electronics/computer field. He was scheduled to get out
of the Navy on March 31st and had enough leave to take terminal leave which
took him off the USS Lincoln the beginning of March! I count my blessings
every night that he was able to get out of the Navy as scheduled before
the war started. LeRoy served for 2 years on the USS Kitty Hawk during 911
- he transferred to the USS Lincoln last year and was over there in Iraq
waters since July 20th, 2002. My heart and prayers go out to all of our
military fighting for our America.
We are almost ready for our 3rd Annual DWLZ
Conference which is being held this year in my hometown of Vancouver, WA!
How exciting! I cannot wait to see old friends and to meet new ones from
DWLZ. We have almost 50 people attending this year! Stay tuned for all the
photos!! We'll get them up as soon as we can!
A special note to all who are struggling with
their Journey at this time - DON'T GIVE UP!!! You are NEVER a failure as
long as you get up and keep on keeping on!
Success is...achieved and maintained by those who try - and keep trying.
ø¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸¸,ø¤º°GOOD LUCK EVERYONE°º¤ø,¸¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸ø
October 27, 2002 - Hi
Everyone! I thought it was about time that I updated everyone about what was
going on in my corner of the world. I have gotten many emails anxious for
an update and I thank you so much for caring!
2002 has been a very busy year for
me filled with good times and bad times, sickness & health - yep, it's
called Life!
As you all know my son, LeRoy is
in the US Navy and he was home on leave in January for over a month. I enjoyed
that month with him so much and some great memories were made with quality
time spent with each other. He was in the area until his 25th birthday, July
20th, when he left for yet another 6 month cruise (his last hopefully, saying
that with my fingers crossed) to the troubled area. My heart aches for him
at the same time I am so very proud of him. I miss him.
In February I fell in a parking lot
and injured my left knee area. I missed a couple weeks of bowling but went
on with the assumption it takes longer to heal as you get older. Wrong assumption!
By the time I got back from our 2nd Conference in St. Louis I knew something
was wrong with my knee. It just was not healing. Sure enough a MRI brought
to life my worst fears - I had torn a cartilage in my knee and would need
surgery to repair it. The surgery was done on August 8th and it is healing
nicely.
In April Al and I took two weeks
and drove to St. Louis for our 2nd Annual DWLZ Conference! What fun we had!
We stopped at a very good friends house along the way, a fellow Zonie, Barbara
(librarylady2) and spent a couple of days with her and her family. The Conference
was awesome and it was so great seeing everyone we've been visiting with for
over a year on the boards - old friends (from the 1st Conference) and new
friends!
Not long after coming home I got
word from my bowling teammate, Jean, on a Sunday night that a hypnotist for
quitting smoking was going to be in town (right up the street from my house!).
I had told myself at the beginning of the year that when the hypnotist comes
I'm going, no matter what is going on in my life at the time. So, the next
night, Monday, May 20th, Jean and I headed over to the hypnotist for the quit
smoking session. I am happy to say that I am a HEALTHY, NON-SMOKER and have
been since that visit with the hypnotist. It was the best thing I ever did
for myself and my health, besides losing my 100+ pounds. (I
had my last cigarette 5 Months 6 Days 10 Hours 12 Minutes 22 Seconds ago.
Cigarettes not smoked: 6377 Money saved: $733.36)
I have to tell you this was not easy
at times and still is hard now and then. When you have been a smoker you are
always 1 cigarette away from being that smoker again and I do NOT want to
go back to being a smoker smoking 2 packs of cigarettes a day! I love not
coughing all the time and I'm breathing so much better. I'm also enjoying
all that extra money that would have been spent on cigarettes!
I gained weight while quitting but
I was prepared for that. Keeping off the cigarettes is MY #1 priority right
now. I am slowly getting back some of my focus and concentration (the first
to go when you quit) and I'm no longer on the gaining trend, thank goodness!
It is truly amazing to see how much effect smoking has on you when you quit
- it is a most powerful drug! Not being able to exercise during this time
made my quit smoking journey that much harder but I kept on and did not give
up. I'm proud to say I am winning and the cigarette is NOT!
I am now back focusing strongly on
Program and getting in my walking for exercise (my knee is doing well with
the walking). My weight for September was 166.2 lbs and October was 166 lbs.
My WW Goal Weight is 150 lbs (no pay is 152 lbs or less) and my Personal Goal
is to stay under 145 lbs. So, as you can see I have some work to do but I'm
up for the challenge and I know all of you are behind me which, BTW, means
so very much to me. I CAN & WILL do this! When I get back down to my goal
I will be a healthy, at Goal, non-smoker - oh, that sounds wonderful!
A sad note about Jean, my bowling
teammate who quit smoking with me: She passed away about a month ago in a
car accident. It was very sudden and hit myelf and my bowling teammates very
hard. She was 71 and full of life and quite a gal. I'll miss her.
Soon after my knee surgery we got
word of a beautiful house for rent not far from the apartment we were living
in. We checked it out, put down the deposit and before we knew it we were
moving on Sept 27th. It was a very quick decision and one we were going to
wait to do until next year because of my knee surgery and all (lease on apt
was up Sept 1st) but it was meant to be! So, we are now settled in a nice
house in a nice neighborhood and enjoying our new home.
During the move I somehow tore my
cornea of my right eye - very painful! The ophthalmologist called it a "recurrent
erosion", meaning I tore open an OLD injury. All I can think is I must
of done this while rubbing my eyes or something. It is healing now with the
help of a contact over it so I'm not in continual pain as my eyelid hits it.
I am hoping on 11/12 when they take the contact out the cornea will have healed
completely and won't give me any more problems!
It seems Al and I have been on the
go all year - we barely get settled in for a couple weeks routine and we are
off again! Al got word at the last minute that we would be going back to Eugene
to cover for someone. So….here we are in our favorite hotel when we would
rather be in our new home! We try to remember Al has a great job and for that
we are grateful. That great job just gave him a raise too (turned the virtual
one into a real one finally)!
Amidst all of the above that has
been going on I am also dealing with some very personal "sister"
issues that I'm trying to resolve within myself - a very stressful and emotional
time for me.
I know that I have not been posting
as much as I usually do on the Message Boards but please know I have been
reading and keeping up with everyone! Sometimes my days just get away from
me. I don't always have the luxury of posting as much as I'd like due to issues
dealing with the Message Board, Chat or my website. Our Administrators and
Moderators do an awesome job in keeping DWLZ the safe haven it is and I want
to thank them from the bottom of my heart for all their help and support in
keeping it that way.
Thanks for listening and being there
for me!
Success is...achieved and maintained by those who try - and keep trying.
ø¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸¸,ø¤º°GOOD LUCK EVERYONE°º¤ø,¸¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸ø
August 30,
2001 - Today
is my 3 year anniversary of making GOAL! I cannot believe it's been 3 years!
I have maintained at or under GOAL except for Jan 2001 when I was 1 lb over
(lost it 2 days later but did NOT want to miss my regular meeting!).
I asked the following question in
our Lifetimers/Maintenance Forum on our Message Board - "What do you
do to help you maintain your Goal?" These were my answers:
1. From the onset of my Journey I
kept telling myself that this was going to be a LIFESTYLE change - one that
I could live with for the rest of my life! That meant NEVER eating what I
don't like. That meant fitting the PLAN into MY LIFE, not someone elses! That
meant NO GUILT on my tough days and just MOVING ON down the road of my Journey!
2. Positive thoughts ONLY - sure,
negative thoughts creep in but I'm a pretty POSITIVE person to begin with!
When things get tough (and they do at different times in our LIFE) I keep
my eye on WHY I am on this Journey, how great I feel and want to STAY that
way!
3. I strive DAY by DAY to stay within
my Points (usually a couple below my top of the range for a buffer - I deal
with my Journey in a different way than most, I think - on a day to day basis
- when my day is done, my Points are done - tomorrow is a NEW day! This just
works for me!
4. I DO weigh every morning - it
is an essential tool for me - it either validates my success at maintaining
or lets me know I need to get out my journal for a couple of weeks and start
recording/measuring my portion sizes again. Sometimes I think we get too comfortable
on Program and the portion sizes get a little carried away. This is NORMAL
behavior. About 2-4 times a year I have to REIGN it back in!
5. I learn all I can about portion
sizes, foods, point values, nutrition and ways to make my Journey easy and
fun! Easy and fun equals SUCCESS in my book! Knowledge is definately one of
the keys to continued SUCCESS! You never stop learning! I STILL and always
will Pre-Package my food/serving size - part of making it easy and controlling
my portion sizes.
6. I go to my Weekly Meetings - I
need them and believe it or not, the newbies NEED YOU - what a way to help
keep you motivated - helping others to reach their personal goals! You are
their "light at the end of the tunnel" - they SEE, through YOU,
that it CAN be done!
7. I try and get in 3 days of exercise
in - this is my weakest "link" in my Lifestyle but I NEVER give
up - I keep trying to get those 3 days in!
8. I drink my water - at least 64
oz a day!
9. I NEVER forget where I "came
from" and I NEVER want to go back. I bought a beautiful FRAME for my
before and after pictures and keep it on top of my Monitor - what a great
visual and reminder of your SUCCESSFUL JOURNEY!
Success is...achieved and maintained by those who try - and keep trying.
ø¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸¸,ø¤º°GOOD LUCK EVERYONE°º¤ø,¸¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸ø
March 18,
2001 - I cannot believe how fast time
flies and that I haven't updated this since last August! WOW!!!
I'm so sorry! I never meant this to be a journal - just a place to check
in with you all from time to time to let you know how I'm doing - but I really
never meant to be away so long! :)
We had our regular weeklong visit
to Spokane, WA to spend Thanksgiving with our best friends, Jim & Tammy!
What a great time we had and our LeRoy met us there as well! It was
so good to see our son - we only see him once a year with him being so far
away in Japan (Navy). He came home with us and stayed until the beginning
of December! He was so supportive - always has been - of my weight
loss journey. Whenever we went out to a restaurant he always asked if
it was a "good" place for me to eat (on WWer's!)... We had a really
great time and I didn't focus on food like I did before my I started this
journey! It was such a good feeling to be so in control! I have
found that being in control of my food also makes me in control of the other
aspects of my life!
Christmas was a quiet time at home
with my Al - we really had our Christmas with LeRoy when he was home!
I especially loved the NO hustle and bustle of the holiday season this past
year!
January brought my FIRST "over
goal" weigh-in - by ONE pound. I knew that I would be over a pound
or two as Al and I celebrated that weekend at the beach BUT I did NOT want
to get in the habit of missing my WWer's Meeting. I have learned from
my past experiences with WWer's that once I miss a meeting, it is so much
easier to miss the second meeting, then the third and so on. Soon, I'm
not going at all. The meetings are one of my Lifelines to continued
success! So, I went, was accountable and was FINE with it. Heck,
it was ONLY a pound and I have the tools and knowledge to take it back off!
See, I REALLY am human too! :) I think I was more upset at breaking
my clean record of NOT going over goal than I was for the extra pound!
LOL!
At my February weigh-in I was back
down below my goal - 143.5 lbs! YIPPEE!!! I was a happy camper!
Really, I have to tell you - Maintenance is NO different than the journey
of losing the weight initially, except that you get to eat a little more to
maintain. You are doing the same things you did on your weight loss
journey and you are also struggling at times, but it is easier, in my opinion,
as you now have the tools and knowledge to get through your struggles faster!
It is easier because the journey becomes "second nature" - that
is, you are on "auto-pilot" living that healthy lifestyle you worked
so hard to attain! Yes, bad habits sometimes creep back in; yes, you
will make the wrong food choices at times; yes, you will be scared at times
that you are going to go back from whence you came - BUT - you will draw from
within yourself the strength, knowledge and courage you need to get back on
the right road of your journey! Please don't ever be afraid of not being able
to maintain once you get to your goal - don't give it a second thought!
Just keep doing what you are doing! You can DO IT!!!
On March 3, 2001, Al and I headed
out to Peabody, MA - Al had training with his job so I went along with him.
He HATES to fly so appreciated my company. Some of the Message Board
members planned a dinner in our honor on Friday night, March 9th. Al
and I were so excited to meet the "Zonies" from MA & NH.
Well, we got hit with the big snowstorm on Monday & Tuesday - got over
2 feet of snow! Luckily, we hit the grocery store and stocked up on
some food for our suite (which had a full kitchen) - we got low point soups,
bocas, etc and not much in the junk food area! Of course, after the
snowstorm hit I wasn't really hungry for most of the food we bought so I didn't
eat much! Most of the week I kept my points rather low - just wasn't
too hungry! I was also watching not to overdue as I had my March weigh-in
on Monday, March 12th, right after we got back home! Since I did not have
my scale with me (which I usually take but did not have room in my suitcase!!!)
I was extra-careful on my eating! I was also having serious scale withdrawal
since I weigh everyday to keep me on track! LOL
On Thursday, I met with Becca (beccabell
on the Message Boards) - she is my "surrogate" daughter and
is planning our 1st Annual Dotti's Weight Loss Conference in Seattle on April
20-22, 2001 (see Conference Forum on the Message Boards). What a wonderful
woman she is and I was "honored" to finally meet her. We went
over all the conference details and then found a Subway in the area for lunch!
Friday, March 9th, came and along
with it another smaller snowstorm...I just knew our planned dinner with the
"Zonies" was going to be cancelled! But alas, 11 members showed
up and it was so exciting meeting them all - it was like "old home week"
- like we've known each other all our lives! So cool! We all had
a blast! If you'd like to see pics from our dinner/meeting please Click
Here. All the MA/NH "Zonies" made me feel like a million
dollars! Al and I will cherish the memories and hold them close to our
hearts - what a great group of happy "losers"! Everyone made
it home safely too!
Al and I got home on Sunday, March
11th - we were exhausted but glad to be home! What's the old saying,
"There's no place like home!" My March weigh-in was the next
day, Monday, March 12th. I woke up with a sore throat and earache but was
determined to go to my meeting and be accountable. Did you all hear
my YIPPEE when I weighed in at about 11:30 am??? It was quite loud!
I weighed in at 143.5 so I stayed the same! YIPPEE!!!!
I just love my meetings - like I
said above, they keep me accountable. But - they also offer me an opportunity
to help all the newbies and others on our journey with THEIR journey!
I arrive at my meetings 45 minutes before just so I can visit with the other
members! What fun getting to know everyone and helping them with tips,
ideas, point finds - to help make their journey easier! For all of you
who have meetings that are "quiet" - try going a little earlier
next time and walk up to one of the members and say "hi".
I think the best
gift we can give others on this journey is our knowledge, our experience
and
our SMILE! Knowing you are not alone on this journey makes it so much
nicer!
I've always loved the saying - "The
love in your heart wasn't put there to stay; Love isn't love until you give
it away!"
Good luck everyone on your journey.
I'll be rooting for you! I know you can do this - I know you can make
your Goal - YOU CAN DO IT! Go for the GOLD!
Success is...achieved and maintained by those who try - and keep trying.
ø¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸¸,ø¤º°GOOD LUCK EVERYONE°º¤ø,¸¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸ø
August 30,
2000 - Today is my 2 year anniversary of making my GOAL weight!
YIPPEE!! Wow! Where has the time gone! It has been
a relatively easy journey - this "road" of maintenance. It has not
been without it's struggles now and then but I have been able to overcome
them with no guilt and move on down the road! When I have a little setback
I remember the quote my best friend, Tammy, told me, "A
setback is a setup for a comeback!" Those words are so true!
I also very firmly believe in the
power of positive thinking - "A positive attitude overcomes
even the tallest obstacles." I
continue to use many of the positive reaffirmations that I have adopted along
the way - "I can do this" "I want to be healthy and stay healthy"
"I want to look and feel great, ALL THE TIME" "I am worth it"
"I NEVER want to go back to where I was" - there are many more but
you get the idea!
One of the most important things
I have learned on this journey is that I am NOT perfect. I WILL make
mistakes and I will SLIDE off program but I WILL also get back on program
as soon as possible with NO GUILT!!! And...it's OKAY! I am not
a bad person or a failure - I am human!
In June I put up the Dotti's Weight
Loss Zone Message Board - it was a move I hesitated on thinking I would not
be able to handle the extra responsibility. Well, I'm here to tell you
that I am soooooo happy I finally did put it up. I have met the most
wonderful group of people on this journey of ours through the message board
and they, along with all of you, keep me on the right path of my journey.
Our message board is full of loving, caring, supportive, funny, knowlegeable,
helpful and understanding people! It is so nice to know we are NOT alone
on this journey.
Along with the message board, SueT
(of the message board) was so nice to put up TWO chats for us on her site
- Java and Non-Java (some people are not able to get into the Java).
SueT - thank you so very much! I am NOW addicted to chat!!!! It
is a wonderful way to really get to know your new friends and there are a
lot of laughs too (I know since I'm always ROFL - rolling on the floor laughing
- my name in chat is now ROFL Dotti!). Come and visit us in chat or on the
boards - the support is wonderful!
One more thing - just went in for
my yearly physical and all the numbers are fantastic! My blood pressure
was 102/62 - the health benefits of this journey speak for themselves!
No wonder I feel so great all the time!
Well, I'm going to sign off until
the next time. Remember, to take the journey ONE DAY AT A TIME, NO
GUILT and MOVE ON. I'm rooting for
you!
Success is...achieved and maintained by those who try - and keep trying.
ø¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸¸,ø¤º°GOOD LUCK EVERYONE°º¤ø,¸¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸ø
July 14, 2000
- Hi everyone. I just got back from
my week long vacation in Spokane, WA with my best friend and fellow Weight
Watcher, Tammy! I went to four meetings while there (Tammy is a receptionist
at several meetings and I tagged along - you can never go to too many meetings!)
and loved every one of them. The leaders up there are wonderful! (Thank you
Shirley, Eileen and Jane for some very enjoyable meetings - I would also like
to thank all their wonderful members for making me feel so welcome).
I loved the topic that week (the Summer Olympics - your goal at the start
of them). I made a personal goal of losing 10 lbs and getting back to the
gym on a regular basis (at least 3 times a week like I used to). The exercise
part of our journey has been a real struggle for me since the first of the
year and the five pounds I gained over Christmas have not moved! So,
even though I am still at goal I would like my ultimate goal to be to lose
10 more lbs! I hope all of you have set your own personal mini-goal. Small
goals are a great way to stay on the right road of your journey. I am well
on my way on the exercise part - made it to the gym 3 times last week and
hope to add another day next week!
Tammy and I had a lot of fun and
stayed OP most of the time, except when we went to the Outback for your yearly
traditional dinner (see Vacation photos). We always have so
much fun together catching up and hate it when it's time for me to leave!
I hope you all have a wonderful summer!
Success is...achieved and maintained by those who try - and keep trying.
ø¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸¸,ø¤º°GOOD LUCK EVERYONE°º¤ø,¸¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸ø
May 1, 2000 - Thought it was time to update you on my progress. I have had a very
stressful two weeks away (you know how life is supposed to be one way and
then it throws you a curve - well that was my two weeks). I left with
hubby on Sunday, April16th and arrived home on Sunday, April 30th. I
went with him (he was there for his job) because I like to do that - get away
and have some "quiet" time with him (no everyday activities getting
in the way). Anyway, I won't go into detail but it was "far from
quiet" - I got little to no exercise but I did stay within my Points!
I took the focus off of me and that is really the root of it all. As
my leader, Renee, said today at meeting - you always learn from your detours
of your journey - and she is so very right. I came right home and got
back on track with my exercise - went to the gym this morning and after my
meeting Al and I walked to the top of Multnomah Falls (1.2 very steep miles
up for a total of 2.4 miles roundtrip and the ambulance did not even have
to be called once!).
I managed to go to one meeting while
I was out of town and at least keep focused on my food intake as I stated
above. Some days I did not eat enough food but I guess that is better than
overeating, HA! Kidding aside, that is not good either! My goal is still,
to try and get down about 8-10 lbs. so I am not "riding the line"
of my high end of my goal - for some reason I have been struggling since Christmas
- I am just letting life get in the way of "my" time, which
I know is wrong during this journey. I really MUST take the time (at
least an hour a day) for myself, my exercise and my journey. That is
what I will be focusing on the next couple of months. All we can do is take
it ONE DAY AT A TIME, NO GUILT and MOVE ON. The one line which
keeps coming back in my head is this: "Do you like it enough
to wear it?" and believe me, it saw me through on the eating end
of our journey!
Although I was sure that I would
be over a pound or two of my goal weight of 146 I went to my meeting and stayed
accountable. I just made it, AGAIN, weighing in at 146 lbs. I
was so elated. But, I must also tell you I was sure it was over so I
even had my check all written out for the meeting fee! Boy, it was nice
ripping up that check! I can also tell you that if I did have to pay
this week, I definitely WOULDN'T have to pay next week - that's for
sure! The meeting was fantastic (I JUST LOVE MY MEETINGS!) and really
psyched me up - I really missed those guys and our wonderful leader, Renee!
I guess the main thought I wanted
to leave you with today is to GO TO YOUR MEETINGS, BE ACCOUNTABLE and take
ONE DAY AT A TIME, NO GUILT and MOVE ON. This is a journey, after
all, and all journeys have detours - know Program and get back on track as
soon as possible. And...by all means don't beat yourself up for your
rough times - just MOVE ON!
A Note To
All My Web Page Visitors: I would like to THANK everyone
that has sent me recipes, motivation, tips, etc. to include on my web page.
It has truly become "OUR" web page thanks to all of you. I
am trying desperately to keep up with all the email....so far I have been
able to answer them all but there are times when I get a little behind (you
know, that Life thingy!) in answering and getting everything up on site! I'm
also trying very hard to update often - so please be patient with me. I'd
also like to say THANK YOU to all of you who have sent me wonderful, supportive
emails as they really make my day and keep me on the right road of this journey
also. Just because I am Lifetime does not mean I am not going through
what some of you are. We are all on this journey together and support
is what really makes it happen. Again, I thank you and applaud all of you!
Hope everyone is having a successful
journey. I'm rooting for you all and wish you only the best in life!
You deserve it, after all!
Success is...achieved and maintained by those who try - and keep trying.
ø¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸¸,ø¤º°GOOD LUCK EVERYONE°º¤ø,¸¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸ø
January 10, 2000
- Well, it looks like it is time to
let you know how I have been again. I just passed my two year anniversary
since starting the W.W. 123 Points Program on January 5th, 1998. It has been
a wonderful journey and continues to be so. I continue to attend my weekly
W.W. meeting on Mondays at noon - I just love my meetings and feel truly "lost"
when I have to miss one (sick or out of town). I am fortunate to have a wonderful
leader, Rene, who keeps me highly motivated to stay on this journey of ours. Thank you Rene. Along with Rene, all my great friends at my meeting
are a source of joy and support. What a feeling knowing we are not alone
on this journey of ours. The tips you get at the meetings are invaluable.
I have really been struggling lately with my exercise but am finally back
on track. I feel much better knowing I am back on the right road of that part
of our journey. It is so important! I always feel so much better after my
workout but sometimes it is very hard getting out the door to do it, which
I'm sure you understand. But, it is a MUST on this journey - you just
have to find what works for you. For me, I have to hit the gym the minute
my feet hit the floor in the morning. If I don't do it FIRST THING then I won't. I know ME!
I have been gone the last two weeks - Dec 24th thru Jan 7th - and they have
been very "trying" weeks for me! I was out of my "safe"
atmosphere - my house - the safest place on earth for me, foodwise! I did
very good the first week at my inlaws (went prepared because I knew we were
going to be there for that week) but the second week was another story. We
stayed an extra week because of my mother-in-laws gallbladder surgery and
I was in no way prepared - mentally or foodwise! You can't exactly throw out
all the "redlight" foods in someone elses house, ha ha! So, with
the stress of worrying about Mom, going back and forth to the hospital (an
hour away) and just plain exhausted, I ate all the wrong foods and too much
of them! Missing my weekly W.W. meeting was hard - they truly, truly are my
lifeline to continued SUCCESS on this journey. I finally woke up by
the middle of the week and got up on their treadmill - a step in the right
direction. That felt good! I watched my food and "hung in there",
taking ONE DAY AT A TIME.
I continued to repeat to myself, ONE DAY AT A TIME, NO GUILT and MOVE ON
when you hit a rough spot - it's been my motto since the beginning of
my journey. It always gets me through the tough times! I got up at 4:30 am
this morning and headed out to the gym - came home feeling refreshed and in
control. I walked with my head held high and a smile on my face through the
doors of my W.W. meeting even though I was pretty sure this was going to be
the first time I had to pay at my monthly weigh in (after 14 months of maintaining
under my goal weight). It was no big deal. I knew I was back on track so nothing
else mattered. I could of taken the easy way out - waited another week to
weigh in (since I had the whole month of January) - but - I wanted to be accountable
- I needed the support I get at my meeting (had already missed two weeks)
- and most of all, I did not want to move backwards on my journey - I wanted
to continue moving forward. That means there are going to be rough spots but
it's important to remember that it is all part of the journey - a lifetime
journey! None of us are perfect and if we expect to be, then we are headed
for failure. Well, I am happy to tell you that I didn't have to pay...I weighed
in EXACTLY at my goal weight! I was happy!
My goal for 2000 is to be 135 lbs. and make 140 lbs. my "ceiling".
I will give it my best try. Most of all I wish to stay on program and maintain
this healthy new lifestyle that I have attained. That is MOST IMPORTANT.
My wish for all of you on this journey of ours is good health, continued success
on program and to reach your goals that you have set for yourself. YOU
CAN DO IT! Just always remember this: ONE DAY AT A TIME, NO GUILT and
MOVE ON when you hit a rough spot!
Success is...achieved and maintained by those who try - and keep trying.
ø¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸¸,ø¤º°GOOD LUCK EVERYONE°º¤ø,¸¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸ø
August 30, 1999
- Today is my ONE YEAR anniversary
of making my goal weight! Where has the time gone! This is a first for me.
I have maintained under my goal weight for the whole year, never going over
it. I just went for my annual physical and my blood pressure is the best it
has ever been - 92/52 (last year, right after making goal, it was 92/50)- WOW! The health benefits of a healthy lifestyle speak for themselves.
To maintain I have kept my points at about 20-22 per day (when I'm struggling)
- 24-26 a day when I am on track - doing my 1 hour workout 3 times a week
and never missing my weekly meeting. I must say, after working the program
for 8 months to lose the weight, maintenance has not been a problem. I know
the program inside and out and through learning all the aspects of healthy
eating, exercising and making the right food choices, sliding into maintenance
was no chore at all. This is where I wanted to be and it has been easier than
I ever imagined. It is scary at first when you make goal because you feel,
"I am there", I don't need program, the meetings, etc. anymore.
But...let me tell you - the one thing that has helped me MOST to maintain
is the fact that I NEVER miss my meetings...I am one of the few LIFETIMERS who STILL go to meetings. The meetings are truly my LIFELINE to continued success. The added bonus to attending my meetings are all the
truly wonderful new friends I have met who are on the same journey! Knowing
you are not alone is a good feeling and sharing your experiences along the
way helps keep you focused. I don't write my foods down anymore EXCEPT when I am having a bad week (that happens and it's okay!) and then I get out
all my "books" and start from scratch for a week or two - it gets
me back on track. It is hard for beginners to see but there is a light at
the end of the tunnel. If you work the program like it's meant to be worked,
you WILL get to the point where you won't even have to think about
it anymore. Keep going - you are almost there - the trip is worth it. Thanks
for listening and good luck to all of you on this journey of ours. I'm rooting
for you all!
Success is...achieved and maintained by those who try - and keep trying.
ø¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸¸,ø¤º°GOOD LUCK EVERYONE°º¤ø,¸¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸ø
July 11, 1999
- I am still maintaining my goal weight
of 146 lbs. as of today - it has been 10 1/2 months since I made goal at Weight
Watchers.
I went on vacation from July 3rd to July 10th to my best friend Tammy's house
and had a fantastic time. She is also a Lifetime Member and is now a receptionist
for Weight Watchers. I went prepared with my two point snacks for the trip
and my husband and I ate at Subway for our lunch. I find that the fast food
places like McDonalds don't satisfy me and take away too many of my points
for the day!
The week before I went I was able to lose a couple of pounds so that I could
"relax" a little while there. I did my "official" monthly
weigh in (Lifetimers must weigh in once a month - the first meeting they attend
in the new month) on Tuesday so that I would have that behind me. It was the
first time I was "surprised" at my weigh in. I have to admit that
I am a scale hopper and feel most secure when I weigh in every morning on
my digital scale, so, I usually know what I am going to weigh in at. Well,
this time I wasn't sure when I weighed in what the scale would tell. I had
already had a couple of days celebrating with Kahula's & cream, etc. I
was down 1.2 lbs. Yes! I went to two meetings that week since Tammy was working
them, so, along with Tammy's support and the meetings, I was keeping motivated
with no problem. I love going to meetings - they are truly my Lifeline to
keeping successful with my new Healthy Lifestyle. We went out to dinner at
the Outback Restaurant and I had a wonderful meal of Blackened Salmom with
a baked potato, along with a side of large grilled shrimp. For dessert Tammy
and I split the very sumptious Sinful Sundae - I will tell you it was heavenly
and I didn't feel guilty at all eating it. We even showed our great Weight
Watcher "control" and pushed away the plate leaving a drop or two
of ice cream - ha ha!
I can't tell you enough how easy this new W.W. 123 program is. You CAN eat anything you want as long as you watch your portions. I NEVER deny
myself anything and if I have overdone it on my points I take it easy the
next day. I have found that if you keep denying yourself you will quit because
you feel like you are missing something or that you can't do this for the
rest of your life. I don't eat anything I don't like and I always take it ONE DAY AT A TIME. As you work the program you will find that it becomes
easier and the right food choices, etc. become automatic. I would like to
close now by saying, "NOTHING TASTES AS GOOD AS THIN FEELS"!
Again, good luck on your weight loss journey and may you all find success
and happiness.
P.S. There are photos from my vacation on my photo page if you are
interested! (click here)
Success is...achieved and maintained by those who try - and keep trying.
ø¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸¸,ø¤º°GOOD LUCK EVERYONE°º¤ø,¸¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸ø
June 17, 1999
- I have been below my Lifetime Member
Goal Weight now for almost 8 months, as of June 19, 1999. During that time
I attempted to quit smoking and did last a couple months but I must report
to you that I failed in that endeavor. I am smoking again, not as much, and
NO, I do not feel like a failure. I will try again at a later time. I'm sure
I was "rushing" it a bit as I wanted to "finish the year out
right" but really was not ready mentally.
I have had a lot of challenges since making LIFETIME but have met them
head on and managed to work my way through them...I find that when I am struggling,
the best thing to do is get all my Weight Watcher booklets and info out and
start right from the beginning again - this helps me to get back on track
and usually takes about a week to get back into the groove. Since I made LIFETIME in October 1998 I have never missed a meeting except when I am out of town
or sick. The meetings and group support are my lifeline and I feel incomplete
when I don't go. Please don't underestimate the power of group support. It
is so nice to know you are not on this journey alone.
