To say “I’ve maintained a ___ -pound loss for ___ years” is a remarkable and empowering statement. Refuse To Regain is a place to celebrate weight-loss anniversaries. Like staying sober, married, or cigarette free, maintaining a weight loss takes diligence and hard work, and it deserves to be acknowledged for the accomplishment it was and continues to be.
To add your goal anniversary to the Celebrating Maintenance Anniversaries page, send your goal date, and if you’d like, a few words about your maintenance regimen along with a photo or video to refusetoregain@gmail.com.
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Anniversary Roll
Mari-Anne from Staten Island, New York -
Goal: January 27, 2006. Starting weight 260; now weighs 153.
Sondra from Raleigh, North Carolina
- Goal: Feb. 10, 2007; 100 pounds gone: Feb. 17, 2007; Lifetime: March 27, 2007; maintainting in what she calls the "sweet spot" range of 126-131 since June 23, 2007. Sondra lost a total of 115 pounds.
Lynn Haraldson-Bering - March 12, 2007; 168 pounds gone
Flo from Worcester, Massachusetts
– Goal: March 16, 2001. Maintaining 80+ pound weight loss. “I started at 217 pounds and I maintain in a 2-3 pound range around 136 pounds. I lost my weight on Weight Watchers, and I have never missed a monthly weigh in since I hit Lifetime in May of 2001. My motto is, ‘Being overweight is hard. Losing weight is hard. Keeping the weight off is hard. You just need to pick your hard.’ My after picture is on top of a mountain that I climbed with my husband. Another of my after weight loss goals was quitting smoking, and I am happy to say that I have been smoke free for almost 7 years now.”
Donna from Philadelphia
– Goal: April 2007. At 5’5”, she maintains a 68-pound loss and weighs between 118-121. “I primarily use Weight Watchers program to stay on track and have also incorporated some of Barbara’s philosophy on the Primarian diet. I exercise 6 days a week cardio and weights—as much as I can handle with chronic low back pain I deal with. I ask a lot of my body so I do my best to treat it with the respect it (and I) deserve by eating well and staying fit. I really want to be an example to my sons how important self-care is. What also has been motivational to me is the “pay it forward” part where so many of my friends and family have started to follow my lead on staying healthy and I’ve seen many of those close to me make better choices for themselves. And finally, I think both the Internet community and attending WW meetings has been the one factor that was different this last time down the scale. Almost all of the other times I just didn’t take advantage of support systems that were available.”
Lesley from Cleveland, Ohio - Goal: September 6, 2005. Maintaining a 72-pound loss.
Sheri Jungers - Goal: Nov. 21, 2007. Maintains 65-pound loss. “I…never lived a healthy lifestyle until I began Weight Watchers in 2007 after I rescued a high energy dog and decided to try to keep up with her. Walking gave way to running, five pound dumbells turned to ten, and I learned to view food as fuel instead of entertainment. Running became my new passion. I love to get outside, spend time with my dog, and explore my neighborhood. I am now the woman I wanted to be when I grew up.”
Debra from Burton, Michigan - November 22, 2008; 152.2 pounds gone. "It is so ironic because most of my friends bemoan how their body feels so much worse now then 20 years ago. I cannot relate to that because 20 years ago I felt terrible and at 42 I feel awesome.”
Judy in New York City
- December 18, 2005; 124 pounds gone. 5'8" tall, maintains at 150 pounds. "I changed myself, my eating habits and my life for the better. But I find that each year, the glow of success fades and the reality of why I became morbidly obese in the first place, hits me between the eyes. I have emotional issues that I still need to deal with." Click here to see Judy morph from before to after.
Vicki from Wisconsin - Goal: December 21, 2005 (126 pounds). Started September 1, 2003 at 284.
