As you probably know, I joined Weight Watchers on September 20, 2010.  I have been successfully navigating the Points (and now ProPoints) system for three entire months as of today.  My starting weight of 250 has been reduced to a very commendable 220, a total loss of 30 pounds in 90 days.  I am incredibly proud of what I have accomplished.  I thought it would be neat to capture some of the things that have surprised me a little along the way.

Things I Thought Were Not Possible For Me – Which I Now Can Do

• Completing 25 minutes on the elliptical at resistance level 3
• Actively walking 8 miles in one day
• Ascending four flights of stairs to my office 2x-3x per day
• Successfully making good food choices every day
• Drinking water only and not completely hating it
• Stretching while sitting on my knees on the floor

Things I Didn’t Know Were Difficult Until They Became Easier

• Feeding and playing with the cats
• Weeding the yard
• Moving boxes and bins around the garage
• Shaving my legs
• I can paint my toes now (yay!)
• Finding clothes (I’ve dropped from 24/26 size pants to 20/22)
• Walking 25 miles in Vegas
• Walking down four flights of stairs, to another building and up a flight of stairs to my boss’ office without heaving and pouring sweat on him once I get there

Unexpected Drawbacks of Weight Loss

• Setting aside a budget to buy interim clothes as I shrink
• Having to constantly explain myself at restaurants and social outings when I refuse treats or eat less than expected

Coworkers and friends I haven’t seen in a while are noticing my weight loss with a startled look on their faces.  The first reaction naturally is to step back for a second and exclaim something like, “Wow, are you losing weight? You look great!”  It’s a nice compliment and I know they mean well, but it can be a little unnerving because I see myself every day in the mirror.  I forget how much I’ve lost since I last saw them.

I knew the day would come when I decided that I could no longer sustain my life at the weight I had become.  Three months later, I never would have expected that I could have lost this much weight in a safe and healthy manner under my doctor’s supervision, simply through a change of eating habits and adding some daily physical activity.  I am not on a diet.  I have changed my life.  I recognize and thoroughly understand that this must be the way I proceed through the rest of my life.  I will not go back – I cannot go back.

I feel fantastic, and I can’t wait to see how I feel 30 pounds from now when I reach 190.  I bet it will be amazing!

My First 3 Months of Progress