Today is the first edition of New Year, New You. I wanted to take some time to feature people in all different stages of their journey toward healthy living at a time when many New Year’s Resolutions have started to fall by the wayside. This is an opportunity for people of all types to share their journey. You can be featured if: You are a veteran of healthy living, you are in the middle of your journey, you are on your first journey, you have taken the journey several times, you are just beginning, you haven’t started yet and want motivation/accountability, you want to share your journey at whatever stage it exists.
Basically anyone can be featured, I just want to hear about and share what you’re doing to try to live a little bit healthier, what obstacles are coming up for you, and what you’re doing in response. Tell me about your goals, your fears, your accomplishments, anything you’d like! I have questions that I can email, but they aren’t exhaustive. You can respond directly to those questions or you can just write about your story and your experience. Email me at becki@fightingforwellness.com to be featured.
Today’s feature is from Amy. I met Amy through a friend in college and followed her journey through her Facebook status updates. She was so motivating and inspirational to me that I knew I wanted her to write about her experience for all of you. Without further ado, here is Amy’s story.
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Where are you (what stage) in your health/fitness/weight loss journey?
Currently, I am past the halfway mark of my weight loss goal. I am hoping to reach my goal by May. In addition to the weight loss, I am also exercising more than ever! Who would have thought a year ago I would be running for fun? My fitness goal for 2013 is to run a 5K race each month, and a half-marathon in the fall.
What inspired you to make a change in your life? Did you have an ah-ha moment?
The inspiration behind the weight loss is probably random to most people. In January 2012, I was driving home from Northern Virginia. I had gone to get my nails done with a friend and we had dinner at Chipotle. I remember thinking that what I ate wasn’t a big deal, a chicken fajita burrito bowl, chips and guacamole, and a coke. Earlier in the day I was out shopping for new pants and I had realized I was on the verge of moving another size up…and yet, still, I ate all of the food I bought at Chipotle. Well, as I was driving I heard the Weight Watchers advertisement on the radio and something just “clicked.” I felt like I had hit a wall and it was time to change my life. It was midnight when I got home, I woke up my mother and told her that in the morning I was joining Weight Watchers and she could be a part of it or not, but that was my plan. And wow, did my plan work!
August 2011
January 2013
What is your biggest accomplishment in your journey so far?
My biggest accomplishment is that I have managed to stick with it. I had tried Weight Watchers in high school, but was unable to keep myself in check. I know that I have reverted to my old habits here and there and so I have not yet met my goal which I had hoped to do by this February. On the bright-side, I have not gained any weight back. Slow and steady wins the race sometimes, and this is one of those times. Overall, I think my biggest accomplishment is keeping the weight off for almost a year.
What has been the hardest part in your journey so far?
Every journey has a hard part, mine has been to keep up with tracking my points. Sometimes I think that it is just this week I won’t track, and then I do it again, and again, until weigh day arrives and I’m like, wow, what have I done? But, so far, it hasn’t been too drastic.
What tools do you use to keep you accountable?
In WW you are allotted a daily amount of food points, I started at 35, and now I have 26. For every 6-7lbs you lose, they take away another point. Each person is given the same amount of bonus points for the week, 49, but I could never understand the purpose of those. I would exercise to earn more points. You are able to earn “activity points” for use during the week, so if I knew that I was going out or wanted more food, I would exercise. Or, if I ate too much I would make sure to exercise to earn back the bonus points I had used.
Who are your biggest sources of support?
Biggest source of support are my family and friends. It may be narcissistic of me, but I like it when people comment on my results. I remember one day I went in to Panera and there was a person who worked there who hadn’t seen me in a while. She just stared at me and then said, “You’ve lost so much weight since I last saw you!” I remember because I smiled and said “Yep, 55lbs,” and then the woman behind me said, “Shut up! How?!” It was a pretty great moment. My Aunt is also doing WW and she always thought I should attend meetings instead of doing it online, she claimed it would give me motivation. I think the meetings work for some people, but not for me. First, all they do is talk about food and I’m trying to take my mind OFF food. Second, I have motivation. My two motivational points are, I want to wear cute clothes and I want to find a guy!
Do you stay physically active? What is your favorite way to exercise?
Yes, I do exercise! I walk, a lot. I tend to walk and jog about 10-12 miles a week and sometimes my job allows for me to walk around, which is nice. I love jogging! I sometimes do bikram yoga…but the no talking for 90 minutes is rather difficult for me 
Do you weigh yourself?
I do weigh myself, once a week on Thursdays. In WW you have to weigh each week on the same day. Because I signed up on a Thursday and wanted to start right away, I chose to keep Thursday as my official weigh day, but that doesn’t stop me from checking other days just to see what my progress. If I think I’m not going to lose anything, I remember to check what I eat and add more exercise time.
Do you have an ultimate goal?
I do have an ultimate goal. My goal is to lose 101lbs. Right now I am at a 66lbs loss. So I have 35lbs left to go! This last leg is the hardest because I hit a plateau a month ago, but so far I’ve lost another 2lbs. Again, slow and steady.
What will you do to celebrate when you reach your goal?
I have no idea what I’ll do when I reach my goal. Eat a cupcake? Go shopping? Plan a trip to Europe? Hmm…a trip to Europe sounds good, or maybe ALL the above?
That’s amazing, Amy! Keep going! If you’ve come this far, you can make it to your goal. I think you should go to Europe and eat a cupcake after you go shopping.
But that’s just me. 
http://twitter.com/grammarissa
Wow, Amy! You are such an inspiration! People named Amy usually are
. Do you have a blog? If not, you should start one!!
http://gravatar.com/macncheesenpeas