Week: 17
Pounds Lost: 34
So I have a little secret for you – I love scrapbooking (or crapbooking as the hubster calls it). For some years I refused to even consider the hobby. I saw it as something that bored, over-privileged suburban "housewives" did with all the extra money their husbands made that they didn’t spend on SUVs, tumbled marble kitchen tiles, designer children’s clothes or plastic surgery. My best friend tried to convince me it was fun and creative – I refused to even go to her "scrapbooking party". Then, somehow, I got bitten, and now I’m hooked. The problem is, it’s not the kind of thing most women do at home in their "spare time". No, scrapbooking is a real event – large groups of women book community centres, school gyms, even conference centres for their "crops" (that’s what it’s called when a group of scrapbookers get together to do their thing).
So that’s where I was this past weekend, when I should have been at my Weight Watchers meeting – at a friend’s cottage gluing pictures of my kids onto fancy paper and watching chick flicks with four other "paper crafters" (as we sometimes call ourselves!). Now, the benefit of a girls’ weekend where you scrapbook all day and into the wee hours is that your hands are busy doing crafts and therefore not eating junk. Also, scrapbookers tend to be rather compulsive about their paper and related products, so usually all food and beverages are banned from the scrapbooking area and placed, buffet-style, on a separate table. Such was the case this weekend, and that’s a good thing.
Because to be completely honest with you (and despite my flirtation with the Salt & Vinegar diet the week before) I planned to ignore my weight loss pursuits for the entire weekend. I went armed with a bag of snacks and a case of pop (and a bottle of Baileys for good measure!) and I was NOT going to feel bad about digging in. Thing is…I didn’t. Not really, anyway. I came home with more than half of my "bad snacks" uneaten, I really only wanted one serving of supper (although it was a truly delicious lasagne and I haven’t tasted lasagne since I started WW in May) and I actually went out to the store and bought apples because I was craving fruit! I had one small glass of wine and sipped some Baileys on ice (well, okay, a coffee mug full) while watching You’ve Got Mail with the gals. It doesn’t get much better than that, ladies.
And, like the cherry on top of the sundae, I didn’t gain an ounce! You know, I’ve always been really skeptical about this whole "lifestyle change" that everyone tells you is necessary to achieve and maintain significant weight loss. I never doubted it was necessary…I just doubted it was something I could achieve. Well, this weekend I learned something – I have made a lifestyle change, and I can maintain it. And not feel deprived. Not in the least.
In fact, the whole point was driven home to me when my dear friend Laura gave me this photo on Saturday when I arrived:
"I thought you’d like to see what you looked like last summer", she said as she handed it over.
Well, what do you think? Here’s me now:
Worth it? You bet…worth every last uneaten chip!
Kath is a Calgary mom of two daughters aged nearly 6 and 3. She’s lost 34 pounds since May and isn’t planning on stopping until she loses 25 more! Stay tuned as she fills us in each week on her weigh-in progress, and one or two more times during the week as she muses on the challenges and rewards of losing weight. And don’t forget to leave comments – Kath loves comments!
Sabrina: thank you so much for your wonderful comment. You made my day!
Wow! I never respond to these things, but I just couldn’t help myself!
I just want to say congratulations for your success so far, and it’s amazing, I’ve read 3 of your entries, and I feel like I know you.
Well, good luck on the rest of your journey, which will not stop once you reach your goal, it will be a forever thing, won’t it?
I also have to say, what a wonderful writer you are! All the best to you. And maybe I WILL go back to WW. I’ve been pondering it, and today, the scales are tipped back in favour of joining again, thanks to you.
Best of luck, and I will definitely be watching for more wonderful anecdotes from you. -Sabrina
Wow! You look fabulous! Great work. Your children will thank you for showing them a healthy lifestyle.
I just can’t believe how fabulous you look!! Like Jen I totally had tears in my eyes and had to stare at it for a few minutes to really process it all. What a difference and you owe it all to you!!
Kath, you are a kindered spirit! 34lbs since May is FANTASTIC! You look amazing! I look forward to following your weight loss journey. I too am a HUGE supporter of Weight Watchers. I started WW back in April 04, lost 20 lbs, became pregnant, went back in May 05, lost 50lbs over 11 months and SURPRSIE became pregnant AGAIN this May! I am now 5.5 months pregnant and I am thrilled! I have gained 20lbs during this pregnancy and I am going to do everything I can to stay under a 40lb gain. I am hungry ALL the time, but I am doing my best to watch what I put in my mouth and keep the weight gain reasonable. I know I am capable of losing the weight again, but I also know that with pregnancy comes weight gain and you just can’t fight it, right? I became a WW lifetime member just one week before discovering I was pregnant and the rules say if you’re a lifetime member and you become pregnant you only have 3 months from when the baby is born to drop ALL the weight you gained and get back to goal. Can you say pressure?! Thank you for sharing your journey with us – you inspire me and I look forward to jumping back on the WW wagon!
Sandy, thanks for saying I “already look so thin” – WOW! Never heard that before! As for the 25 more lbs, at 5’8″ and 184lbs, I’m still considered overweight (bordering on obese). The WW healthy weight for my height and age (37) is between 131-158. My personal goal is to get to 155 and then always stay in the 150s. But you never know, when I first joined WW I secretly set my goal at 185 since it was the least I could remember weighing since university. Then once I got going I realized that would be cheating myself of what I *could* do, so I decide to go all the way into my healthy range. We’ll see what happens in a few more months when I crack the 150s!
That’s my girl – you are totally amazing!
YOU LOOK AMAZING! I can NOT believe the difference. Even from your last picture. It just seems so hard but now more than ever I am determined. You are right – no chip is worth giving that up! You should feel so proud of yourself and so thrilled with what you have accomplished. I can’t believe you are going for another 25lbs!? You already look so thin.
Next pic has to be of you and your newly skinny hubby too! Thanks for the kick in the butt…however unintentional.
Thank you all so much for your support – I truly would not be where I am were it not for the support of everyone here at urbanmoms.ca as well as my friends and family.
Jen: tears of joy, I hope 😉 Thank you for the hugs, although there is less of me to hug now!
Kim: I hear you…took me a long time to work out that eating badly was NOT a coping mechanism, but actually a stressor. You can lose 30 lbs – do it before it becomes 60 lbs, as I let mine!
Ali…can you imagine me lugging my rolling tote full of scrapbooking supplies on the airplane next time I come to TO?! LOL, but actually, it would be a good way to pass time on the flight, as long as the people beside didn’t mind giving up their table space to my paper trimmer, stamps, inks, adhesive, embellishments, paper, photos…uhhh…nevermind. 😉
Katie: jot things down on the calendar when they happen, then at the end of the year you have a written record to look back on when organizing – or you can just pull it out in 30 years and say “oh, when you started grade two you said the cutest thing…”
Thanks all! You’re truly an inspiration! K
You look fabulous! What an inspiration! Talking of discipline and lifestyle chnage, I need to start getting paperwork, photos, momemtoes organized around here, instead of shoving everything into bags and assuming I will remember the day, cute things that were said etc. See – we all have our achilles heel…
oh my gosh! you look so thin and GORGEOUS!!!
also…i’m a HUGE scrapbooker! when are you coming to town??? we can scrap together 🙂
Weight ugh….i too am trying to get back to a more comfortable state. 4 kids and not too much self-control has put me 30 pounds above where I want to be. It is such a struggle. How do I get it through my thick head the one who benefits from good decision making is me? I am so proud that you realized that this past weekend through dedication to yourself!
So great for you to take some time out with yor gal pals. I do not scrapbook but envy the results as it is precious art that details such fabulous and special memories.
All the best in your continued lifestyle upgrade!
OH MY GODDDDDDDDD!!!! I am actually crying! You look amazing…SO HOT! You should be so proud of yourself! {{{{HUGS}}}}