Q: Kim, what is the one thing you wish someone would have told you about weight loss when you started?
A: Since my mother has maintained a 40 pound loss with Weight Watchers for 10 years now I pretty much knew what needed to be done... I just needed to do it. It's important to be reminded though, that this isn't just about getting weight off... it's about the rest of your life and that losing one battle doesn't mean you lose the war. It's not always so easy keeping focus on your ultimate goal, especially when it's such a long journey to get there... with lots of obstacles in the way. We have to be reminded that we're not meant to be perfect. It's too easy to give up on ourselves and just quit when we make a mistake when what we need to do is learn from it and continue on doing the best that we can.
Q: What is your favorite healthy food?
A: Most foods are relatively "healthy" if the portion size is controlled. I don't know that I have a favorite, but I do enjoy a lot of the soy products and Kashi Good Friends Cereal because of its convenience and the 8g of fiber really fills me up. I like to try new things now, at least once a week, and will "shake-up" my diet a bit if I notice it getting too routine.
Q: What was the hardest part of losing weight for you?
A: Learning what it takes to make these changes permanent without giving up on yourself is hard work. Also, remembering that life is not always going to be so easy or routine. I am not as self-destructive now. I have learned to do the best that I can do and to be proud of those efforts. Learning to treat myself as well as I treat others has been hard... but that is the key to success.
I've still got more weight to lose and that discourages me sometimes too, but I really only have to look at how far I've come to see where it is I'm going.
Q: What was the best reward for losing weight for you?
How good I feel... body and mind. The energy and self-worth are priceless. I also love the fact that I am setting a good example for my children and that my husband has now adopted a healthy lifestyle for himself. Having a positive influence on other people means a lot to me.
Q: Do you recommend Weight Watchers to beginners?
I recommend Weight Watchers to everyone. No matter what you look like on the outside, if you're not eating well and moving then you are not doing the best that you can do for you... or feeling the best that you can feel. There is a lot to learn in order to be successful at losing weight and keeping it off. Weight Watchers has a program that works and the support is there but ultimately it is up to you.
