I am Nadine, just a normal 42-year old married woman with two sons.  Over the years I've lost and gained my weight a few times.  But, I am a firm believer of losing weight the RIGHT and HEALTHY way!  No fad diets, no pills, no quick weight loss fixes. 

I've yoyoed with my weight for years.  I had a son when I was 21, gained 65 pounds.  I was young.  I went with the thought that I was eating for two.  So, I ate.  Pancakes everyday for breakfast.  Ice cream.  Fried chicken.  Loved peanut butter and jelly so much I could OD on it!  Soul food.  Chinese food.  OK, lots of ethnic foods.  I admit that I love to eat!  I remember the doctor telling me that if I didn't stop, I was going to have a baby whale!  My husband laughed, I did not find it funny.

After having my first son in 1987, I waited a year or so, then set my sights on losing the weight.  And, I did.  Not using any specific diet.  Lots of salads, baked chicken, diet sodas.  No official exercise.  Oh, the joys of being in my early 20s and active! 

Slowly, I gained a few pounds here and there.  Then six years later, I got pregnant with my second son.  I only gained 25-30 pounds with him!  But, again, I looked like Shamu! 

January 2000 I got fed up with the weight.  My husband had done Weight Watchers through his job, so I used his books, got the idea of eating smaller portions, measuring foods, lots of vegetables and fruits.  And, I lost the weight again.  I absolutely HATED the scale!  It was my sworn enemy.  The only time I ever stepped on a scale was when I went to the doctor.  So, I don't know how much weight I lost.  But, over a year, I went from a size 20 to a size 14.  I loved it.  Slinky, sexy, form fitting clothes.  I was HOT!

By 2004, the weight had snuck back on me.  Realizing I needed help, in 2004 I walked into a Weight Watchers meeting.  I weighed in at 234.  Yuck.  I got the books and info.  It allowed REAL FOOD!  I decided that instead of eating a whole bagel with cream cheese, I'd eat a half.  I could still eat pizza.  I could still have chocolate and chips and whatever I wanted, as long as I cut my portions.  Well, I walked into the meeting the following week and had gained 5 pounds!

I was pissed.  At myself.  At Weight Watchers.  THEY LIED!  I can't remember if it was that time of the month.  I did admit to myself that I hadn't followed their program, and that was the reason I gained the weight.  I walked out of that meeting, and didn't go back for two years!

I knew I was overweight.  I did care.  But, I didn't care enough to do anything about it.  Over the years, I'd gone through quite a few stressful situations.  I won't bore you with those details.  January 2006, my New Year's resolution was once again to lose weight.  At that time, I felt that I needed to take control of the one thing in my life that I COULD control  I accepted that, even though I KNEW what to do, I couldn't do it on my own.  So, I walked straight back into that Weight Watchers office.  I needed the group of people at the meeting.  I needed the reinforcement.  I felt that I needed to do this one thing to save my sanity.  Interestingly enough, the day I weighed in I was the same exact weight I was when I walked out of that same room two years before.

From January 2006 through June 2007, I lost 86 pounds.  I went from 234 to 148.  My personal goal was 150.  I had met my goal weight!  I wanted to work for Weight Watchers, so I had to lose another 13 pounds.  I did this by eating fruits, vegetables, lean meats, lots of water!  Smaller portions.  And, after an initial adjustment, I wasn't hungry.  I wasn't deprived.  I could still have pizza, ethnic foods, KFC, Popeye's, etc.  But, I wasn't eating it EVERYDAY, three meals a day! 

Regular people were doing it and succeeding.  Its not easy, but it is worth it!

Lo & behold, I ran into a bit more stress, and have slowly started gaining the weight back.

Please know that the plan does work.  Out of boredom and depression, I stopped eating healthy.  I'd eat double-decker pb&j sandwiches.  A can of raisins.  Two-three bowls of cereal.  This isn't about, "Of if you stop eating diet food, you'll gain the weight back.  This IS about if I go back to my former greedy-eating ways, I will gain the weight back.

Many of my friends have called me an inspiration.  And, while I don't like to be put on a pedestal, I am glad to show that it can be done.

I hope you will join me on this journey.  I will discuss my thoughts on various weight loss methods.  I will be venting on my own weight loss journey. 

written April 7, 2008