I am a 54 year old (or young) woman who has been dealing with weight issues my whole life. I think I’ve tried every method of losing weight at least twice, from Nutrisystem and Jenny Craig to medically supervised fasting for months. I keep going back to Weight Watchers, which really is the only one that works long-term for me. The program does work if I stay with it, which is the catch.
My weight has yo-yo’d up and down in huge amounts, as it usually does — losing significant amounts only to gain more every time. It gets harder and harder to take it off as I get older and I am resolved to address the issues that are blocking me from really being successful. And “success” isn’t defined, for me, by a target weight, though I have a place I’d like to be.
Mostly I want to be comfortable with my body and with who I am when I’m in it. To be able to eat easily and stop when I’m full, enjoy my food but not overdo it, dress in clothes that fit me, have people think I’m pretty – and think it about myself. I don’t really know what thin feels like but maybe with the help and support of my friends on this journey, I can figure it out as I learn my way from the Planet of Fat to the Planet of Girls (thanks, Frances Kuffel, for the image!).
But my life is about more than weight and body issues. I’m a librarian in real life, spending my days on a beautiful campus filled with smart people. I am an amateur genealogist and photography, and can usually be found with a digital camera somewhere nearby. Check out my pics on Flickr!
Hi there,
I came across your site one day while searching for recipes for Weight Watchers. I have been coming back everyday since (which was about 3 months ago). Alot of your entries I could have written myself!
I have battled weight issues since I was about 12 years old (I am now 32). I also have done my best on WW- When I was 19 I lost 75lbs and managed to keep most of it off until I was 25 and started having kids. Now I am basically at my highest I have ever been (after being without a kitchen for 4 months due to renovations) and need to lose a WHOLE lot of weight (I am aiming for 75-100 lbs). I am a matron of honor in a wedding next September so I am hoping to get a bulk it of it off in the next 11 months plus I plan on getting pregnant after the wedding so I want to be in optimum form for that as well.
Anyhoo this is turning into a novel! I just wanted to say hi and how much I enjoy visiting your site!
Best of luck to you (and me!!)
Karen Carson
Montreal, Canada
Never battled weight issue m’am, in fact came across this site when searching for wordpress themes (this one IS very nice).
On going through your site a bit though I was impressed with your attitude towards life – “Mostly I want to be comfortable with my body and with who I am when I’m in it.”
Good luck & God bless
I’ve been scouring the blogosphere for a couple of days looking for women close to my age (I’m 56) and who are going on the same journey as myself.
I do love your positive attitude. I’m thinking about going back to WW (this will be the 9th time if I do!). And I’m wondering how the in-person meetings gel with the eTools online stuff they do now. Are you participating in that as well?
I don’t know if you’ll even see this as I may be posting in the wrong place. But I’m hoping it will show up somewhere so that you can respond (if you decide you want to that is!).
Thanks.
Hi Anne, I saw your photo of heavyset women dolls on another blog when i was searching for large toys. Not sure where that photo was taken, but do you know if dolls like those are available online to purchase? I have a friend who prefers cards or items that aren’t showing the “thin” models all the time. I just registered a blog here, but not sure yet how the posting works. my blog is at http://simplyme-ryan.blogspot.com/ or just email me directly vetrijar@hotmail.com
Hi,
I really enjoyed reading through your blog! Your thoughts are funny and inspirational!
I recently purchased a fun product from a company called Simple Memory Art (www.SimpleMemoryArt.com ) called a 50 Healthy Foods magnet set. It’s a really cool item actually — it’s a magnet set that lists the major food groups, has them color coded in rainbow-like colors, and tells you everything about the food — vitamins, calories, grams of fat, protein, etc. It’s REALLY helpful and it makes my fridge look happier too!
From one woman to another trying to keep with a healthy lifestyle, I thought maybe you’d find it interesting!
Have a great day!
All the best,
Marissa
I think the best way is you do loosing with other person together. I mean such a competition. It works mostly.If you can’t, the best way is stay stable in a weight and dont go up and down.
I love your fotos. Wawwwwwwww, very beautiful flowers. And then you seems younger than your age.
Stay beautiful
I think you ARE pretty!
stumbled on your blog from your post on another website. i admire your determination and spirit. i wish you love and happiness, in the present and future.
Anne of a Thousand Weighs,
Found your blog while going through some Weight Watcher items. Being a LIFETIME Member for 5 years I enjoyed reading all your musings. Clever,and entertaining young lady.
. “And there are lots of lifetime members there who can offer support from the “after” perspective – and show the rest of us that “after and maintaining” is possible.”Anne-10/21/07
Would like to chat more with you on the subject and perhaps add you to my WW member LIst to whom I send my Daily Menus’ As you indicated it is a way of keeping accountable to ourselves.
Hope to here from you.
BARBARA
I left my E and WEBSITE in the required spaces above.
Anne, I.m 55 years old, and came across your site while looking for “eating responsibly”, and the first one that caught my eye, was “watching my mother eat”. I kept it in my favorites, kept it in my mind, and returned to it regularly for a few days. Then I began exploring all of your other posts and now I feel that I’ve made a new friend who I have so much in common with. I, as I can see, many others, have quite a bond with you. You express the daily ups and downs that weall experience . One day we are calm, cool, eating as we should with serenity and pleasure, the next day may be a mental explosion with overeating being the result, and a contributor. You speak of overeating and food in every way that I have, dealing with new starts, emotions, hope, discouragement, wanting to treat yourself properly, and on and on. Every one of your entries expresses a woman who loves herself and want more for herself and from her life. Anne, I’m with you!
I liked you “About Me” and what you said about being 52 years young!
Anne: As many others here have said, we have a LOT in common!! I think we might be “Soul Sisters”!!
I used to live in Chicago (still love it and visit it on my birthday most years), I am in my 50s and have issues with yo-yo dieting.
I LOVE singing in choirs and I also know that my physical life will never be complete without my spiritual life being healthy.
I’m reading a book right now called “ABBA’S CHILD” by Brennan Manning. I’d be interested to hear what you think of it. Jo
I found your site after using google-image to search for a countdown-related picture. Completely unrelated, and wasn’t really looking to waste time surfing; I was actually working. Anyway, I scanned the first sentence or two & found myself drawn into your story, unable to stop reading. I think you write very well. Keep it up!
Hey, Anne …
I’m burying this comment because it has nothing to do with your Tudor post. Thanks for being happy that I’m back to blogging. I wanted you to know (and I thought I’d e-mailed you, but maybe not) that I have a new blog at http://knitrunrepeat.blogspot.com. My kids don’t know about this one. Heh.
I’m keeping the Shrinking Knitter up, because there’s some useful information in there, but won’t be posting any more. Come visit me in my new place!
Hi, Anne. Came across your site while searching for New Haven Twitterers (is that a word?). You mention genealogy — do you have a link to any of yours? What family lines are you working on? I have a bunch that originate in New Haven, and also some from the Boston area that go way back. I put my genealogy website link in the form above, if you are interested.
Would love to compare notes and learn more. I really get a kick out of the whole genealogy thing — and New Haven seems to have lots to explore… Someday I want to go visit the Congregational Church on the green and see that spooky basement of theirs with all the gravestones in the floor — have you ever been there?
Hello Anne,
LOVE your blog! I will make it short & sweet. I am interested in advertising on it (http://altopower.wordpress.com) with a text link on the sidebar.
Please let me know if you might be interested. If we can come to a fair price, I will pre-pay for 1 year via paypal.
Many thanks, cheers!
All the best,
Cassie (cassie003@gmail.com)
Born in New Haven Connecticut, graduated from North Haven High in 1964. Mow livwe in Georgia.
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