I realised yesterday that I have been a member of Weightwatchers for four years now, so I am a real expert at counting points, but not at losing weight!
Actually, that's not quite the whole story. I first joined in late 2003, with not too much to lose, and did really well for about a month, then discovered I was pregnant. After a difficult pregnancy and birth, I was left with rather a lot of extra weight. I enjoyed looking after my daughter, but although I was now walking everywhere with a buggy (and therefore getting lots of exercise) I also got into the bad habit of snacking all day. When my daughter was a year old, and we decided to try for another baby, I was shocked to realise that my weight had peaked at an all time high of 15 st 6.
Back to Weightwatchers... and down to 13st 6 by the time I discovered I was pregnant and had to stop dieting again. This time I was running around after a toddler, and didn't put too much weight on, so I was about 14 st after the birth of my second daughter. I breastfed for 7 months (probably the best weight loss programme around!) and tried to eat healthily, and weighed 12 st 8 in Spring 2007.
A few bad habits and a busy lifestyle later... and I'm up to 13 st 8 again. I'm really annoyed with myself. I don't seem capable of eating well - it's all or nothing with me. So back to Weightwatchers again - with the intention of losing some weight, but also trying to take on board some ideas of moderation and portion control!
Oh and my partner and I are getting married in August next year! And although I would love to look slim for that (I was 9 st at my first wedding back in 1995 - sadly the marriage only lasted 2 years, which is another story... but it does mean I do understand that slim doesn't equal happy!) my real incentive is my two daughters. They are 3 and 1, and I would love them to grow up in a home where healthy bodies and healthy eating are the norm - not yoyo dieting, constant swerving between over and under-eating, and misery about body-image.
My first weigh-in day is tomorrow. We had a busy weekend of socialising, and I did go over my points, but I'm hopeful of a small loss tomorrow.