Hello. My name is Gary McIntyre. I have a weight problem. This sounds like an introduction at an AA meeting, and as far as I’m concerned, a chronic weight problem is as bad as an alcohol problem.

I’ve fought my weight ever since I’ve been married, but I don’t blame it on my wife’s good cooking. I’ve been on every diet you can think of and have been successful on most of them. I’ve probably lost and gained five hundred pounds in the 33 ½ years I’ve been married. I would lose 40-70 pounds until I felt good about myself, but not really believing I could keep it off. Sure enough, I’d gain it back plus more. This started to wear on me both physically and mentally. I knew it wasn’t healthy for me to yo-yo like I was doing.

In my early thirties, I lost 40 pounds on one of my diets and started running to keep the weight off. I was very athletic at this time and I only weighed 172 pounds. I ran for about two years then I started having knee problems, then my health and my weight became serious problems. My knees were so bad every step hurt severely. Finally, after three knee surgeries on my right knee, the last one being a total knee replacement, I thought I was ready to lose weight. WRONG AGAIN! During my last year of work, I gained 30 more pounds. I was depressed.

I retired early at age 55, on May 31, 2005. I worried so much about being heavy and knowing I was going to spend most of my time in my Lazy Boy. I really didn’t think I could lose any weight.

I heard some of the guys talking about a Weight Watchers Club that started up in our plant and how they had lost 20 to 25 pounds the first session. They definitely had my attention. One of the guys checked into it for me and I started next session even though it was two days after I retired. So on June 2, 2005, I swallowed a whole bunch of pride and went to my first Weight Watchers meeting. I was embarrassed and ashamed especially after I weighed in. I’m sure I was the heaviest person in the group. Everyone was very nice and encouraging. Our two leaders are very helpful and they really care about each one of us and cheer us on each week. We have a great time at our meetings.

The Weight Watchers program teaches us that Weight Watchers is not a diet, but a lifetime plan that is safe and healthy to stay on. Most diets are not! They also teach us that it’s not a race, because we have our lifetime to reach goals. The info and recipes they give us each week are very helpful. It’s a wonderful support group as we all root for each other to do well. It has taught me to believe that I’m not going to gain my weight back if I continue this program. I’ve never believed this before.

The most difficult thing for me to do was quit drinking regular soda pop and start drinking water. I was drinking 6-10 cans of regular Pepsi a day. The easiest thing was to start eating fruit, because I love fruit. So many diets won’t let you eat fruit.

I was taking three pills for my blood pressure and am now down to NONE. My blood pressure is normal, my cholesterol is the lowest in years, and my triglycerides run 55-80. I’ve been completely off blood pressure medicine since mid October 2006.

I’m doing things I haven’t done in years. I’m active at the Parkersburg Actors Guild, I sing in our Praise Team at church, I play golf fairly well (I’m an 11 handicapper), and I’m walking every day (1,580 miles since February 2006). Jesus Christ has been with me all the way.

I’m 5’9 3/4” tall and had more than doubled my weight since high school, so you can see that I had a major weight problem. I hit my goal on August 24, 2006. I’ve been a lifetime Weight Watchers member since October 6, 2006. I lost 121 ½ pounds in 62 weigh-ins to reach my goal. I averaged 1.96 pounds per week. I’ve lost 40.1% of my body weight as of January 11, 2007, which is 127 pounds. I’ve lost 12” in my waist, 12” in my chest and over 3” in my neck. I only missed one meeting.

My left knee still needs replaced, but my doctor says I have prolonged it for many years by losing weight. Also, he said I’ve added ten years to my life.

Call it fate, good timing, or a “God Send,” but Weight Watchers was there when I felt like I was in dire straits. I thank God for being with me through my journey and giving me the commitment to stick with it and continuing to help me everyday.

In closing, my wife, family and friends are all so happy I’m changing my lifestyle and YOU CAN CHANGE YOURS, TOO. Join Weight Watchers and get a second lease on your life. Just ask anybody that knows me. I’m a different person than I was 2 years ago.