Week 15 Weigh In

Last week's weight: 254.0
This week's weight: 248.6
Difference: -5.4
Total weight loss: -29.2

So. Good two weeks, I guess. I will admit: I was pretty excited when the WW lady reported the numbers. Here's why:

1. I hit my 25 pounds that I was so close to at the last meeting.

2. I hit my 10%. I've lost 10% of my starting body weight. More on that later.

3. I hit my 250 goal. I have a doctor's scale. One of those ungainly suckers. It's giant and heavy and I've moved to three different states. Mostly it's a hat/purse rack. I don't weigh in at home. But when I DO use the scale at home, I've now dropped from the 250-300 range into the 200-250 range. THAT is a giant accomplishment for me.

Now, back to the 10% thing. There are crazy benefits to losing 10% of your body weight. Here are some of them:

A Healthier Heart

By losing just 10 percent of your body weight, you can lower your cholesterol and reduce your blood pressure, says G. Ken Goodrick, PhD, psychologist and associate professor of medicine at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas. High cholesterol and elevated blood pressure are two major risk factors for heart disease.

Lower Risk of Type 2 Diabetes

If you're overweight, you're at increased risk for type 2 diabetes, which means your body can't make enough, or properly use, insulin, a hormone that helps convert food to usable energy. By losing just 10 percent of your body weight, you'll improve your body's ability to use the insulin it makes, possibly preventing the onset of the disease, Miller-Kovach says. If you already have type 2 diabetes, shedding that 10 percent may improve your symptoms and possibly prevent complications, she adds.

More Pep

"Just a 10 percent weight loss increases feelings of vigor and vitality," says Miller-Kovach. "You'll feel better and have more energy."

A Mental Edge

Losing 10 percent can give you the self-confidence and motivation you need to keep going. "Success builds on success," says Miller-Kovach. But be sure you recognize it. "Losing 10 percent is a milestone in the journey," says Miller-Kovach. "Once you get there, take the time to congratulate yourself on your efforts."

Reality Check

After losing 10 percent, you gain a sense of what it will take to lose the rest and reach your final goal weight. "It gives you a context in terms of saying, 'Am I willing to put in that much more effort to lose even more weight?'" Miller-Kovach says. If the answer is no, that's okay. "Some people only lose 10 percent and that's it," says Goodrick. If that's you, pat yourself on the back. "Health-wise, a 10-percent weight loss is a great achievement," Goodrick says.

Right? All good things.

Additionally, at the WW meeting, you get super special recognition AND a key chain thing. See below picture. The symbols are a tiny little "10," which I assume stands for the 10%, a star because any time you get recognized at a meeting, the leader gives out gold stars (grown adults clamoring for gold stars: sort of fantastic) and a key, which could be a indication of what a key chain is actually for.