Thanks,

Chris

I had tremendous success with Weight Watchers over 20 years ago. Congratulations on your first weight loss and continued success to you! We are in the process of paying off our debt, too, and after reading your post today, I realized that many of the things I learned at Weight Watchers also apply to achieving our financial goals:
1. Don’t expect to reach your goal overnight. It takes commitment and focus to reach a goal, but the rewards will be worth it in the end.
2. If you stumble or experience setbacks on the way to your goal, don’t beat yourself up. This happens with lifetime eating plans as well as financial fitness plans. There may be weeks where you actually gain weight in spite of sticking to the plan. Don’t worry, just get back on the plan and keep going!
3. Small weight loss wins are like Dave Ramsey’s debt snowball – they may seem tiny compared to the total goal, but they keep you motivated and headed in the right direction. So, celebrate each success whether it is a few pounds or a couple of ounces.
4. Share your goals with those who will support you in your efforts. It makes the journey more bearable and sometimes even more fun.
5. What you learn will become a part of your life and if you follow the plan you will never go back to your old ways of eating (or spending)!

All the best to you and thanks for your posts.

As for getting fit and healthy, I suggest picking up jogging (or if you are thoroughly determined, running). I know it may sound daunting. But set a goal of a 5k (3.1 miles). I am sure there will be a race in the next 2 months in whatever area you are in. Go to the running or athletic store and ask them or google 5k’s in your area. I promise after you accomplish one, you will want to do more. Plus 3.1 miles is walkable if you end up only jogging parts of it. Try it out and let me know how it goes.

Also, you should take ‘then’ and ‘now’ pictures so when you blog about your success about losing a ton of weight, we can see the dramatic change.

Dave
LifeExcursion

I’ve been following you on Twitter for quite a while and pop onto the website once-in-a-while. You and I seem to live somewhat similar lives: We’re both on Total Money Makeovers (BS4), do Financial Counseling, and now you are on Weight Watchers.

My wife and I decided to try Weight Watchers in 2007 after seeing the DRAMATIC effects it had on a friend of ours who lost 70 lbs in about 9 months. My wife and I set a goal for each of us to reach before May 2007 or we would not take the Family Vacation to Florida that year. We stuck to it, lost the weight, and reached the goal. It works.

I have also started a new goal to lose weight (see my post on my blog called “The Next Challange” at MoneyPlanSOS.Wordpress.com). Written goals are definately more powerful than just talking about your goals, but POSTING goals for all to see is REALLY powerful. I am confident I will reach my goal, and seeing the progress you have made already must have given you some real encouragement, and me as well!

Thanks for the great post. I’ll be watching for progress updates (and new baby announcements).

As far as weight watchers goes my mother does that and she loves it. The thing she realized about it is that you have to stay with it or you’ll run the risk of gaining all of that weight back.

Best of luck,
Chris