weighty issues

As some of you might know, since January I have been working out and eating healthy. I've been exercising for a few years now as it helps me deal with the stress of my job but I wasn't really watching with a keen eye what I ate. The exercise helped me lose some weight but eventually I plateaued at a certain weight. I tend to be one of those people who lose a little weight, maintains it for a year, loses a little more weight, maintains it for a year. Then I might gain 10 lbs and have to work at losing it again. I have never been naturally thin. I have to really work at losing weight. I'm also one of those people whose weight all goes to her hips, thighs, and butt! With the new year beginning I thought it was time to really put some effort into eating better. From past experiences and being a member of weight watchers several years ago, I learned that the only way for me to lose weight is to actually make myself accountable for all the food that goes into my mouth. So, I write everything down and really watch my portion sizes. When I hit my calorie count for the day, then that's it with the food.

When I joined weight watchers in Jan 2005 I weighed in at 147. I know that I was probably over 150 at some point...I'm sure some dr's office has a record of it somewhere. (When I was in High School I was chubby. When I got out of high school, I went on a diet, found the fun of exercise and dropped down to 105 lbs which lasted a few years) Now in all seriousness 150 at 5'3" isn't huge by any means but I didn't like how I felt and looked. I was at weight watchers for 9 weeks and lost 8lbs. I left weight watchers to join the local gym. So from 2005 -2008 I went from 147- 130. So as you can see, I lose weight extremely slow but once I lose it I can maintain it usually within a 3 lb. range. My goal weight at weight watchers was 125 lbs. As of this morning I weighed myself at 124. It took me 4 years to get there but I got there.....my new goal 115lbs! As I'm writing this all down, I really am starting to wonder how having hypothyroidism effects the metabolism. I have read that people tend not to be able to lose weight easily and usually gain weight. With my messed up metabolism it will probably take me another 4 years to lose another 10 lbs.