I have been asked many times for photographs since I started writing my thread on Weight Watchers Forum.  I hope this will provide the solution for all those who are curious.

I started following Weight Watchers 123 Success programme seriously back in November 1996 when I weighed in at 21 stone 8 1/2 lb., i.e. 302 1/2 lb..  Towards the end of July 1997 I discovered Weight Watchers Forum (link below) and then Debbie's Weight Loss Chat room (the chat room no longer works) where I made lots of friends from all over the world.  I was so proud of my success that I started a thread on the forum to celebrate when I had lost 100 lb..  I used to write twice a week to my 'thread'/'article' and usually finished the subject line with  'and flaunting it!!' which was from my original subject line of  '100+ ..lost and flaunting it!!'.  I have found tremendous support through writing and receiving messages on the forum..  On Monday 26th October 1998 I reached my goal of 9 stone 13 lbs, i.e. 139 lbs, by weighing in at 9 stone 12 1/2 lbs.

As a goal to keep me motivated I was invited by my friend, who I met through the chat room when I first visited it, to stay with her in California in the summer.  Laurie and I are definitely kindred spirits and I am so thankful that we found each other!!  The holiday was definitely the best I have ever had. I did not want to come home again!!  You can find out more about that visit on My holiday of a lifetime.

I am enclosing photographs to share my success with you.

These pictures were taken summer 95 when I started out:  
 
...and these were taken 8th December 1997, the night I reached 100 lb lost....

with Fiona, my Weight Watcher leader; 

   with my neighbour Margaret and her grandchildren: 

On 12th January 1998 I was presented with a certificate at my Weight Watcher class.  This picture was taken with two fellow members who reached their own goals at Easter:

  

    

I appeared in a  local free paper the same week as the presentation and here are three of the pictures the photographer took.  

On October 6th I was featured in Best magazine (41st issue) which is a UK women's magazine.  The article covers a page and a half and is the last feature in the magazine.  The headline is 'How a computer helped me lose 11 stone!'  The cover has a headline saying ' I lost 11 stone thanks to a computer'.  There are pictures of me in black trousers and red T shirt kicking my leg up, in my red dress leaning against my computer and the picture on my holiday page standing under the Golden Gate Bridge.  The article has lots of inaccuracies and quotes which were not mine or Laurie's but on the whole it looks good.  Unfortunately it seems to imply that I lived off vegetables and salads which is very far from the truth although I have eaten a huge amount of vegetables!!  I am not sure how easy it will be to record on my home page but I will ask my brother about that.

I have been asked to mark reaching my goal with some more pictures so here they are!!  They were taken on 7th November 1998 in my brothers garden with two of his cats.

Now I can add pictures from when I was presented with a gold certificate for reaching my goal weight.  The area manager, Jan, joined us (1st picture).  My friend Sue joined me for the 2nd picture.   Then I had my routine picture taken with Jane and Joanne, Joanne was over 7 months pregnant at this point.  After the meeting a crowd of us went out for a meal together where I was surprised by a visit from my ex WW leader, Stephanie, who I had always been very fond of.  I had joined Stephanie on many attempts and had some very good losses with her too but never lasted until goal. So in the 4th picture you can see Fiona, me and Stephanie.

   

I am often asked about what exercise I do so I have now written about my exercise story too.  I hope that it is of some help and interest to you.

After two years following 123 success I believe that I have learned lots about losing weight.  I still have lots to learn too.  Anyway I have attempted to write down some of my thoughts and experiences to share with you.  You can read these on Discoveries on my weight loss journey.

If you've had enough of me why not meet my family!

I used to have a link straight to the WW forum but as it keeps changing the following link will  take you to the main page.  You need to choose a name and a password, it can take a while to find a name not already in use, and then you can join us!    Weight Watchers    There are lots of different WW pages and you can find the one for you by clicking on the appropriate flag for you on the main page.   When I started using the forum in 1997 there was only the US forum available.  Now the UK web site has been up and running for a while.  It also has a forum with lots of support.  I now spend most of my time on the UK site as the US one often has problems for those of us in the UK.  I do still have lots of friends on the US site so I write occasionally on Fitness Challenge to keep in touch with them.

One of my very good friends  started her own home page.  She helped and encouraged many people to exercise on a regular basis.  Karen has been a great supporter and encourager of me since we met on the Internet and discussed UK television programmes!  Please support Karen and look at Karen's 3-7 X's per week exercise club too.