Barbie Perkins-Cooper, Author

Dearest Readers:

I would like to personally thank you for the comments you’ve shared with me about losing weight. The more comments I receive, the more I realize I do have a following now with my blog. I sincerely appreciate each and every one finding the courage to share their thoughts with me about ‘losing weight.’

Today, I am starting a new journey with weight loss, by sharing my experience, success, and struggles, here — on my blog.

No, I will not share how much I tipped the scales when joining Weight Watchers. If I’ve learned anything at WW, I’ve learned that never do we share how much we weighed when joining Weight Watchers; however, we do share the success of losing weight.

If you are reading my blog regularly you might recall my experience on the first week, after starting Weight Watchers. On that morning, I felt energized. The entire week, I counted everything. According to my scales I had lost about three pounds. Slipping on to the Weight Watchers scales, my weight loss was recorded, the booklet handed back to me. I read it and screamed. “.06 of a pound! I’ve only lost .06 of a pound???!!!???”

I grabbed my handbag and shoes and stomping my feet, I quickly darted towards the door. My leader, Kathy, stopped me. “Don’t be upset,” she said. “It’s a loss. Please don’t give up and leave.”

I have an expressive face. My mother always ridiculed me because she could read my actions just by looking at my face. She used my actions to her advantage. As hard as I tried, I have never been able to shake wearing my ‘heart on my sleeves.’ My eyes always reveal my personality. Kathy knew how I felt. As we spoke, she calmed me down, encouraging me to stay, and not quit. After all, it has only been one week!

Now, two years later, I am still attending Weight Watchers meetings. For a few months, I started missing meetings because I was sick. From October 2012 until January 19, 2013, I was sick with acute bronchitis. As hard as I tried to get well, my body refused, so I missed several weeks of meetings. I didn’t gain weight during this time. Whenever I am ill, I do not eat properly because food tastes strange and I struggle. Weight Watchers sent me several “We miss you,” cards…signed by all of the receptionists and my leader, Kathy.

Returning to Weight Watchers, I was greeted warmly. I felt as if I had returned home. Much to my surprise, I had only gained two pounds during my illness. I confess, when I was so sick, the only thing that tasted good to me was a Wendy’s Chocolate Frosty. It was so soothing to my dry, scratchy throat. I didn’t record much in my online journal, and exercising or walking on the treadmill left me breathless. It is hard to stick to any program when you are so weak and ill!

During my Weight Watchers journey, I have learned so much. I cringe when I hear people say “You can lose 20 pounds in 20 days.” Just what orbit are these people on? Losing weight is a lifestyle change, not the latest, and greatest(??) weight loss trend. When I began my journey with Weight Watchers, I had considered going to a medical doctor specializing in weight loss, and I had considered the weight loss program at the Medical University of South Carolina [MUSC], deciding it was best to swallow the last of my pride and join Weight Watchers — not online — but the weekly meeting type.

The journey of weight loss can be overwhelming. Humiliating! Depressing! I should know…I’ve tried MANY of them, including the South Beach Diet, the Atkins Diet, special weight loss programs with doctors, the Cabbage Diet, and others that I simply cannot recall. After my diagnosis with Type 2 Diabetes, I watched carefully what I ate, losing fourteen pounds in three months. My doctor was thrilled and so was I. In early 2011, nothing was working anymore, so I chose Weight Watchers. My inspiration was Jennifer Hudson.

In April 2013 my husband and I went to my class reunion. Approaching the registration table, I must say, I felt proud of the woman I am today, especially after looking at my senior picture name tag. Gosh, was I ever a wallflower — in fact, I was downright ugly! At other class reunions, I simply wanted to blend into the woodwork, like I did in high school, but this year, I was determined not to be a wallflower again. I have a new confidence in myself. Over the years, I have changed – for the better! This class reunion taught me that I can accomplish my goals, regardless how difficult.

To those who struggle with weight loss, I sympathize. I understand your pain. Depression. Disappointment. I have walked in those shoes, and still do; nevertheless, at Weight Watchers, I find encouragement. I’ve made new friends and together we encourage each other. We share tidbits of knowledge we’ve discovered on our journey. I carry a journal to each meeting. It’s amazing how much those little words of encouragement have guided me to continue.

I must share with you, readers, Weight Watchers is not compensating me for writing about my journeys. I pay the same fees as everyone else, with exception of those who are lifetime members. Achieving lifetime status is my goal, and I will achieve that goal. On the day that I do, you, my readers, will celebrate with me.

I hope you will continue reading about my success, my struggles, and my determination to accomplish the goals I have established. If you are seeking weight loss, please consider joining Weight Watchers. We, the members of Weight Watchers, understand your pain and disappointment. All of us had to find the strength to open that door, walk inside and weigh. Together, we can accomplish our goals…if we believe in ourselves and are determined to battle the scales on a weekly basis. During the weeks that a weight gain occurs, we simply step off the scale and strive for next week to be a better, more successful week. We have learned not to beat ourselves up, or to beat our heads against a brick wall. For us, the word – failure – does not exist. Life has a way of bringing us down, and when we are down, we must learn to pick ourselves up and keep moving. For me, it has been a battle lately, but I keep telling myself — “It’s okay. This too shall pass…You will break this plateau…just believe in yourself and continue the journey….”

I confess, as a writer and singer, I am my worst critic. Sometimes I find it easier to just let life bring me down, only now, I dust myself off because I know that if I don’t I will stop this journey, and when (or IF) I stop, I will be lost while the scales continue to escalate. Gaining weight is not an option now! I remind myself to practice what I preach — “It’s okay. This too shall pass…You will break this plateau…just believe in yourself and continue the journey….”

Famous last words, but I do believe and I am proud that I’ve lost weight, and so many inches.

I have the poem “Don’t Quit,” hanging on my office wall and I read it constantly, especially:

“Success is failure turned inside out,
The silver tint of the clouds of doubt,
And you never can tell how close you are.
It may be nearer when it seems afar,
So stick to the fight when you’re hardest hit.
It’s when things seem worse, you mustn’t quit.”

As a child, my dad quoted this poem to me once, when I wanted to quit something. Maybe it was writing. I cannot recall, but I do remember him quoting “It’s when things seem worse, you mustn’t quit…” to me. I connected with that passage and have used it to remind me to continue my journeys in life. Those of you who know me personally might recall my childhood, the difficulties, the tears shed, and the fears of what my life would become. Happy to say, those words encouraged me to believe in myself, even when I am ‘hardest hit.’

Will I accomplish my goals for Weight Watchers, and weight loss? Yes Ma’am, I do believe I will. Why not join me? I’d like to share with you something I tell myself…We should never be ashamed of the person we are today. Each day of life is a blessing. Each breath we take gives us strength to continue. Each journey leads us somewhere! Together, we can accomplish our goals and lose the weight. Weight Watchers…because it works!