Welcome to my journey with Weight Watchers. Weight Watchers is probably the most famous slimming programme in the world and has been around (thankfully) for almost 50 years after it was created by an American housewife Jean Nidetch. In 1961 she started a support group for overweight people then in 1963 she created ‘Weight Watchers’, by 1968 it had gone nationwide and today it is the most famous weight loss programme ever and is available in 30 countries all around the world. I joined the Garstang Weight Watchers group and started doing the ProPoints plan on 11/1/11, weighing in at a frightening 19 stone 8lbs. At 5' 9" tall this meant I had over 7 stone to lose to get to my ideal weight - a scary prospect but I was determined to do it!!
Looking at the photos after my stay at my daughter's house for Christmas 2010 I was horrified to see how much weight I had put on. I had turned 60 just before Christmas and I was really feeling the extra weight that I had piled on over the last 18 months to two years. I knew that the only way I could possibly lose the weight was to return back to Weight Watchers and attend meetings, in my opinion the only sure way of losing the weight. I have had a long association with Weight Watchers and became a gold member in 1981 after losing 9 stone. Sadly age, health and family problems had taken their toll and here I was - 30 years later - bigger than ever!!
The Facebook photograph from Christmas 2010 that made me start classes!!
I bought a monthly Pass with Weight Watchers and got access to their website which was a real boost and really helped. I love the graphs that I can make that mark out my weight loss. After 4 weeks I was thrilled to have lost 13 lbs. At my third weigh in I received my first 'silver seven' and by week four was just 1lb off my 5% loss mark!!
The 1st March 2011 was the start of a new month and I was still going really well and thoroughly enjoying the ProPoints plan; by using the good, healthy principles that I picked up from Core I find that I could eat three very filling, nutritious and tasty meals and just didn't feel as if I was dieting. I ate out regularly and also enjoyed a drink of wine - all within my daily and weekly points and all with decent losses.
After my eight weigh in I had lost 26lbs in total. I also lost inches 3" from my waist 4" from my hips 3" from my bust 1.5 " from my upper arm 1" from my thigh
15th March - Week 9 weigh in and I lost a further 2 lbs giving me my 10% award from Weight Watchers!!
After my 12th weigh in I had lost a total of 33 lbs, by week 18 I have lost 47 pounds., and am now 16 stone 3 pounds. By the 14th June and I had my 21st Weigh In , I lost 2lbs again this week meaning that I had now lost 54lbs
This picture was taken in my garden after the weigh in.
The 'before' picture shows me with a size 24 coat that wouldn't fasten and a walking stick due to the back ache I refused to believe was to do with my weight.
The second, taken 8 months later shows me 54lbs lighter the stick is gone and the clothes are size 18.
With my son in June 2011 12th June 2011 I came second in the WW WOW makeover competitio, prize amakeover in London!!
After 27 weeks I had lost 65 lbs and am was
This is the lightest I have been for 10 years!
In the picture to the right I am wearing a pair of button topped trousers in a size 18; a huge change from the elasticated waisted size 26 I was wearing in January!!
Pictures from my WW WOW Makeover, August 2011
On the 16th August, and after 8 months I had lost exactly 5 stone or 70 pounds; I was delighted. I am losing slowly and surely every week while living a 'normal' lifestyle that incorporated barbecues, eating out and a drink of wine (or 3!!). ProPoints really is a fantastic plan, one that is for life, thank you Weight Watchers!!
By Christmas 2011 I had almost reached my goal - just 6 lbs away. This is me in November 2011.