Debbie's WW Page

I was not heavy in my childhood or teenage years.  I gained about 20 pounds in nursing school which I lost easily.  I was able to maintain my weight at 122.   I got married and put on the  proverbial 15 pounds but was still within a healthy weight for my height. 

With the birth of my first child, I ended up with a 8 pound gain but was still wearing a size 10 so I didn't worry about it.  Two more children over the next 5-1/2 years and I was now almost 170 pounds.  In the years that followed I went up and down a couple of time never able to maintain my weight loss.

In 1996 I was injured at work and was diagnosed with Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy or as it is now called Chronic Regional Pain Syndrome.  With the depression that ensured and all the meds for the pain I had ballooned up to 203 pounds by 1998, which is a lot for my 5'2.5" frame. 

In January 1999, I knew I had to do something.  I found a chronic pain diet which did not allow sugar, sweets, alcohol, or highly processed foods. This diet helped me wean myself off all the pain meds that I was on over the next year. Though I still have pain I can manage it without daily meds.  I lost 13 pounds over 2 months just by following this diet but then my weight loss stalled. 

In June of 1999, I joined WW for the first time.  Over the next year I lost another 45 pounds, putting me within 6 pounds of my WW weight range.   In June 2000 my employer forced me into a high stress job which did nothing for stress and pain levels and made it impossible to keep up with my WW meetings. I lasted in that position until February 2002 when there was a change in management and I was let go.  By this point, after several gains and losses, I had gained back almost 21 pounds.

I rejoined WW in May of 2003 after trying to lose weight on my own without success. In September 2004 I made my goal of 127 pounds and made lifetime in November 2004. From my heaviest of 203 pounds, I have lost a total of 76 pounds.

I have had 3 fantastic leaders over my years attending WW meeting. Their names are Karen, Carol, & my current leader Jackie. I know that without them I would not have succeeded or would I have kept my weight off since October 2004! A truly a good meeting leader can make all the difference!

I will have to say it is still a struggle and I do spike up above my goal weight if I am not careful.

I lost most of my weight doing flex, as that was the only program that they had, and lost the last few pounds with CORE which I use to maintain my weight. 

I am truly an advocate for the CORE program!