It’s the final diary entry and it is time to see how much weight Peter and Roger have lost over the course of their 12-week programme.
Name: Peter Cooney
Meeting: Thomas Davis GAA Club, Tallaght
Starting weight: 13 stone 13.5lbs
Current weight: 12 Stone 6 lbs
So that’s it, 12 weeks done and I’m 21 ½ pounds lighter. I feel great, obviously look great and have started buying clothes at the opposite end of the rail. It’s a great feeling. If it wasn’t for this opportunity, I would probably never had shifted the weight and discovered the wonders of Weight Watchers’ unbelievably fantastically deliciously wonderful ProPoints friendly heavenly tasting soups, especially the Hearty Vegetable Broth or the Chicken Noodle.
If I was given a never-ending supply of the soups I would be a very happy man indeed and it would most certainly aid my future weight loss goals.
As it is, I am still seven pounds from my goal weight and with it my gold membership. As I have lost 21 ½ lbs thus far, it would be illogical not to continue on and get that gold card. I will get there. Oh yes I will.
The experience has been fantastic. Christian Bale has been on the phone to me exchanging notes for his latest role; he’s playing the part of Peter Cooney in David Lynch’s ‘Weight loss Sweetheart: A Cooney Portrayal’. Having looked over the screenplay, albeit briefly, it’s quite good. It’s not exactly Bill Goldman or Charlie Kaufman but it’s an enjoyable read. The opening is quite something:
EXT. SOMEWHERE IN THE DUBLIN MTS. – DAWN
The camera races across an auburn landscape, interspersed by small lakes and the odd meandering road.
We cut to an extreme wide at the foot of a hill. Almost lost in the landscape is the silhouette of a man atop the aforementioned hill.
We’re close up now on pale blue eyes, reflecting the glimmer of the dawn sun. We pull out to reveal a majestic being, one with nature and one with himself. This is PETER .
There’s quite a buzz in Hollywood about the whole thing, Hollywood, Wicklow, that is, where it’s being shot. It’s good to give to local communities you know?
Sorry ladies – he’s off the market
I digress to a degree. I was initially skeptical about the whole Weight Watchers thing and I thought that it was a quite effeminate thing to do. I’m glad I removed the veil of ignorance that has plagued me since all my life. My eyes have been opened to the greatness that is the ProPoints system and I’m overwhelmed by the results.
Having lost over a stone and a half, I can happily say that Weight Watchers works, it really works. From attending the classes I knew first hand that it works for other people as well. Every week, I was greeted with positive stories and offered support by my fellow attendees. I feel that I have gained a shipload of trucks filled with knowledge about better eating habits and I know that I will reach my goal in the next few weeks.
So I guess this is the end of the journey. I’m writing this with tears, well I’m not but I was hoping to get across the sense of emotion I’m currently feeling as I write these last words. If I wrote this with tears my screen would be covered in salty water and I’d probably end up writing gibberish.
Anyways, it’s been swell and hopefully we shall meet again someday, maybe at a meeting, maybe a chance encounter on a street. Who knows when our paths may cross. But just remember one thing that I was told many moons ago ‘Ah it works yeah, Weight Watchers is grand like’. Do it! Throw away that 24 point XL Bacon Double Cheeseburger and get to a weight watchers meeting. It may just be the best decision you ever make.
Oh, I lost half a pound this week.
Name: Roger Wheeler
Meeting: Castle Arch Hotel, Trim
Starting weight: 15 stone 7.5lbs
Current weight: 14 stone 3.5lbs
Well that’s the end of that chapter. With my final blog I am happy to report a one pound weight loss. That is a total weight loss over the 12 week period of 18 pounds. That breaks down to a 1.5 lb loss per week. Yes I had my ups and downs over the course of the 12 weeks but they were mainly downs. And ‘downs’ in terms of weight loss.
Now if you were to tell me 12 weeks ago that I was going to lose almost one and a half stone by simply recording everything I ate, introducing some exercise and planning my meals I probably would have laughed at you. Now here I stand with the complete satisfaction of being eighteen pounds lighter, feeling so much healthier and at a level of fitness I haven’t felt in over five years. These achievements are made by making a few lifestyle changes and to be honest, I can’t see myself going back to my old ways.
While writing the blog there was always the motivation to be reporting a weight loss because I had to publicly report it. I look back on a photo I took of myself before I started this journey and vowed to myself that I would never return to that state again.
When you get into the Weight Watchers programme and start seeing the results, the feeling you get is certainly a positive one. With the program you don’t feel like you are on a diet. The truth of the matter is you aren’t, you are only watching the food you’re eating, recording it and sticking to your ProPoints allowance.
The main factor I found that really contributes to the Weight Watchers program is exercise and maintaining and active lifestyle. Like weight loss, you have to set yourself realistic and achievable goals. There’s no point in saying you are going to lose a stone in a week or you’re going to go out and run or walk ten miles in an hour. You need to ease yourself into a routine. Start off with short walks or start doing little things like walking for the paper instead of driving down to the shop for it, where possible.
There are some things that you’ll be able to replace in your daily routine with a healthier option. Build yourself up gradually with the exercise and then before you know it you’ll be able to walk the 5k, attend a kettle bell class or cycle the 10 kilometres to the shop to get the papers. If you plan to lose a pound a week it is more achievable and it will also reduce your expectancy levels when you step on the scales. Anything over your one pound weight loss is a huge bonus.
The lean machine
Anyway, there’s no point in me trying to tell you this, I’m not a professional in this field but I am someone who has used this program, attended the meetings and got the results. It’s the information you get from your class leader and hearing the other member’s stories that gives you the pointers, do’s and don’ts and the inspiration to make the program work for you. The tag line in the ad for Weight Watchers is very true. BECAUSE IT WORKS.
Before I say my final goodbyes there’s a few people I’d like to thank.
Firstly JOE.ie for giving me this opportunity to do this programme. It has been a life changing experience and I am very thankful of it.
I’d also like to thank my class leader Jenny Sheanon for all her hard work. The weekly emails and chats at the meetings really helped me along this road to a weight loss.
Also, my wife Gillian for all her support and motivation she gave me. If it wasn’t for Gill I wouldn’t been able to sample some of the delights from the kitchen courtesy of the Weight Watchers complete kitchen cook book.
Finally like to thank Weight Watchers Ireland for the fabulous cook book that they so generously gifted to me. It has gotten great use over the last couple of months.
So this is me signing off for the last time a very happy camper. Eighteen pounds and counting. I hope that this has been of some help to those of you who feel the need to lose a few pounds.
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