My Story
My name is Rich Niccolls and I took an inventory of life being in my mid-40′s now. What I found was a bit scary, and made me even more worried about what would happen when I hit my 50′s. Here’s the results of the inventory I took… kind of a bad trend.
In my teens – ideal weight, about 185. I was very active, exercised, ate what I wanted for the most part
In my early 20′s – about 30 pounds heavier, weighing in at 215. Still active. Not exercising as that much. I ate what I wanted and could afford.
In my late 20′s – about 20 pounds heavier now, weighing in at 235. Still active. Not exercising very much. I ate what I wanted. I also went on my first diet – Slim Fast. I lost about 20-25 pounds and was feeling better… but it’s hard to keep a guy on a liquid diet. I immediately shot back up into the 230′s.
In my 30′s – I gained another 20 pounds, weighing in at 255. Not very active any more, and little or no exercise. I ate poorly, mostly because money was tight and we couldn’t afford the better foods. It was in my 30′s that I began trying low-fat, low-carb, Atkins, Slim Fast, or whatever diet I could try. I would lose weight, and gain it back again. I had a very hard time trying to lose weight. I started and stopped different exercise programs and memberships at the YMCA or exercise video programs.
In my 40′s now – I gained another 30-40 pounds. I’m not sure what happened here, but I rapidly gained in these years and found myself weighing in the 280′s, with a maximum weight of 294. That is the heaviest I have been… a whole 109 pounds heavier than my teen years. My story here is much the same as the previous decade, trying mostly the Atkins diet, losing and gaining, losing and gaining. My exercise/activity level has been almost non-existent, maybe sporadic. but for the most part I have become very sedentary.
That leaves me speculating with this trend where I will be in my late 40′s to early 50′s… will I put on another 20-40 pounds? Most likely yes. I’m not so naive as to think I have plateaued and won’t gain another pound. But also, how long can my heart, joints, and other parts of my body continue to take this before some permanent damage is done, if it isn’t already.
So, here I am on February 1, 2011, starting a blog that is My Weight Watchers Story. Here is why this blog, why Weight Watchers, and my plan of action.
Why This Blog?
I started this blog because I need a journal, I need accountability, I need encouragement, and I need to set an example to my family and friends. It is also going to be my line in the sand when I committed to God and everyone that I am giving my whole life in surrender to Jesus, which includes my health.
I was struck this last Sunday morning when our pastor spoke about the “Shame Trap,” and that part of what I have rationalized over the last couple of decades is that, “This is just the way I am.” But, that’s not true. God is transforming me and renewing my day by day, which includes my health and my life.
Why Weight Watchers?
I chose Weight Watchers because I know it works. They have one of the best track records of any weight loss company out there. There are also a larger variety of foods for me to eat. On the Atkins diet, I would crash and burn because I love breads. With WW, I have more flexibility and it is teaching me how to eat, portion control, filling foods, while at the same time having some flexibility built into it so I can splurge on a meal and have the points to cover it.
Weight Watchers is also widely supported. There are many companies that make food for WW, so that you can have more variety in the foods you choose to eat. With other companies, you are either restricted to their boxed foods, or the choices you have are so narrow, it makes it almost impossible. This was one of the things I kept running into with Atkins. Fewer and fewer companies support low-carb products, and those that do fill the foods with so many chemicals to produce the product that it either tastes bad or messes up your system. After a while, there are only so many meats, cheeses, and eggs I could eat. Yes, you can expand into fruits and veggies, but I found myself very restricted.
With Weight Watchers, you can eat almost anything you choose, but just in controlled portions. I can still eat a bowl of cereal for breakfast, just in a controlled portion. With Atkins, there was no cereal. I can still eat a Chick-fil-A sandwich and small fry. With Atkins I could not. I can still eat pizza, snacks, desserts, etc. I know it is not always going to be this easy, but with the built in flexibility, and teaching me how to eat again, I like the direction I am setting out on today.
One other reason is the food I am eating today at the age of 45 is not the same food I was eating when I was 18 years old. The number of restaurants and processed foods has multiplied many times over. Even though I ate more when I was 18 years old, the food wasn’t quite as bad for you back then. Today is a different story… and I like what Weight Watchers teaches regarding filling foods and eating right again.
So, here I am… and now what is my plan?
My plan is very simple, and the simpler the better. I am going to follow the Weight Watchers Points Plus system. I will be exercising at least 5 days a week. My target goal is to reach 195. It seems beyond crazy to think about being below 200 pounds. The last time I was below 200 pounds was 1988.
If you click along the top menu you will see more about what I am doing with exercising, my Weight Watchers Points, nutrition, and some other stuff.
Thanks for taking the time to read all the way to the bottom here. Today is the beginning, and I will be updating through the posts and photos I post on the blog.
I am very proud of you. You can do this.
Good luck. You have a great attitude and obviously from the info you already have on your website, you are taking this seriously. I joined WW in November, just in time to learn the old system and then switch over to the new Points Plus. I have hit a serious post menopausal plateau, but the system is very good and I never have to be hungry, so I am sticking with it despite the fact I have not lost much weight. I only have a few pounds to lose to be into the top of my “healty” range, so a loss of a pound is a major accomplishment for me right now. On a brighter side, my cholesterol dropped from 214 to 180, so the program IS making me healthier. And I am learning portion control and I am cooking healthier for my self and my husband, whose blood pressure seems to have improved to the point where he needs to have the doctor review his blood pressure meds to see if he needs to taper off. Keep up the positive attitude!
Andrea, thanks for taking the time to write! That’s good news about the cholesterol and blood pressure. That is one of the things that is my ultimate goal. My family history is not good, and the only way I am going to break this trend is to be healthy myself… rather than following in my family’s footsteps.
Good luck yourself, and good those numbers moving in the right direction
Hello Rich,
Congratulations. this is my first week on Weight Watchers and I am excited and committed to see results. I’va battled the battle of the bulge, and now it’s time to conquer. Thank you for posting & God bless.
Best Regards,
Sandra
Hi Sandra! How are things going now in your second or third week of WW? Are you doing it online or going to meetings?
Thanks again, and blessings to you too!
Rich
Safari,
I have joined WW several times. I am 50 years old. I am at an all time weight of 216 at 5’9. My own mother weighed over 500lbs the majority of my life. I have two sisters that weigh over 300 lbs. I am going to make a change and your story inspired me. It is so hard to stay on track..thank you for writing.
Judy, thanks for writing! This isn’t my first time with Weight Watchers either, but this time I had to do something different, which is why I started this blog. More than anything, it makes me journal my activities and helps hold me accountable. Without this blog I’m not sure where I’d be with this… but I have multiple reasons I keep reminding myself of to keep me moving.
I’ve enjoyed reading your blog. I found you by accident this morning. I ate a skinny cow ice cream sandwich for breakfast this morning (bad, I know) I had forgotten if they were 3 or 4 points. So I googled it and your blog came up. I am in my late 20′s and 40 lbs over weight. I gained the weight in only 6 months, after a bad breakup. I live in California right next to the beach. It has been so hard on me these past few months, not being able to put on my bikini and run down to the beach with the rest of my friends. It’s hard to feel uncomfortable in your own skin.
I wish you luck!! And will be following your blog
Ohh and I forgot to say, I’m on my second week of weight watchers and loving it!! Down 4 lbs today! Wooo hoo
You’re an inspiration. Thanks for writing this… You’ve given me the motivation to try yet again.
Thank you.
I have been reading your journal Rich; I am truly inspired. I have started and stopped WW so many times, but I agree with you, it’s the best plan out there, so once again, I am taking a leap of faith and giving it a go. Today is my second day. I am on track and using an iphone app to track. I will continue to look into your journal for ideas and inspiration. Thanks again. I am 208 hoping to reach 158 by April 18th, 29 years ago that my husband asked me to marry him. I am truly blessed.
Congratulations on all your success, Rich!
Might I write to you with a few questions? I’m doing some research on the topic of male-focused weight loss programs and their efficacy.
Sure Pam… just use the Contact Me link on the left, let me know kind of what you’re looking for, and then I can send you my email address.
Gigi,
Keep going!! Find a person (your husband or a friend) who can just feed you with positive reinforcement. Reward yourself when you reach goals, and make it difficult or impossible to go backwards.
50 pounds by April 18th… you can do that!
Rich
Thanks for all the info and inspiration your blog provides!! I’ve been following your blog off/on since I started W.W. this past spring!! I have lost 57 pounds now and still going!!
It is so reassuring to know that you are going/have gone through a lot of the same struggles I’m facing (plateaus, illness, eating out). Every pound I lose becomes harder and harder with the more weight I’ve lost…..it’s so easy to just give up, but with good support, we can all keep going!
Keep up the great work and good luck!! Thanks again
I’ve just lost 33 lbs. in 32 weeks through WW. Your blog is so fun and inspiring. Keep up the good work. WW works if you work it. As good as the weight loss is the new life I’m enjoying – cooking healthy, running and feeling generally happy and healthy. I’m almost 50 y/o and feel better than I have in forever. Rich: thanks for letting us in on your journey!
Thanks Tanya and MAK!
Working to get 2012 started in the right direction, getting refocused after the holidays, and continue to shed the pounds!
Best wishes in 2012… one day at a time!
This is great! I am a 25 year old woman looking for something new to lose weight I have lost a total of 65 pounds just with exercise and dieting but have hit a point were I am not losing weigh and feeling very frustrated. I need a new outlook. reading this is very inspiring excited to start meetings.
Hi Rich
I know you have heard this story over and over, but I am starting WW again for the upteenth time. I HAVE TO DO IT this time!!! I will be 65 next month and I don’t want to live the rest of my short life on medications, I want to live life to the fullest. I had a turkey & cucumber sandwich for breakfast this morning, but Sundays are my worst days because I am out of my routine. I work nights, so Sunday night thru Thursday night, I am good, watch out the rest of the week because I don’t know what the word good means………..I need structure, I go crazy on the week-ends. HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
GREAT blog! Just found you tonight so I have a lot of catching up to do!
Hi Rich,
I thought I was the only one who went back atkins. I was on it now until I found your page and as I type this I’m drinking my decaf coffee with heavy whipping cream in it and noticing that my body isn’t shedding the fat like it used to on this plan and Gwad! I am sooo tired of eggs!!
I’m off to a weight watchers meeting today afterwork. I found one close to me you have inspired me to rejoin. I quit last year because it was taking too long but, I’m dying for a bowl of cereal with milk or
oatmeal or just a sandwich! I can’t wait to eat carbs again!
Sweetmel,
I hope your start to WW has been good. I know how you feel about one more scrambled egg. You reach the end of the road with Atkins sometimes. I know it’s bigger than meat, eggs, and cheese, but sometimes enough is enough.
A bowl of cereal does sound pretty good. I like Frosted Mini Wheats quite a bit, but they are a bit higher in points than most others.
Anyway, best wishes!
Going for the magazine for starters, but looks like you are in the groove, just hope it keeps up.