Listen up!

Hi,

Heather from the website/podcast http://www.halfsizeme.com/ interviewed me last month!  You can
download it or listen to it on your computer.

Hear me talk about the ups and downs of losing all my weight, motivations etc.

Heather is pretty awesome and she has lost 170lbs herself.  Stop by and check her out!

Here is the link-let me know what you think!
http://www.halfsizeme.com/011-the-half-size-me-podcast-weight-loss-success-story-with-julie-a-mom-who-lost-312-pounds/

April, life and maintenance

Hi everyone,

Middle of April?? Where has the time gone? Well I figured it was a good time to share some updates in my life

I am lifetime with Weight Watchers! I have been for about 5 weeks now.

It's so weird in so many ways. I am still struggling with my points in-so-much as I can't seem to get my daily total right and I keep losing. I KNOW it's annoying to hear someone is losing weight without trying! I get it.

I have only been losing .5 or .8 each week and am still within the Weight Watchers healthy weight range but I am working on NOT losing and staying the same. I was told this was the hardest part and it's true. It's hard to work out as hard as ever and not expect to see a loss on Fridays. I am still adding a point a week to try to stabilize myself but it's slow because you have to give your body some time t adjust to the new point amount.

Also it's the first time EVER that I have been told to 'NOT lose any weight'. It's almost ingrained in me that I am overweight and always will be.

It's also weird to not weigh in each week-I know I *can* but don't *have* to. I have been taking advantage of the 'courtesy' weigh-ins that Weight Watchers lets you do whilst I am still getting used to being lifetime.

I have to admit its also hard to know that once I weigh in, I dont *have* to for a month and the urge to go grab some Ben & Jerry's and sit in my car and eat it is there sometimes but so far I get my skinny coffee from Starbucks instead :-)

At the end of the month, Laura kessel has asked me to come talk about my experience losing weight at a weigh in for a contest the local paper has been running. I don't know what it will be like but I am always happy to try to help someone. Losing a large amount of weight is so daunting.

Aside from that, the only other news I have is my sweet 7 year old is now a sweet (usually!) 8 year old. It was a week of birthday celebrations and I am glad it's over for a while. I wish I could freeze time, especially where my son is concerned!

Here is a picture my husband took about 2 weeks ago and also a picture of my son.

GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!

Hi!

So it's true, I finally hit goal. I think it's taken me a few weeks to actual believe it!

My grand total lost is 312 pounds. It has taken me over 3 1/2 years, through a broken wrist, through a fractured ankle (same time) and through the most serious medical issues I have ever even dreamed of happening to me. I started this journey when my son was just a pre-schooler, and now he is a big 2nd grader.

So many people have been instrumental to me in just believing in me and supporting me. Everyone at my Friday morning Weight Watcher meetings-strangers who have become friends, my neighbors and fellow school moms and most of all my family. Even the teachers at my sons school have been awesome, they are always so positive and supportive. If you are reading this, thank you so much.

I was so ready to start maintenance but so not ready. Never in my life have I been told to NOT lose weight. Actually I still find it a little perplexing...it's this crazy balancing act.

So my 1st week of maintenance, I increased my pointsplus by 2 a day (Weight Watchers recommended upping a max of 6 pointsplus a day) and I added a fruit a day. I know fruits are 'zero' pointsplus, but I usually stop at 2 but now I am 'allowing' myself 3 a day. Exercise stayed the same (5x a week).

ANYWAY-my first week I gained .8- I get that it's pretty normal but still hard to figure out what should have happened. I decided to not increase or decrease points again just yet...going to give it a few weeks and see how it plays out when my body catches up.

So week 2 of this and I think my biggest issue is trying to not use up my newly added points target with junk-i.e. mini snack bars, pudding etc...so far I am doing just fine with that.

Here are some pictures my husband took over the weekend. I also added a before so you can truly see the before and after now...rather then the 'in progress' :-)

Have a great month!

Julie

2012

Hi!

Here it is 2012 already! Hope everyone's year is off to a good start. I am very close to being at my personal weight now. I have hit the Weight Watcher high weight and have surpassed the losing 300 pounds mark! I am anxious to get to maintenance but nervous too.

Here is a photo my husband took today!

Hope everyone's January is going smooth!

Julie

Surprise!

Hi,

When I went to my weekly Weight Watchers meeting on Friday, I had no idea a news reporter would be there and I also had no idea it would be the day I hit 300 lbs gone! She was there to cover me winning a first prize award in Weight Watchers contest 'Inspiring stories'.

So here is a link!

http://news-herald.com/articles/2011/12/10/news/nh4843121.txt

Julie

December!

Hi !

I can't believe December is already here. This year has gone by so fast.

Last year at this time I was getting used to Weight Watchers changing its program. It was a hard transition at first but I am so pleased with it now. I really feel it helps me make better choices. I was definitely guilty of slotting food in for points, rather then think about what I was eating. Now I am much more thoughtful about it.

Well I didn't get picked for the magazine. I really wasn't too upset, I never thought I had a real shot -winning would have been surreal.

I am also very close to my highest allowable weight with Weight Watchers. The weight range goes by your BMI and I am only 3 pounds away from not even considered 'overweight'!! (Weight Watchers 'highest weight' allowed for my height)

So crazy to me. I would like to try to be right in the middle of my 'acceptable' weight range, so maybe 13 more pounds total.

This time of year is really hard for me-I got through Thanksgiving and did great (pre-planned my day, pointed it all out) and ended up with a loss the next day at Weight Watchers. Christmas is harder for me because there is just stuff EVERYWHERE. Every catalog seems to be selling cheesecakes, fancy chocolates, baked goods. Plus so much baking I have to do-for teachers, bus drivers, neighbors, cub scouts etc. My head is spinning.

I did not have any dessert with Thanksgiving, but think I am going to try to save some points for it on Christmas day.

I am really looking forward to the holidays and seeing my sons face on Christmas morning! I hope you all have a fabulous holiday season, no matter how you celebrate it.

Here is a picture of me taken on Thanksgiving last week. Total loss is 296 pounds!

Julie

Last day of September...

Hi!

I entered Weight Watchers 'inspiring stories' contest and needed some 'after' photos, so I had my mom take some new pictures at Penitentiary Glen a few weeks ago.

I am now 13.6 lbs away from my goal, I have lost a total of 285 pounds!! I feel amazing! My Weight Watcher leader Dawn shared my story with my Friday group today and the support and encouragement were amazing.

On another note-my daily medicine is going fine, I think I am pretty luck in so much is I have had zero side effects.

Hope everyone is doing good!

Julie