August blog Challenge: Day 10

*Something you are proud of*

St. Louis University, Grad School Core Class, August 2002

I wanted to post a picture of what I am proud of, but I am in Oklahoma City and only have recent pictures with me.  I guess, the thing that sticks out to me as something I am proud of, is losing 60ish pounds since 2002 and gaining Lifetime membership status at Weight Watchers.  It is no secret that I have always struggled with weight and body images. I'd love to tell you that I do not anymore because that would be a lie.

I did not gain the typical "Freshman 15" in my first year in college....I gained like 40 pounds. I went from being a very active person on the dance team who ate pretty healthy, to late night eating and drinking high calorie alcoholic drinks with hardly any time working out.  I don't even know how I didn't notice the weight coming on, until the spring time when I went to put on some clothes from the year before and they didn't fit at all. I evenly gained the weight which maybe made it harder for me to tell.  I did lose about 10 pounds over the summer and then another 10 throughout the other 3 years of college. 



When I moved to St. Loius to start grad school in August of 2002, I made a decieion to join weight watchers.  It was a long battle and I was able to reach goal in March of 2005.  I am happy to say I have done my best to keep of the weight.  My job definitely makes it hard....with all the travel.  In some ways I am way more focused on my image now than I was 60 pounds ago.  I am proud of where I have come, but I still have a ways to go.  I know the number on the scale shouldn't matter, however, it still bothers me when I am up 5 pounds.  Luckily I am learning to rely more on how I feel and how my clothes feel, but I guess I am a work in progress, but I am so happy as to how far I have come.

St. Thomas, October 2011