47th: Stayed the same, but with a difference

I was the same as last week when I weighed in yesterday. Was I crushed? No. I resolve to do better. Sometimes a gain or remaining the same is a mystery. Other times we know the cause.

So what made the difference? Last night was an event called Celebrate Success, held at a hall not far from me. Florine Mark was the speaker. Anyone who had lost 50 or more pounds through WW could register to attend and be recognized. All WW members could register and go and many were there to cheer us on.

I almost did not go. First off, when my leader Suzanne mentioned this months ago, I told her that my daughter-in-law's due date is the 29th (yesterday was the 27th) and that I would be on call to stay with our 5 year old grandson. Suzanne encouraged me to register and would pick up my award if I couldn't make it. What I didn't tell her is that I almost didn't go because I thought I did not like Florine.

Why did I think that? I don't know, I guess something in a commercial or an interview bugged me a long time ago and stayed with me even though I can't recall it now. I kept thinking of reasons not to go but Suzanne, without knowing this, kept encouraging me anyway. So did my husband. And my yet-to-be-born granddaughter apparently wanted me to go too.

Guess what?  I really enjoyed hearing Florine speak. She was good. She made her points in a timely fashion, hit the right notes by including some personal revelations and being very approachable.

Many people, WW or not, will sneer at Florine or Oprah (when she was losing weight and talking about it routinely on her show) or anyone else who appears to be successful and wealthy. "Oh sure, I could lose weight too if someone made the meals for me and put the plate in front of me" is something I've heard. While I admit that I wouldn't turn down the experience of having someone do the shopping, prepping and cooking for me, that has nothing to do with whether you are successful at weight loss!

I seriously doubt Florine, Oprah or anyone else who has been mocked for having a chef while losing weight has that person glued to their side, swatting potato chips, cookies, alcohol....whatever...out of their hands between meals.

Florine has been widowed twice. Once at the age of 34 when her husband died of cancer and her second husband died after being diagnosed with Lou Gehrig's disease. Financial success didn't prevent these tragic events. She learned that going to bed with ice cream didn't help either.

Bingo!

There's the common denominator of all who have battled weight issues. Who hasn't cried over someone or something and tried to comfort themselves with food? We all know that doesn't work but we have done it anyway.

Florine lost 50 pounds nine times before losing it with WW and keeping it off for 35 years. I have lost a lot of weight twice before this. I'm old enough and now wise enough to not say that I will never have missteps again, but I also know that ice cream doesn't cure anything and that only I can do what I need to do. Supportive family is wonderful and I am blessed to have that, but what goes in my mouth is up to me.

Most of us know the truth but we hide from it, at least at times. We either look for an easy answer or make excuses. We pigeonhole ourselves and get stuck being overweight, not creative, afraid....fill in your own blank with what you stop yourself from being.

Florine says she tells herself every morning that today is going to be a good day. I think that, but maybe I need to say it out loud for emphasis. It can't hurt, right? I'm having Aha! moments left and right these days and see that they are related. On my other blog is a story about visiting the art institute and what that did for me. Read that here.

Ninety people were recognized for their weight loss last night. I think the total amount lost was 6722 pounds. I know the person sitting next to me and I have both lost more since we registered so the total was probably greater than that number. That is a lot of weight!!

Onward, downward, inspired and strong!