My weight loss journey started over 6 years ago when I was quickly approaching my 50th birthday.  I realized that if I didn’t do something about my weight, I may not make it to that birthday or many more birthdays.  But where do you start when you have so far to go?  I explain how I accomplished this in more detail below. My passion now is to help those people that think their situation is hopeless because they have too much weight to lose.  I know how they feel but there IS hope and you CAN do it!!

I set small realistic goals. I believe you cannot look at the big picture or what you ultimately want as an end weight for yourself.  Honestly, I did not even know what that was, and am still looking for that answer.  I know that my goal is to get rid of the unhealthy fat on my body and I am almost there!  I started with smaller goals for myself.  I traveled regularly for work and my first goal was to be able to get on a plane and not have to ask for a seatbelt extender.  Anyone who has been in this situation understands how humiliating this is.  I cannot tell you the joy I experienced when I reached that first goal.  Did I have a long way to go?  Oh my goodness yes!  But it was the first step.

I recommend you find a buddy.  That is what I did.  There is always a friend, relative or co-worker that needs to make changes or someone who would just be willing to help you with your efforts (which I am happy to do now). This goes for both diet and exercise.

My sister and a good friend that was a co-worker made the journey with me for a portion of the time. 

I also started with small changes in my eating habits and it netted me big results.  This is true especially if you have a significant amount of weight to lose. I changed things up several times because you get tired of the same old thing.  Some of the suggestions I’ve followed include:

Eat your regular meal but cut it in half

Substitute fruit or cottage cheese for the fries

Use a smaller plate, it will help to control portions

Switch to whole grains

If it works better for you, eat pre-packaged meals that control your portions!

Clean out those cupboards if you can but if you do not live alone make sure to keep those foods such as chips and ice cream out of your eye sight (Your family will be happy to help you achieve your goal).

Eat a balanced meal (use the USDA food pyramid) and avoid any program that eliminates a food group (e.g. protein only, no fat, no carbohydrates, etc.).

If you have a day or two, or even several days (like a vacation a vacation) when you fall off the wagon, GET BACK ON!  It is all right to go out and celebrate as long as you get up the next day and get back on track.

Move your body and stop making excuses. When I first started I went to Curves because that was all I could do and it was very difficult.  About a year into my journey, after I had lost about 90 pounds, I joined the YMCA.  I knew I had to take my activity to the next level.  The first class I attended was an introduction to high-low cardio.  I thought I would die and I was sure my heart would stop!  The instructor Ann, who today is my very best friend, helped me through the class, asked me my name and never forgot it!  She had me hooked and I can remember thinking, “I want to look like her!”  Well I still don’t look like her, and probably never will, but I am OK with that.  We even obtained our personal training certification together.   Currently I do several classes that include strength training and intense cardio.  I exercise, in some fashion, at least 5 days a week.  I prefer group classes because I like the interaction and the friendships I have developed and, let’s face it, misery loves company!  Don’t be embarrassed because we all have to start somewhere.  Stop making excuses that you don’t have time and are too busy.  Who will do all of those tasks if you get an obesity related disease and can no longer do them?  If you have children most health clubs have free daycare.

You will have set backs.  And I am not talking about the going out for dinner and overeating one night set back.  I am talking about major set backs, and I have had my share of them over the last several years.  For two consecutive years I gained weight over the Holidays and faced the New Year having to lose the same 40 pounds over AGAIN.  Then I quit smoking.  Hello 25 pounds.  Once I started to tackle that extra weight, I slipped on the ice late last December and broke my ankle badly.  It was my right ankle so I could not drive.  Cabin fever in Minnesota has a whole new meaning when you are actually stuck in the cabin.  I could not exercise and started eating until one day when I decided to stop having the pity parties, picked myself up and decided to tackle it again!  After all, even if I could not exercise, I could manage my diet. That is when I learned how to separate eating and exercise.  I did it and now I am less than 15 pounds away from my goal!  

For me, I woke up on February 10, 2003 and decided today was the day I would change my life.  I had/have a very supportive boss and I left work early that day to watch a show Oprah was airing.  It was about 4 women who had experienced significant weight loss.  I was so inspired by their stories and hope that my story can inspire someone too.  If that is only one person, then that is one person that I have helped!

I am able to run and play with my grandchildren!  I now hope to watch them grow, graduate from high school, get married and have children of their own.  None of us knows what our fate is, but I do know that if something happens, it will not be because I am morbidly obese!!

Written by: Bonnie J.