Losing After Menopause

 

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After

Before Name Pam Age 44 Height 5'1" Was 128.2 lbs  Lost 14.8 lbs*  Weight 113.4 lbs  As of 2/12/2008 *Results Not Typical “I adopted a strong strategy, envisioning myself as a healthy, thin woman approaching middle age. I embraced my half-pound successes and tried to keep an open mind.”

I have successfully lost weight twice with Weight Watchers. The most amazing thing about the two experiences was how extremely different they were. They really gave me an insight as to just how a woman’s body can change as she gets older.

The first time I joined Weight Watchers meetings and started following the POINTS® Weight-Loss System I needed to lose the weight I put on by cleaning the leftovers off my toddler’s plate after every meal. I was in my thirties and, with driven determination, kept track of each morsel. Gratefully, I experienced steady and predictable weight loss. I was thrilled with my newfound control and was able to keep the weight off until another milestone threatened my physique, my fortieth birthday.

I heard stories about how women in their forties needed to watch out for “changes” in their bodies. But like other healthy 39 year olds, I didn’t want to believe it would happen to me. I certainly didn’t expect that my body would begin complaining after what seemed like just days after my fortieth birthday.

Through some unfortunate drug side effects and some poor food choices, my weight crept up. I never called it “regaining” my weight, as I felt that this was a totally new set of circumstances that put weight on my body. I refused to beat myself up and went straight back to the plan that had helped me lose weight the first time. What I would discover is that losing this time would be a different story!

It was nearly 10 years since my first weight-loss experience, and I found myself happy to return to the world of POINTS values. I was dismayed to find that steady and predictable weight loss was a thing of my past. It seemed that only serious tracking and the incorporation of long walks at least five times a week would earn me small doses of weight loss intermittently.

Was I frustrated? Certainly. My doctor confirmed that I was post-menopausal and that my weight-loss goals could not be expressed in numbers at this time. I couldn’t even think about how long it would take me to lose 10 pounds, let alone how long it would take to get my body back in shape.

Instead, I adopted a strong strategy, envisioning myself as a healthy, thin woman approaching middle age. I embraced my half-pound successes and tried to keep an open mind. I learned the Core Plan® and tried to make healthier choices in my diet. I discarded clothes the moment they became too loose and always kept a new pair of jeans in a smaller size in my drawer as incentive.

Slowly but surely, I hit goals that had numbers attached to them, like my first 5 pounds or my 10-percent target. My message to anyone experiencing the same obstacles that I did is to never to give up. Envision yourself where you want to be and you are already there. I am so proud to have given myself this gift and I hope you give yourself the chance to experience the pride and joy that comes with attaining your goals.