Today we have a very special Weight Watchers Success Story to share. Heather re-joined Weight Watchers in 2010 and lost nearly 110 pounds. She then went on to create a wonderful weight loss community, Halfsizeme.com, to support others wanting to lose weight and live happier, healthier lives.
I've been a fan of Heather and Half Size Me for a couple of years so it's real honor to have her sharing her story with us here on Simple Nourished Living. Be sure to read to the end of the article where she has a link to a FREE download of her 23 page e-book about Breaking the Diet Cycle. It's a great read for anyone struggling with their weight who is ready for a simple no nonsense plan for losing weight and keeping it off!
Take it away Heather...
Tell Us A Little Bit About Your Weight Struggle
Hi, I’m Heather. I’m the mother of three beautiful boys and the founder of the Half Size Me community. Probably like many of you, I’ve battled with my weight my entire life. After numerous false starts, binge eating, and too many obstacles (both physical and mental) to list here, I finally lost weight — almost 170 pounds — naturally, through healthy diet and exercise. I’d like to share my story with you.
As I mentioned, I’ve struggled with my weight for a long time. When I was in high school, I lost 80 pounds. It took me about six months, and I used extreme dieting and exercise to reach my goal back then. However, I ended up gaining back all of the weight I had lost, and eventually, I gained almost 100 pounds more!
In early 2006, I got pregnant with my first son, Max. It should have been the happiest, most exciting news I’d ever received. But when the doctor told me I weighed 290 pounds, instead of happy and excited, I felt ashamed and depressed.
It was the heaviest I’d ever been. My heart sank when I realized I would continue to gain weight throughout my pregnancy.
After having Max, I weighed 313 pounds. I wanted to be an active, healthy mom. Running beside my children, not just watching from the sidelines. I vowed to lose the weight and keep it off — forever!
Five months after having Max, I had gotten my weight down to 270 pounds when I found out I was pregnant with my second son, Connor. I ate healthier and walked regularly, and I was able to maintain my weight during this pregnancy. After I had Connor, I lost 20 more pounds.
I weighed 250 pounds when I found out I was pregnant with my third son, Parker. Once again, I maintained my weight throughout the pregnancy by eating healthy and exercising.
What Was Your Wake-Up Call Or “A-Ha Moment” That Caused You To Sign Up With Weight Watchers?
After Parker was born, though, I realized I was having a hard time taking care of three little boys and losing weight.
I needed help.
So I joined Weight Watchers in June 2010 for the support and motivation I needed.
I’d joined Weight Watchers several times before, but each time I’d convinced myself that I could do the program on my own. I wanted this time to be different, so I committed to sticking with the program, attending every weekly meeting and counting every point, until I lost the 100-plus pounds I had left — no matter how long it took!
What Has Been The Biggest Change/Payoff For You So Far?
My life has changed a lot since losing almost 110 pounds with Weight Watchers. I used to avoid activities that were too difficult for me and that I was too embarrassed to do. But now I feel like I can do anything because my weight doesn’t hold me back! I’ve gone from hardly being able to load and unload my boys from their car seats, to running around the park with them.
Some Advice and/or Words of Wisdom You'd Like To Share?
I’ve learned that I’m worth taking the time to get healthy and stay that way. I also learned how important it is to have support along the way. And while I’ve achieved weight loss success, my journey continues. I created the Half Size Me community to provide a source of guidance and support for others on the same path, whether they’re just starting their weight loss journey or working to maintain their weight. The community offers tons of resources to help you on your journey, including:
- live online support through community chats and weekly meetings
- more than 90 hours of audio recordings from past meetings and bonus content and
- exclusive access to a members-only site, where you can blog, use the community forums, chat, upload photos and video, and more.
On my site, www.halfsizeme.com, you can also download a free 23-page e-book, Breaking the Diet Cycle: A simple, proven, no nonsense plan for losing the weight AND keeping it off. I wrote this book to help anyone who has ever struggled with yo-yo dieting or finding a weight loss plan that actually works and can be maintained. You don’t have to join the community to download this book and get started right away.
I hope you’ll visit Half Size Me and share your weight loss journey with me!
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Sara @ The Holy Mess
So inspiring! I love Heathers podcast.