ChunkyChick.net

A LITTLE ABOUT ME
My name is Lorraine, most call me Rain or Lo. I am 26 years old, living in Oklahoma working full time while pursuing a Bachelor's Degree in Criminal Justice. I moved to Oklahoma from Washington State when I was 18 looking for a life I could call my own. I met the man of my dreams one month after moving here. Harry and I were married in September of 2007. We have an amazing life together.. the only thing that was missing was the lack of confidence in myself (and a baby!). I have always been the "chunky" girl with very low self-esteem. I remember weighing 150lbs in 6th grade wearing a size 10/12. At my leanest and healthiest weight in high school playing volleyball I still weighed 175lbs at a size 16. College rolled around, depression struck and I ballooned up to 210lbs. My blood preassure was dangerously high, but what did doctors know? I was in denial.

MY EYE OPENER
Harry and I usually spend one Christmas in Oklahoma with his family and the next Christmas in Washington with my family. Christmas 2006 we went up north and had a great time with my parents and grandparents.. pictures were taken and everything was wonderful. Until.. I saw the pictures. I was wearing a grey stripped sweater weighing in at 214 lbs. I looked like Beetlejuice the Blimp. I was so ashamed of myself. I had let myself down and my attitude was affecting my relationships. I had always dreamed of losing weight, but it wasn't until that moment that I knew I had to do something. Something clicked..

STARTING WEIGHT WATCHERS
I started Weight Watchers March 20, 2007. I wasn't so sure at the beginning. 6-8 glasses of water, 5 servings of fruits and veggies, 2-3 servings of dairy? Does strawberry ice cream count? Surely french fries would count as a veggie.. it's a potato for crying out loud. Yes, I was in for a rude awakening. But I gave it a shot and it actually started working! It took me a few months to get the basics down. Eventually I was living, eating, and breathing Weight Watchers. My friends and family must be sick of hearing the points values of anything and everything. Some people are quiet about their weight loss because if they don't tell anyone and fail, then no one will be the wiser. I figured that if I let everyone know, I wouldn't let myself fail. Weight Watchers  opened up a world that I only dreamed of, and that was only the beginning.

GOAL
My inital goal was 140lbs.Yes, I was looking for a number on the scale. People say the scale doesn't matter, but to me it does. I am 5'7", I would be crazy to say my goal weight is 120lbs. I am realistic with my over all health in mind. In 2009, I reached 150lbs and was a size 8. At the time I still wanted to reach 140lbs. I didn't realize that I was where my body needed me to be. I was physically fit, going to the gym 4 times a week. I was living my true goal. I was HEALTHY!

LIFE AFTER GOAL
Well... what else does a married 20-something want when she is healthy? A BABY!! :) So, in April 2009, my husband and I started trying for our little miracle. She was conceived in August and born in May 2010. Life is wonderful and we are beside ourselves. But, one itty bitty problem. I gained a whopping 64lbs with the pregnancy topping out at 224 on the scale. Whoa baby!

BACK ON THE WAGON!
Six weeks post-partum I jumped back on the Weight Watchers band wagon. By nine weeks post-partum I was down 40lbs with a goal of 40 to go. I have set my goal to 145lbs or size 8, whichever gets here sooner! So... here I am fighting the weight loss battle and living the dream all over again. This time, I vow not to beat myself up when I make a poor choice. I will just make the right choice with the very next bite. I mean what is the use in being unhappy during this journey. Want to know the coolest thing? I use my very own before and after pictures as inspiration. I know exactly what I'm working towards and it gives me that much more drive!