Week 3: 208.2lbs
Total Pounds Lost: 9
Yesterday I passed a major milestone – I fit into my old size 14 pants – comfortably! This is the best part of the weight loss journey – seeing and feeling the results on my body, instead of just on the scale. It’s what I’m going for, really, despite the nice chatter about healthy eating and lifestyle changes – I want to look good, and I’m somehow ashamed to admit it.
At my Weight Watchers meeting on Saturday a member had just passed the 55 pound milestone and was only 2 pounds away from reaching her goal. We all asked her how she stuck with it and kept motivated; it’s been a 13-month journey for her. She told us that her doctor had frightened her into losing 50 pounds because her blood pressure was so high, and she just had her physical and had slashed the numbers by more than half! I was very happy for her, but I just couldn’t identify with her. See, whenever I go to the doctor, I get a clean bill of health…except for the number on the scale. I know, academically, that I’m at a higher risk of so many diseases because I’m overweight, but because I’ve never experienced any negative effects on my health (i.e. I don’t have high blood pressure, or high cholesterol, or diabetes, or heart disease, etc.) I find myself unsuccessful using health as a motivator.
So, back to the mirror and the clothes-rack. I’ll admit it, to myself and to you, the number one reason I am here losing weight is to look better than I do now and to wear a smaller size clothes. There. I said it! I remember Oprah once saying that one of her best weight-loss milestones was being able to shop at the Gap. I hear you, Oprah! I want to wear fashionable clothes and look good in them. And the way I see it, as long as I want that more than I want a bag of chips, I’ll know I’m still motivated.
So, be the motives lofty or base, at this point, I’ll take whatever keeps the pounds coming off!
Kath is mom to two daughters, aged 5.5 and 3 (almost!). Join her on urbanmoms.ca each week as she chronicles her weight loss journey. Please share your stories, advice, and encouragement by adding a comment below or sending an email to kath@urbanmoms.ca.