Success Files: Dana

I’ve decided to salute the folks that are truly kicking the pounds to the curb. Every month I’ll feature a different weight loss diva (or divO).

 

This month’s success story is Dana!

 

1. When did you start Weight Watchers?
I started the Winning Points program on March 24, 2001.

 

2. With all of the weight loss programs/diets available, what made you decide to choose WW?
I had watched both my Mother and sister using the program, and it was working. I saw that they were eating pretty much whatever they wanted and were losing weight while doing so. I felt like I would be crazy not to give it a try.

 

3. How much weight have you lost?
I have lost 90.6 pounds. Before joining Weight Watchers, I lost weight by just following what my Mom and sister were doing!

 

4. What is your favorite aspect of the WW program?
I like the freedom and flexibility of the program. If you have a special occasion that you are going to be spending a lot of Points on, you can adapt the program to work for you by banking Points. Weight Watchers also give you a lot of tools and techniques for handling these situations, and the group environment at the meetings can be helpful with these challenges as well. There are always people at my meeting who are there to help and share advice.

 

5. Favorite low point snacks?
I like crunchy snacks, so I have a lot of favorite crunchy snacks. Right now, if I am craving crunch, I pour me a serving of Kashi Good Friends; Cinna-Raisin Crunch (2pts). I also like the Chili-Lime flavored Pita Snax(3pts). I will tell you, if I am craving a snack that is higher in points, I will treat myself to it. I firmly believe that if you give yourself these foods that you crave on a regular basis, you start to crave them less over time. I treat myself to Dairy Queen on Friday nights!

 

6. Do you plan to become a leader? If so, why?
Yes, I do plan to become a leader. Last summer my Leader asked me to be a Greeter at my Weight Watcher center. Having been a Greeter now for almost a year, I can’t imagine NOT being involved in helping others to achieve their weight loss goals.

 

7. Favorite WW moment? (i.e. meeting Fergie, receiving an award, etc.)
I have a lot of favorite weight loss moments, sometimes they are not even about me! When I give advice about the WW program to a member and that person comes back and that advice has worked, it just makes me feel so good! But, I will say that going to the Weight Watchers Super Meeting in January was an amazing experience! Even though I did not meet Sarah Ferguson, it was electrifying being in the same room with her and hundreds of my Weight Watchers peers!

 

8. What is your typical exercise program?
Recently, I have given myself a break from my rigorous exercise program (as I do from time-to-time). For a while now, I have used walking as the staple of my program, usually walking for an hour a day at a moderate pace. Strength training has also been an important aspect of my exercise program, and I really enjoy how it makes my body look and feel. While I mostly do my exercise at a gym, I also think it is important to vary the exercise, so I will sometimes walk in my neighborhood and at the park.

 

9. What tips would you like to offer program newbies?
a) Do not compare your progress to anyone else’s progress. We are unique individuals and have been down different paths in life. There are a lot of factors that go into how fast a person loses weight. Weight Watchers is a lifestyle change, not a diet intended for rapid weight loss. Stick with the program and you will be successful.

b) When you eat multiple servings of a food item, multiply the nutrition information by the number of servings and then calculate your Points from that information. While there are a lot of "Free" foods out there, some of these zero Points foods can add up to foods with Points if you eat enough of them.

c) Always check the nutritional information of foods that you eat. Sometimes a food manufacturer will change something about a product, whether it be the thickness of a slice of ham, or an increase in the serving size or added ingrediant. These changes can change the nutrition information and drive the Points up for your favorite foods. So even if you have been eating one particular food almost every day for 6 months, take a look at the labels just to make sure you have the Points correct. If you don’t have any nutritiona information, try finding out from online services such as http://www.fitday.com.

d) If what you are doing is not working for you, change something. What do you have to lose?

 

10. How do you plan to reward yourself for reaching goal weight?
I really have yet to decide. I have rewarded myself throughout the journey so far, so my ideas are always changing about what the "ultimate reward" will be. I really just want to give myself the gift of staying with it, ya know? Weight Watchers is for life, for me. I don’t want to get to goal and think that I am at the end of my weight loss road. I think that with goal there are new sets of challenges and obstacles. Maybe I will just keep rewarding myself each week that I maintain my weight. OR, maybe I will buy a new car? Heheee!

 

 

 

 

Click here to visit Dana’s weight loss site.

 

 

Thanks for being an inspiration, D! Continued succes, diva. 🙂