This is how I feel about my Weight Watchers Family. I joined many years ago, found an amazing Warrior Woman/Mermaid leader and stuck with it. The receptionists are amazing people as well and get to know you as a person. I also got Dave to join, too. Success at the scale? Well, that varies. Losing weight after 2 surgeries and a surgical procedure has been difficult but I can't imagine where I would have been without my Weight Watchers family. We have a family gathering on lime green chairs at our South Plainfield center every Saturday. Get there early if you want a seat-the meetings are packed every week! Why is my butt parked in a chair by 7:30am every Saturday? It's family......and therapy!
Weight Watchers gave me the tools to stay pretty even during my stressful year. I had changed my eating habits so much that when The Shark gave me a lecture about how I needed to eat after surgery to help my body heal, I told her I was doing all of that already. She was pleasantly surprised since many of her patients have poor diets. It was also a bit of a surprise when I was asked the question "What is the source of your food?" umm.....grocery store???? Once again, I was informed that many people relied on packaged stuff and take out. Yeah, not so much here.
However, my thankfulness for the eating habits and healthy lifestyle isn't the only reason I am writing this. It goes much deeper than food. I have made some amazing friends at the meeting. I have a better social life because of these people-we get together and do things! You know, you have those friends who you just call or see once in a while. This is different-my WW family is there in the flesh every Saturday and we get there early to talk and catch up. Sometimes we even walk before the doors open(if I can get out of the house early enough!) I love that connection. I think I get more hugs at the meeting than I get anywhere else (except from Dave) during the week. We also keep in touch during the week on Facebook, too.
So, my meeting family is also one of my biggest cheering sections. It was incredibly difficult to talk about cancer with a group of people but it has made me even closer to people in the group. I cried a lot while sharing my story and how it has changed my life, outlook, and relationship with food. I like that my leader has pushed me to talk more. I'm comfortable talking in front of kids but with adults, well, that's a different story. I can't tell you how loud everyone in the family cheered the week I was able to share that I was cancer free after my July scans!
I know I can just ask and help is there. I was almost in a bind with a ride home from the hospital. I posted it and suddenly several members were offering rides. I know all I have to do is ask and someone in the family will jump in to help. Many have offered something in various forms. Even knowing they are there if I need to vent is great.
So, we were at a cookout with a lot of members from different meetings. Many knew my story because my leader had been sharing it. So I answered their questions and had a great time with them-I can honestly say I can't remember the last time I laughed so hard at a cookout! I was battling some side effects from treatment and was sharing it with the group. What's the best way to stop a WW cookout? Tell people that you suffer from loss of appetite!!!!! I think everyone sitting by me stopped mid chew and drink, all conversation seemed to stop and they asked "What's that like???" LOL!!! Not as great as you may think!!!! It was so funny to watch the cookout come to a grinding halt with that question!!! One of the WW women at the cookout is the reason why I am blogging. We had a great conversation and she convinced me that I could write this all down and share it with you!
I met a friend who is an oncology nurse at the meeting and we have sat next to each other for years. What an amazing blessing to know her as a friend! It seemed like fate to have her in my life when I was diagnosed with Melanoma. She is my cheerleader. She keeps me grounded and offers incredible advice. She walks me through the ins and outs of treatment. My Reiki person is also a member and meeting her was wonderful-she has helped me out several times. There are several breast cancer survivors who offer support and show me that you live after this "Year of Hell" as one puts it. Their love for life is so motivating!
My family at WW means the world to me. I don't know if I would be doing so well without them. Thanks Ohana for not leaving me behind as some 'friends' have done or forgetting that I am in the battle to save my life. Thanks for holding my hand through this journey. Thank you for being there for me. Your hugs and words of encouragement are priceless and carry me through the week. I look forward to seeing you every week. I am proud to have you on my team and I've got your back too. I joined to lose weight but have gained so much in the process.
The saying for this got cut off but "The most I can do for a friend is simply be his friend."
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