BRIAN: and WW

[Guest guest]

,

Why don't you tell us about your experiences with WW so far?

Are you going to WW meetings? Are you doing WW Online?

Do you exercise much? What's your favorite sport or activity?

Do you have any tips on how to stay OP (On-Program)? Any favorite recipes (with

WW Points, if you please)?

-:|:-

[Guest guest]

----- From: " Ritchie " -----

> Are you going to WW meetings? Are you doing WW Online?

I am trying to decide how I am feeling about weight watchers. I know that the

group support is very important and that having people around you who are

sharing the same experiences is great.

I guess you could say I am kind of following a friend. I did WW back in the 80s

and did well, but I did not have the maturity yet to commit to any program, as I

was a very hyperactive (amazingly still fat though) teenager and listening to

adults at 14/15 is not easy.

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So, right now you aren't going to meetings and you aren't doing WW Online?

You're doing this on your own, sort of with a friend? I'm pretty sure there are

a few people on the list who are doing the same, and basically using this email

list for support. I'm doing WW Online, using this list for support -- actually,

it's really close to what you're doing.

What did you mean by " I am trying to decide how I am feeling about weight

watchers " ?

----- From: " Ritchie " -----

> Do you exercise much? What's your favorite sport or activity?

I do walking and swimming and weights. I enjoy volleyball, though I have not

played since high school. I am serious about the man-boobs thing though. I

seem to be forever stuck with this girlish figure. LOL

----------------------

Cool -- sounds like a balanced program. I do walking, biking and am increasing

my weight work. What I really like is backpacking -- it's kind of a combination

of walking with weights <g>.

Re excess skin/skin elasticity: well, from what I've read there are a number of

factors involved. One is how much weight/skin you've got in excess, two is how

long it's been, three is how old you are. Younger people's skin is more elastic

and will be able to shrink-to-fit more. Of course, the more excess the more

difficult. And it takes time for skin to shrink -- you probably won't take this

as good news, but it can take up to seven years for the skin to shrink (this is

what I've read). Now, personally, I can understand being cautious about surgery;

furthermore, it's a really bad thing if you then regain. So, I wouldn't even

consider surgery until I'd maintained the weight loss for several years -- 3 or

4 years. By then, you're getting close to that 7-year number anyway.

So, losing the weight, getting in shape especially increasing muscle mass

through weight work, and maintaining your loss and maintaining your exercise

seem to be most important. If, after 5 to 7 years, you're still unhappy about

your appearance, check out a number of plastic surgeons. That would be my advice

.... but remember this is all just IMO (in my opinion).

-:|:-

[Guest guest]

> has made a huge difference. I have also made it a point to

> stop letting my successes and failures be the judge of who I

> am.

I totally believe this has made a HUGE difference in why I was

successful this time. Honestly, we need to learn NOT to define our value

by our weight, our weight loss, our weight gain, our pants size, etc. It

took me a LONG time to get to that point where I could say to myself

" Hey Tory, you are a way cool person just because you are you. " and not

add some caveat about my weight.