My Weight Journal

About

Married in 1974.  Probably a size 16-18.  I am 64 years old.  Yes, we just celebrated 46 years.  So NOW I am 68 years old and just celebrated 50 years.

In 1979 I was on Weight Watchers and got down to a good weight – very happy with myself.  Size 12 clothes then. I got pregnant, had a miscarriage – got pregnant again.  In 1980 I gave birth to a beautiful baby girl.  Also gained 60 pounds.  We chose to move from Michigan to Washington – without a job when I was 3 months pregnant. Crazy, but we did it – it was good.

You look back and wonder about how we did it – and the brilliance of the decision.  But our life has been very good just taking life on faith that it would work out.  It has.

I’ve done lots of diets, Nutri-system, WW,  Phen-phen, lots of different fads – the weight went up and down.  I gained more during the pregnancy of our son (delivered at 9 pounds) in 1983.  Now I was up even more!

By 2010 I was up over 300 pounds.  I think my highest was about 310 pounds.  Although I never felt like my weight stopped me from doing things.  I still swam.  I never thought my weight would stop me from accomplishing something.  I didn’t see my life revolved around my weight.  But the more I gained, it bothered me.  Was I going to fit thru the turnstyle at a game?  Would I get stuck in one and be embarrassed.  Made sure I had sturdy chairs.  Would I fit in the wet suit when we went out on a commercial boat snorkeling?

I decided to try Positive Hypnosis – lost over 50 pounds.  It was great.  Over a year’s period, it worked great.  But then I stopped going to classes and started gaining weight.  As I gained 20+ pounds back, I decided to try Weight Watchers again.

That was my life for 4 years — it was good.  From 2011 to 2015 I lost 100 pounds with Weight Watchers.  Back to around 200 pounds. Now it is coming back.

In 2016 my husband retired, I quit my job in Everett, WA.  We had bought a home in AZ and moved there.  The more I read about grains and sugars (Wheat Belly, Plant Paradox) and additives – it made an impression.  We stopped eating sugar and grains in 2017.  My husband lost weight, I lost some here and there, but it kept coming back.  I tested my blood sugar during the day, I counted carbs, I have had minimal bread or grain in over 2 years.

2016-19 I added 10 pounds each year.  So it was time to get the weight under control.  I had read a lot about fasting, and it made sense.  I found (by accident or design) the Eat Like a Bear website/Facebook.  I lost 50 pounds during Covid on ELAB.  Here is a link on ELAB.

I have been very blessed to not have any health issues.  My health numbers are always good – except my obesity and weight numbers!  I have lots of pictures, never minded my picture being taken – so I will have lots to compare my weight loss to!  I do know my KNEES will be so much happier with getting some weight off!  By all means I know if I could get this weight off I will have more energy and be able to move better.  Getting off the floor (once I get down) will be much easier. It’s kind of like a turtle on their back, me getting up!  🙂

I love to snorkel and swim.  It will be great to snorkel and not be “obese”…In  2024 we went to Hawaii for our 50th wedding anniversary.  I did snorkel.  I have gained most of what I lost on ELAB back – so here I go again trying to find the right answer to getting my weight off and keeping it off.