How did I get here?

This is me. I'm not proud to admit it. And what am I doing with a piece of cheesecake the size of my head? To be fair, I only had a few bites, and took the rest home to my son. I swear. But really, I had no business getting the cheesecake, even though it was my birthday, and my best friend insisted. I am a weak, weak person. 

I've been weak for a long time, probably all of my 52 years. As the daughter of an alcoholic, I blamed him for when my life wasn't going well, or if I was overweight. I have a pretty good life, but I have been overweight pretty much ever since my children were born, and the youngest one is 20 years old. 

I have tried (have I? not really) to lose weight. I did lose about 30 pounds when I worked at a restaurant. There's no irony - it was the Atkins diet, and I was the manager. So I could very easily munch on bacon, grilled chicken, and hamburgers whenever the mood struck. 

I was also a bartender, journalist, and the communications manager for a statewide not-for-profit. After my crazy boss fired me (true story - the boss was later fired for anger management issues!), I noticed the weight creeping up. Oh, and there was menopause, so thank you menopause for the extra pounds. 

More about all that later. I am here to share my story to maybe give some hope to middle-aged women who may have thought they couldn't lose weight. You can, because I did. I did it and am doing it with Weight Watchers, and I would like to invite you along for the ride. I promise just the facts, ma'am. 

I started Weight Watchers on February 19 of this year. A co-worker (who, in my opinion, did NOT need to join WW) said she would do it if someone else would join with her. I -smartly or stupidly - said, "I'll join with you!"

And now, May 21, I have lost just over 16 pounds!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It has been fairly easy - and fun, even. I weigh 201.2 pounds now, a fact not even my husband knew, and we have been married for almost 29 years (more about that later, too!). 

Here is a pic of me from last week. You probably can't tell anything yet. I'm smiling because I just got a text that my daughter and husband are on their way to see me!