Okay, so I filled out the first set of forms for the National Weight Control Registry. You basically "apply" to join this research project through Brown University. I think you need to have kept 30 lbs. off for at least a year. It has been something I've always wanted to be a part of since I first saw a segment on it on some news magazine show on television years ago. I just think it is fascinating that a group is researching how people keep weight off. I just received a packet of surveys, which I believe I will get once a year for the next 5 years. They were pretty detailed. I'd say it took me about an hour to fill everything out. They also want a record of my weight losses, dates and why I lost the weight each time. That part is easy in a way. I just take the record of my losses from an Excel document I created when I stopped using WW online and tracking my weight. So, for about 2 years I have my weekly weight. It's funny because they only ask for about 15 dates. Too bad :), they'll get more information than they need :) They also give you space to write about your weight loss and how you feel about it, which I think is great. There's only so much correlations you can do with data without reading how people feel. I haven't written anything yet, I think I'm composing my thoughts first. I'm going to also mention my blog and encourage them to visit to learn more about me. I don't know if they will, but I think they should know how important blogging has been to me, and all of us, in our weight loss journeys. I hope I haven't given anything away, actually I don't think I signed a confidentiality document to say I wouldn't share what questions they asked. I don't have the surveys with me or I would give you some of the questions, but I'm not at home. (I still don't have internet at home - ugh! - so I'm at a friend's apartment who's away for the weekend.) But, in the future I'll share some of the questions.
Any way, take a look at their website and see if it is something you'd like to get involved with. I thought it was going to motivate me to stay at goal (I'm actually up a few pounds, as you all know :), but what it has actually done is make me proud of how far I've come and how long I've been here. My 1st anniversary at goal - and I will be back at goal for it! - is in a few months. I'm excited. I had started to get used to my new body, but lately I've just been going shopping to try clothes on because it is so strange to me. Bewildering actually. To believe this is my body. True, I've gained about 10 lbs. from my lowest weight to where I am now, but it is still so wholely different from where I was for so long. I'm sorry if I've said all this before. I know I have, but in some way it doesn't feel like it. It feels so new all of a sudden. I wonder why?
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I had a hard time with their questions because the way they ask them - I did not feel that I fit into their answers AT ALL. When I got done filling it out - it did not represent ME at all. It made me want to re-write it (their questions) so that it was more inclusive (sp?).
Hey Vickie,
In some spots, I had a hard time with their questions too. It was little things like, why don't they ask about bagels, which are the bane of my existence! But in other ways - major ways - it was also very limited. I mostly eat fish and chicken, but so many of their questions were about meat, ground beef, etc. I tried to rationalize it that they are asking 1,000s of people general questions that they are going to look for correlations that will apply to and encourage most of America to read their studies. I have been thinking of calling them with some questions and seeing what I find out. I'm not sure if I'm going to do it, but if I do, I'll let you know first and see if there are any questions I can ask for you.
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