Dora Weiner

Congratulations to Dora on receiving her lifetime membership! She lost about 55 pounds and looks great!  Dora continues to inspire others as she checks in at goal each and every month.

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Megan Meyers

Congratulations Megan!  As we all do, Megan struggled back and forth until finding her reason to take care of herself.  Megan lost 62 pounds and received her lifetime membership.  She shares her experience below...

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I always struggled with my weight, but for the most part I was where I needed to be according to the scale.  The reality was, I didn't know how much to eat or what to eat in a day.  That showed more after going away to college.  After my junior year in college my mom suggested I try Weight Watchers.  That was when I was 20.  I started attending and loved it!  I lost weight and got close to goal, but never made it there.  I mostly hovered close by goal.   Over my last year at school I could not get the rest of the weight off and struggled to keep it off.  Shortly after I discovered my thyroid was off.  I treated it and lost weight, but mostly just hovered a little above goal again.  The problem was I still was not fully committed and was in the "all or nothing" mindset.
After my first baby I put on a lot of weight.  My bad eating habits really showed up and were there to stay until after my second baby was born.   I remember thinking "there is no way that I am going to be this heavy or heavier, I need to do something about this." So after a three year sabbatical from WW I came back and again lost most of the weight, but still just hovered about 15 lbs above goal.  Then I had my third baby and ran into a few issues.  My thyroid medicine was having manufacturing difficulties and was hard to get.  I switched medicine and stayed on that for about a year.  What a frustrating year!  I couldn't lose anything, no matter how hard I tried.  I felt and looked awful.  I had a lot of other symptoms that are usually a direct result of an off thyroid, but there wasn't much I could do.  I finally switched medications again to a compounded dose and then the weight started to come off.  I lost about 20 to 25 lbs, and then again just hovered.  I thought I looked much better than I actually did.  My ultimate goal of looking better was not good enough to actually get the rest of the weight off (at least for me).  

Then came the real change of heart that will always stick with me, and this is my anchor.  One of my kids was struggling and had been for a significant amount of time.  It seemed I had a teenager and he was only 6.  We were always battling, it didn't matter what it was, it was going to be a battle.  There was one particular meltdown last February that had me in tears, well I was sobbing almost all day because I truly didn't know how to deal with this.  That night as I went to bed I thought about how awful I felt because I hadn't eaten very well. The thought occured to me that this problem was not going away.  But I did have control over helping myself feel the best I could.  Then I could be in the best frame of mind when dealing with the behaviors I was dealing with.  It wouldn't make me a more patient person, however it has helped me be patient for longer periods of time.  I also noticed I think more clearly and come up with better solutions when I am dealing with this child.  I needed to be in control of my body and feel the best I could so I could help my child deal with his issues.  It was the very next day I kicked it into gear.  I tracked and have tracked daily since (with the exception of a few days - that I still wrote things down even if I didn't know the points).  The weight came off, there were weeks where I didn't lose as much as I would have thought, but I no longer was discouraged.  My real goal was to feel the best I could all the time.  The weight coming off was an added benefit.  Since then I have seen an extreme amount of blessings because of my choosing to feel good and be healthy.  I have had a clearer mind to recognize the signs not just from my son struggling, but also signs from my other kids.  They are the most important priority of all.   An added benefit is my kids are learning good habits for having a healthy lifestyle.  I love to exercise (WHO WOULD HAVE THOUGHT!), other things in my life have really fallen into place and no guilt!

Kelly Keller

Congratulations to Kelly Keller, who looks absolutely fabulous (just ask her hubby who also attends with her) after losing 27 pounds!  Kelly, I've enjoyed so much, having you in the meetings, and love your dedication to the program.  As you have said, "this is the best thing I've ever done!"  

Andrea Banks

Congratulations to Andrea Banks who lost 60 pounds to reach her lifetime goal weight.  Andrea has an amazingly positive attitude and outlook on life.  She is now an avid runner, training for many races.  Although she has MS, Andrea says she does not buy into being a victim.  Take a look at her pictures below.  I am so jealous of her new legs!    

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April Peters

Congratulations to April on her lifetime membership!  April lost 60 pounds!  I consider her greatest attribute during her weight loss process, mental toughness.  April plateaued for what seemed like forever, which I think was about 9 weeks.  She hung in there, broke the plateau with about a 4.4 loss, and continued to her lifetime membership.  April has been very committed to her meetings.  If unable to make her regular Friday meeting in Draper, she catches me on Thursday nights in West Jordan.  April continues to attend each week, which we all know is the key to weight maintenance.  Way to go April!

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Speaking of commitment, read about April's Cancer Walk Experience!

Reed Newman

Congratulations to Reed Newman!  Reed attends my Thursday night meetings in West Jordan.  I don't believe he has ever missed a meeting... talk about dedication!  Reed lost 119 lbs and is a free lifetime member.  (Still attending his weekly meeting!)

 Christmas 2009

 Christmas 2010 (Reed, next year will you come help me with my star?)

Reed, looking good as a lifetime member!

Kelly Terry

Kelly Terry achieved lifetime membership after her 136 lb loss.  One of my favorite things about my job is getting to know wonderful people like Kelly.  Congratulations Kelly!  You look fabulous!

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And don't forget to scroll down for some recipes that might be helpful for Thanksgiving!

Monica Prina

Way to go Monica!  You look great after your loss of 71 pounds!  Congratulations on your engagement.  With your weight loss, I'm sure it will be more enjoyable shopping for that wedding dress and posing for your pictures!  

Monica Prina Before:

Monica After:

Lesia Davis

Congratulations Lesia on losing 61 pounds!  Such an impressive loss for someone with so many physical challenges.  You will notice one of Lesia's before pictures is in a wheelchair.  Lesia has MS and has done fabulous.  We can all be inspired to overcome our own challenges!

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Rawlen & Yvonne

Congratulations to both Rawlen and Yvonne Rawlins.  They both achieved lifetime membership.  Rawlin lost 47 lbs and Yvonne lost 98.6 lbs.  Wow, they have become a much healthier family and now enjoy many physical activities that were non-existent before.  Hats off to the Rawlins!

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Kalene

Congratulations to Kalene on achieving her lifetime membership after losing 45 pounds!  One of Kalene's great strengths was adapting favorite recipes to suit her new healthy lifestyle.  Her family is now enjoying great food that is better for them.  Way to go Kalene!

Please Share...

Please share any successes, fabulous finds, or solutions to challenges in the comment section below.

Keith Rozema

Keith Rozema is approaching his 130 lbs loss, joining at the end of January 2009.  Keith has attended every week!  Congratulations Keith!

Keith Before

Down Over 100 Lbs!

Lee Bollwinkell

Lee is now on maintenance, approaching lifetime membership.  Total weight loss 106.6!  Congratulations Lee!

Lee Before

100 Pounds Lost!

Lee at goal weight!

Please read a little about Lee's experience in the comments below!

Hi my name is Lee Bollwinkel.
I thought I would share with you a lttle bit of my journey and how I lost 106.8 lbs. My whole life, I have struggled with my weight. I would lose weight and then I would gain it right back. I had tried diets that would help me lose weight; however once I stopped the diet the weight would come right back on. December 2008, at 48 years old, I weighed 275 lbs.; the heaviest I had ever weighed and the thoughts of losing any amount of weight seemed impossible and so far out of reach. For me I had lost all hope. 
My wife tried to get me to join Weight Watchers with her, however I was reluctant to join, and I would come up with any excuse why I didn’t need to join. The one excuse I would use was, “it’s for women not for men”. Reluctantly I joined Weight Watchers January of 2009, weighing 275 lbs. During this past year, I have found that I was wrong. Weight Watchers is not for women only; it can be used by men as well. Weight Watchers does not feel like you are dieting, you still get to eat what you want…..but in smaller portions and in moderation. 
Weight Watchers showed me that there is a better way; I just needed to make me a priority. It also helped me to be focused and disciplined in setting goals. It has helped me change the way I look at eating and exercising. I am finding out that I am becoming the person I thought I had lost for good. Weight Watchers has taught me that by attending the weekly meetings (for support) exercising, and eating healthier I can lose weight. I am proud to say that on February 24th 2010, I reached my goal weight of 168 lbs and my wife has lost 55 lbs. Through my weight loss I have regained my confidence and self-esteem, and most of all I am happy again
I won’t lie, it has been hard work and alot of patience to lose the 106.6 lbs, but it has been worth every minute. The main thing that I have learned in losing weight there are no quick fixes, it takes time and a strong commitment to you. I have found that dreams can become reality, I am proof of that. 

Thanks Kris for your support.


Thinking back over the past 14 months, it is hard to believe all I have accomplished with my weight loss. Losing over 100lbs., took sacrifice, commitment and the determination to never give up on myself. Over the past 25 years I have had continual high blood pressure and I have had to take medication to control it. As I was losing weight I would have the question asked, “how much weight do you want to lose”, and my answer would be, “whatever weight gets me off of my blood pressure medication”. That day finally came. On Wednesday I had a checkup with my doctor. She was so impressed by my weight loss and how low my blood pressure was that she finally took me off my medication. That, in and of itself, was well worth the hard work it took to lose the weight. I know that losing weight can be hard and frustrating at times, and, for those of you that are struggling, remember that you need to make yourself number one, stick with your plan and never give up on yourself. You are worth the effort and the changes you make today, are changes made for the rest of your life. 
“Failure is not an indicator of the future, but just a building block to get there”.
~Dave Ramsey~