Carrie counts Weight Watchers FlexPoints as an ally in her weight loss efforts

Carrie

August 11 2006

Feeling ill all the time because of being overweight pushed Carrie to her decision to slim down. Through Weight Watchers FlexPoints, physical activities with her family, mental self-discipline, and spiritual guidance, she is developing better lifestyle habits that will eventually translate into a healthier body.

Country: Colville, Washington, USA
Age: 33
Weight now: 292 lbs.
Target weight: 140 lbs.

-What finally made you decide to start with a weight loss program, and how much did you weigh when you first started?
I had some health issues that came up and I knew my weight was affecting my health. I was having a hard time keeping up with my kids. I felt sick all the time. I was very tired of being out of breath from simply climbing a flight of stairs. There were many reasons - but it all boils down to the fact that God wants me to take care of the body He's given me, and I have failed in this area. I need to be healthy so that I can honor Him.

-What type of weight loss program are you following?
Weight Watchers FlexPoints, though I can no longer afford to attend meetings.

-Why did you choose this type of weight loss program?
Some women at my husband's office have had really great success with WW.

-How long have you been on your weight loss program?
Since October 2005

-What kinds of physical activities do you like doing to help you lose weight and stay fit?
I really, really hate to exercise. But I know it's good for me, so I try to do it anyway. I enjoy swimming and dancing with my children. I also walk occasionally - that way I can listen to an audiobook while I exercise. It makes the time go faster!

-What were the most difficult obstacles you had to overcome or are still overcoming?
The habit of emotional eating. I eat when I'm sad, angry, excited, or bored. I eat to console myself when bad things happen and to celebrate when good things happen. I am trying to learn to turn to God for comfort and find other ways to reward myself, but it's not easy to break life-long habits.

-How do you keep yourself motivated?
I think about the fact that my unhealthy choices could cause me to die young and miss out on watching my children grow up, get married, and give me grandchildren.

-Do you have any weight loss tips for our readers?
You have to want to change so much that the pain of staying the same is worse than the pain of changing. Change isn't easy. Find a support group of friends who love you and are willing to walk through this with you.

-Do you think it will be easy to fall back into your old lifestyle pattern? How do you prevent this from happening?
I already have at various times! Unless God completely takes the desire to overeat away from me, this is something I will fight my whole life. But it is possible to change and develop good habits. I just take it one day at a time. When I fail, I don't beat myself up or allow it to turn into an "I already screwed up so I might as well eat this entire cake" binge.

-Do you have a favorite Web site or blog that helps or inspires you to lose weight?
I blog with a beautiful group of ladies who are all encouraging each other on their weight loss journeys: One Weigh or Another. My personal blog is called Mommy Brain.