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Becky Small

smallrd@cctech.edu
extension 303

Growing up, I was naturally thin. I ate whatever and as much as I wanted. If anything, I needed to gain weight because I was too thin. That was not the case after having children. My metabolism had changed, but my eating habits remained the same. I continued to eat as I always had, and the weight began to creep on - about 10 pounds every year. It wasn't long before I found myself 50 pounds overweight. I had zero energy, and even routine activities such as work and taking care of my children made me extremely tired.

Early on, I didn't know how to lose weight the healthy way. I tried diet pills, Slim Fast, the Adkins Diet ... I could go on and on. While these diets worked and I lost weight, I quickly gained the weight back (and some) when my normal eating habits returned. I finally realized "dieting" would not work for me.

Consistent exercise has also been a problem for me. Like the dieting, I would exercise, lose weight, quit exercising, and gain the weight back. I never felt like I had the time to exercise. It's funny how I always had time for other things though.

A couple of years ago, I joined Weight Watchers. With Weight Watchers, I can eat whatever I want. Every food has a point value assigned to it, and I'm allowed a set amount of points per day. I still enjoy pizza, tacos, and chocolate from time to time. I just have a point assigned to each and know that I have to limit myself. Of course, healthier foods have fewer points, so I tend to gravitate toward them. A plus to Weight Watchers is that I can "earn" extra points for every 30 minutes of exercise.

Around the time I joined Weight Watchers, I joined Curves and began a regular exercise routine. Curves is a gym for women, and the workout is only 30 minutes long. On the days I didn't go to Curves, I would walk around my neighborhood. Thirty minute walks or going to Curves, along with following the Weight Watchers program helped me lose 50 pounds in six months.

I no longer attend Weight Watchers meetings, but I have continued to follow the Weight Watchers eating plan. Counting points has become natural to me. I have also dropped my Curves membership. I tend to get bored easily with doing the same exercise each week. I now vary my exercise routine and try to walk, workout to DVD's at home, or ride my exercise bike at least 30 minutes a day several times a week (not every day).

I lost my 50 pounds in 2009, and I have managed to keep it off for two years - a huge accomplishment for someone who has lost and gained weight so many times over the last 20 years. I will not tell you that every day is a success with my eating and exercising. I do slip up from time to time, but I have found that the most important thing for me in this journey is to have more good days than bad. If I eat healthy and exercise more days than I don't, I can manage a healthy lifestyle by staying within a healthy weight range.