Not just a number - Merry Christmas to Me

So last week at Weight Watchers, I weighed in at 200.4. I have not seen the other side of 200 in about 25 years, back sometime in college. I could tell by my scale at home this morning that I was pretty sure I would go below that when I officially weighed in.

Well guess what, I did and not just the .6 I needed to get below, but I lost 3.4 this week. The week from hell, food-wise, right before Christmas. I was 197 and I couldn't contain my emotions and I started crying. The WW receptionist gave me a hug and was so happy for me. She even wrote a note to the WW leader, so when the other awards were handed out this morning, Candace mentioned my important milestone.

It's not just a number on a scale, it represents my entire adult life being over 200 pounds. I have let my weight interfere and influence so much of my life, from being shy and quiet and afraid to do things, not take enough risks, etc.

I also realized that having lost 54.2 pounds since March, I am about halfway to my goal. The weight charts say I should weigh below 145, so we will see how it goes the closer I get to that. I want to be in at least a size 10 and off my diabetes medicine, but I also want to be below 150.

I've had a couple of pictures taken lately and compared those to when I was 74 pounds heavier - that's right, my highest weight was 274 pounds. I used to would never dream of publicly divulging my weight, but I have found that by doing so, it loses its negative power over me, and in that way it IS just a number. The core of who I am is that I am a good person, no matter the size.

I couldn't have dreamed up a better gift to myself this Christmas. I feel so much better, I look better, I am buying new clothes several sizes smaller, I enjoy exercising and the list goes on. Merry Christmas indeed.