I looked down.....

When I walked into our weight watchers meeting today......I saw on the board that our topics for the day were anchors and the gift tag! I couldn't but help exclaim to our leader Sherry that THESE were my FAVORITE topics of all time! Sherry does them together every first meeting of December. For me they set the tone for the Holiday Season.

I have learned that my anchors have changed as I have changed. The gift tag is one to me from me. On the back you write the amount of weight you wish to be the first meeting weigh in for January. You look at the number today and decide if you shall maintain, gain, or lose. I always tape mine in front of my tracking journal so it is constantly with me.

I always lose weight over the holidays. Today I lost 1. 2 and this was just after Thanksgiving. I personally believe I am more connected....focused .....on the season ahead. I just need to learn to transfer that over to the rest of the year! I realized that today.......took long enough, but I did.

Before the meeting ended today, a member shared that she would be missing the next eight weeks. She shared that she was having major surgery and the recovery period was going to be long. She expressed the concern that a BIG MAN was going to be her caregiver during this time period. ( her husband) He was one for pizza.

She stumbled in her words and her voice started to quiver. I could hear her gasping for breath.....words......and realized she was going to cry.

This member is a regular. She is a constant. She has lost almost 100 pounds since she started. She shares often and is such the planner. Her goal is another 50 pounds.

I am going to be frank here. I never REALIZED she even had 100 to lose let alone 50 more. I never saw it...but then again.....I never look either. I have NEVER cared what a person weighs.....I only care what kind of person they are.

A dead silence fell across the room.

The member kept saying she was sorry and she didn't know where this was coming from as she struggled with her tears and emotions.


I wanted to turn around and tell her it was alright.

I wanted to tell her to take her time.

I wanted to tell her that we were here for her.

I wanted too..............

but instead I looked down lost in thought.


My heart was truly breaking.....for her.


I silently said a prayer for her. I wanted her to release the pain and become strong.


As I sat there......I realized why weight watcher meetings are so powerful. Even though members truly don't know one another.......we DO get to know one another......with learning....laughter....and sometimes with tears.

I have to be honest.....I have never understood the tear part. I never cry. ....oh....I mean I do cry, but my tears are for a loss of someone or anything to do with pets. Other than that, I don't dwell ...or allow myself to get that emotional. I tend to be ....too rational.


I have always known that weight loss persey can be a touchy subject with various reactions.


TODAY....it hit me full force.

This member has literally worked so hard to lose 100 pounds. She was scared and realized that she had to depend on someone else these next two months. She was afraid of going back to old.....easier ways that got her here in the first place. She was fragile in so many ways still.


It was a powerful meeting.



Outside the building a few of us ....just stood for a moment. We felt so bad. One lady had tears in her eyes. I begged her to please not cry. She told me she couldn't help it...she felt so .....badly . After some time, we parted ways.



Tuesday night I have always considered TAKE OUT TUESDAY since I weighed in earlier in the day. Pizza is usually our fare of choice. My logic....I have a whole week now before I get weighed in again.


Tonight....I made taco salad .....my FAVORITE recipe that Thursday Leader Lisa gave us.


Tonight...I updated my food journal.

Tonight......I taped my GIFT TAG on the front cover of my journal.


My anchor has changed. My meetings are my anchor. My gift tag.....is truly my gift to me and one to value.

Tonight.....I ran my finger tips over my gift tag.........


Tonight.... I thought of the meeting.....the leader...the members......

and I wept.