I’ve never been fat, at least, I hope not. I don’t think I’ve really ever been obese either, but I was never skinny. I’m short and will stay short for the rest of my life and after my doctor gently explaining this to me and how it correlates to my weight I started to take into consideration that maybe I should change some of my dietary habits. As the doctor put it: I am always going to stay this height I just don’t want to get wider and short. So, after a horrible holiday season I figured it was time. With the support of my amazing family and friends I joined Weight Watchers and the unnecessary pounds started coming off and people started to take note. Before I knew it, the day came (last Thursday), and I hit one of my ultimate goals that I set and I felt and still feel pretty amazing, but there were just somethings I wish I knew before starting this whole process. The first and foremost being that it is long and hard, but if you work at something and have a little faith in yourself it can be done. So, thanks Mom and Mimi for being so involved and keeping me dedicated. Thanks Ana for letting me give you the weekly update and responding with nothing but excitement and happiness for me. And thanks Em, Charlotte and all of my other friends who swatted my hand away from the popcorn and told me “no” when I told you to earlier even though it was hard and you think I’m insane. You guys are much appreciated.

1. You will be hungry for a while.

I wish I knew this just because I wasn’t expecting it. I never starved myself ever, but I would be hungry just a little bit in the middle of the day and I knew it was wrong to pick up that chocolate bar in my purse.

2. What to grab when you do get hungry.

I wish someone trained me to grab those grapes or peanut butter instead of that grape flavored juice or peanut butter cup.

3. Always keep moving!

Those 10,000 steps a day really do make a difference.

4. Salt is a killer.

I mean, so is sugar and fats, but sodium just makes everything worse. No extra salt is ever necessary. Besides, no one likes when something is salty.

5. Drinking water actually makes you eat less.

Here is my logic and I think it actually does make sense: When you fill your stomach up it gets full. It doesn’t really matter what you fill it with because it will still get the same amount of fully. So when you fill it with water you are still getting full because you’re retaining water, but you are eating less, but still full. Get it? (Note: no research was put into this theory and I may quite possibly be 100 percent wrong).

6. Your metabolism changes.

I feel like my stomach has become smaller. I can no longer do the large strawberry milkshake, I just can’t.

7. Because of this when you inevitable gorge yourself and over eat you are going to react differently than you used to.

There are two things that are probably going to happen: you are going to either a) be sensible and realize that no, you cannot eat the entire pizza anymore or b) eat the entire pizza, feel bad about yourself, make yourself sick, go home and take a nap, and have no regrets.

8. Exercise helps.

Even if it is just stretching while watching TV or playing fetch with your dog, getting active really does help you in the long run.

9. You gain so much more when you lose.

I feel like I just stepped out of a Special K commercial, but this one really is true. I’ve gained confidence and happiness. I’m not saying that you can only be happy when you’re skinny because that absolutely is not true, but if you’re not happy with yourself and losing weight will help, you become happy with yourself when you do lose. When you do something that betters you it makes you happier. That’s just common knowledge.

10. No matter how much weight you lose you are always going to have your good days and your bad.

Meaning you are going to have the days you gorge and over eat and the days you really just want salads. You’re going to have the days you feel so fat and hate everything you wear and the days you want to just roam outside in a bikini. No matter how much you lose or gain there are still going to be times when you don’t like yourself very much and the times you absolutely love yourself.

11. Your decision making skills helps you in life, not just when it comes to losing weight.

When learning how to make healthier decisions for my body this has also affected how I make decisions about my life. I’ve realized that six hours of sleep is probably more appropriate than four, and that most of the time writing a paper now is better than waiting until later.

12. The people in your meetings effect you.

Along with Weight Watchers comes the WW meetings. I was blessed to have an amazing, fun, and vibrant woman who encouraged me to no end. Along with her were tons of older women who I will never forget because of the things they said and how we relate so easily to me. Like my instructor said, “These people around you are life time friends because no one else will understand what you are going through like they do.”

13. It’s nice to lose, but it’s even better to maintain.

In WW, after you “hit goal” or lose what you planned to lose when you started you have to maintain for 6 weeks to become lifetime. This is a killer because you are learning how to stay you set weight instead of losing continually. It’s like having to run to the finish line in slow motion because you are literally so close, but not quite there. It’s a whole different learning system, but it’s for the best. Losing weight the right way results in a happier outcome because you don’t put on the 10 lbs ever again.

14. It’s hard.

It is something you struggle everyday with. It’s that voice inside your head that tells you to get the small instead of the large. That makes you choose water instead of coffee everyday. Sometimes you can flick the angel off your shoulder and go with the devil, but most of the time losing weight means making wiser decisions that help you maintain and stick with your goal. It takes time and energy and if you want it to stay off it takes hard work and dedication, but I promise you the end result is totally worth it.