My Road Trip

I'm proud to say after 2 years on WW, losing 166 lbs, and 6 weeks of maintenance, I reached lifetime status! 

My meetings were instrumental during my journey, and even more than that was my leader, Tanya.  I only missed two weigh-ins during those 2 years, both times when I was out of town, once in Chicago, the other in Seattle.  Also, the group I attend is for people who need to lose, or have lost over 50 lbs and they're a fantastic group of people who truly understand what someone of our size goes through, both living at that size and then choosing to lose the weight. 

This is a picture of my leader, Tanya and myself as she presented me with the official lifetime Key.  Oh, and the tattoos are not real, it's only a shirt which has tight skin-like material attached to the sleeves because it's a GREAT conversation piece and people certainly do double takes when they see it!  It's as close to a real tattoo as I'm going to get, I'm just not into that kind of pain! 

I dug this picture out from when I visited my family in Montana, July 2003 and of course was appalled!  If this didn't send me to a Weight Watchers meeting, I don't know what would have.  Of course I was in denial and just kept on purchasing larger clothes to accommodate my growing size.  I don't EVER want to see this size again!!

I lost myself during the last few years to my children and the men in my life and it is just now that I am taking the time to work on ME.  I love who I am on the inside, and now I am working on my outside and have set myself some exciting goals.  But first, what brought me to this place of realization?

1.  My children are well into their own lives and the umbilical cord is longer, so I can concentrate on ME.

2.  I don't have any men living with me who need to be taken care of.  (Sometimes men are more child-like than actual children)

3.  I want to do, explore and experience those things which I have put off in my life for one reason or another due to other people in my life, my weight, my income, my education, etc.

These are some of the goals I have set for myself:

1.  Joined Weight Watchers on July 3, 2004

2.  Registered for college courses to complete my General Business Degree with only 2 semesters to go!

3.  Refuse to become involved with anyone romantically until I have achieved my own personal goals since it is now time for me to be completely selfish and work on making myself the best that I can be. 

I have established many short term goals, as well as long-term goals, both of which are subject to change along the way since we are all a work in progress.  Nothing is for sure in life except death and taxes, but I do have control over ME and the choices I make.  This is going to be the time for me to do the things I have put off for so long now! 

This picture was taken at my oldest daughters graduation on May 2004, I am standing next to my youngest daughter and no doubt was at my highest weight.

The picture below is after losing 22 pounds by August 13, 2004, probably won't notice much difference until I have lost at least 40 pounds, but at least I can work on continuing the pictorial history which can be quite fun!

I can hardly believe it myself, and only after 4 months!  It's really getting easier all the time, thank goodness, and of course it's now time for some REWARDS!!  Yup, I will be getting my hair permed and hopefully get a new look.  What I've discovered along the way is that whenever I do something to my hair, people comment on that the most, many of them not even realizing exactly what else is different about me, but that's all fine and dandy with me.  By the time I hit my 1 year anniversary, it'll be difficult to remember how I looked when I first started, so I must keep this history alive.  And that's just what it's going to be.... history, as I don't ever have to see this weight again!

I made it through the holidays and by the first of 2005 had lost 83 pounds!  I am so excited about the potential of what I can be, so these pictures continue to keep me motivated and on plan.  And, I can actually see the shadow of my collarbone on this one!!  How exciting is that!!

I met my 100 pound loss goal on March 4, 2005 and proceeded to celebrate with many of my previous co-workers.  It was simply wonderful to be surrounded by friends; who many didn't recognize me until I started talking!  Of course they kept asking how I had done it and I couldn't pass up the opportunity to share WW with them.  It's a wonderful life, and I'm so glad I am living it.  Next up will be my 125 pound loss picture, so watch out!

The timing couldn't be better as I reached onederland the day before my trip to Mexico with my friend Nancy and her sister.  This picture was taken in our condo, the day before we hit the beach and enjoyed the ocean breeze and all the relaxation possible.  It will be a trip to remember and I'm glad I was able to spend time relaxing and celebrating!  Oh, and of course, I would be the one on the left, if you don't recognize me!  So many people keep doing double takes when they haven't seen me in a while!

At the end of September, 2005, in anticipation of my sisters upcoming visit, I went shopping for some new clothes. 

I about cried when I could actually pull on a size 12 pair of jeans, as well as this size 12 blouse, which, by the way, actually has buttons!  I have lost 145.2. lbs by this time and hoping with 22.2 more pounds to be able to make lifetime with WW.  I don't know if that weight will get me in a single digit clothing size, but the most important thing is to make my final goal and reach my destiny!   All I can say is I'm simply loving living the WW way of life!

I'm almost at my final destiny, however, I wanted to celebrate with some smaller size clothing.  I'm now wearing a size 10 jeans (even though some 8's fit), and a medium size shirt!  Yup, it's getting better all the time, and with only 9.4 lbs to reach WW goal weight, nothing is going to stop me now, bring it on!

This is one of the photos I had done from Glamour Shots.  Personally, I could have done my own make-up and hair better, but I always promised myself that I'd have this done when I reached goal weight.  With only 4 lbs left, I went ahead and had them done and now I'm sharing.  It's still amazing to me that I've come this far, but it's only because of so much support from the wonderful people on the WW boards, as well as my meetings that I've been able to accomplish this much.  Here's to losing those last few lbs and making lifetime with WW!

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E-mail Me:  Dorlisa 

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