Skating Uphill

If it is true as they say that misery loves company, then inspirational stories should also be a factor in your healthy eating motivational arsenal. Honestly, it used to make me feel way better to think that other people were fatter than me or had failed more times than me. That kind of thinking is counter productive at best and a depressing downer at worst. Instead of saying that failure is something that happens to us all and so it is a viable option, let us look at some really BIG success stories and use them as a model. Each of these gals have lost at least 40 pounds and their stories may inspire, motivate, and show that it can be done. Here it is as promised: pressing questions answered by those who have made it!

Elizabeth, as with many of us, you have tried it all and failed. My question is why this time? Why did you succeed this time over so many other failures?
Basically, I was sick of myself, and all my excuses. I had been overweight since having my children. With my youngest being 14 at the time, baby fat no longer is a viable explanation. I hated the way I looked in clothes. I hated having to shop in the plus size section. I hated carrying around the extra load. I hated what I was doing to myself. I had written two articles in a row for my publisher's note in Pink that set some goals for myself-none of them included weight loss. These goals were about getting my act together, in general. Things such as going to bed earlier, taking time to "play" and enjoy the beach, reconnecting with friends. I was not living the life I had imagined for myself. I was lost, and literally felt like the walking dead.
We went on vacation to Pinehurst, NC. Every evening, I would walk the number two Pinehurst course, alone. I reconnected with music-something I always loved, but had ignored for years. So I plugged in and started getting in tune with myself. I had always waited on my husband or someone to do it with me. I decided I wasn't waiting anymore. This was my journey to travel.alone.

We ran several articles in the magazine that inspired me. One was a feature on Jacqueline Hayworth, who takes sunset pictures everyday. The others were our Pink Prescriptions articles. This is an article that asks local doctors about various topics on women's health. Month after month, no matter what the topic, I noticed that every condition benefited by weight loss or was made worse by overweight or obese conditions. In denial about diabetes, I think the slow drip process finally soaked through. When I returned home from Pinehurst, I decided to keep up my exercise by walking the beach at sunrise. It was so beautiful, and different every day, that I got to where I didn't want to miss one. I really felt that I cheated myself if I didn't go.

One of my favorite sayings is "Change your attitude, change your world." I did that with my weight loss journey. I decided that it was going to be fun. And you know what.it is! Not only is it fun, I have also reconnected with myself and found my power again. I eat and live healthy now. I will never go back!

Caryn, I know you are a former nurse and a physically active lady, even when you were heavy. What do you think was your main motivation for your successful weight loss?

That's easy. I had a health scare. I was having a knee replacement and when I went for the pre-op physical and my blood sugar was so elevated that I was really distressed. As an old nurse, I knew exactly what that meant and I knew it was serious. Here is a very important insight: Being motivated by your own health is a completely different thing than being motivated by wanting to look pretty. It is a totally different scenario than simply being on a diet, too. I have always loved to exercise. I guess that is not typical, but it certainly is my case. Even when I was really overweight, I still went to water aerobics and played golf, so the old quote about getting plenty of exercise never applied to me. What happened is that with each incremental weight loss my energy level went up. My water aerobics morphed into lap swimming, in addition to water aerobics, and my golf game has really changed, too. I can't say that I play any better, but as I play now, I feel the heat much less and I am not nearly so tired when I finish. I love to play golf and now that my energy level is so much higher, it is even more fun. I am not carrying nearly so much weight around with me-not "Draggin' My Wagon" as the saying goes. I guess like many others who have had major weight loss, this has changed my life!

Barbara you are one of the few success stories I know of where a person has gone on a strict, prescribed commercial diet plan and actually not only lost all of your weight, but actually kept most of it off. Share your secret.
Well, I guess my "planned" diet was not so rigidly planned as some others, and it also suited my lifestyle pretty well. That is part of the secret. If you are going to use a set plan, do careful research and find one that you can live with long-term, and not just for the duration. As we all know, losing weight is only half the battle.

My diet had at least three ounces of lean protein at every meal. There was lots of other food as well. I had eggs, big vegetable salads, and even bread. It was what I call skinny bread, but it was bread, nonetheless. This plan was also very low fat. The only fat I got was a measured amount of olive oil. Yes, drank shakes, but they were not meal substitutes. I got three full meals a day and the shakes were vitamin/nutrient supplements. I never really felt hungry. The only part of the plan I had trouble with was the water amount. It was eight to ten glasses per day. Right away I learned to just fill a bottle and put it in the fridge. I actually got used to it pretty quickly. My secret? Well, a planned diet is about routine. In order to keep it off you must be comfortable to stick to that routine. Plan ahead. And be sure what ever you do is something you can continue to do. If you don't, the weight comes back very quickly!

Lynn you look totally different from your heavier self. Do you think this has influenced how you feel about yourself as a woman and do you think it has influenced how you are seen by others?

 Becoming 52 pounds lighter has certainly changed how I feel about myself, not just as a woman, but as a human being. I feel more alive, more energetic, more confident, mentally sharper and generally stronger. I even feel younger and spunkier! And, I honestly believe that, after reaching this goal, I can do anything I set my mind to.

I have to say that it has been great fun to see and hear people's reactions when they see me for the first time since I lost the weight. My favorite expression came from a chef friend who called me "Lean Cuisine."
I must be honest and confess one bad thing: I find myself becoming impatient with overweight family members and friends who ask me how I did it, and then do not want to listen to more than one sentence. I think they think I am out to convert them. And, maybe I am, because I want them to be healthy, too. It wasn't easy, but I believe that anyone can do it with a little determination and focus.

OK, I am going to ask myself a question. I too have lost 40 pounds and I would like to share one of my big motivators. I had health issues and dress size issues, and ugly me issues, just like everyone else. I decided as part of my weight loss scenario I would go for the makeover. Cinderella said a good makeover can change your life, and that sentiment was seconded by her Fairy Godmother and Prince Charming, too.

In a nutshell, this is what I did. I set a non-food reward program for myself. I love spa treaments and things like that, so as I reached pre-set goals, I allowed myself things like a facial, a make-up lesson complete with new cosmetics, a new hair color and style, and finally some new duds. This worked for me, but I will warn you that the hard part was not to just do it anyway. I told myself that if I gave in and just went for that facial anyway, I would wind up a fat lady with a new hairstyle and good skin. Been there!
Anyway, here it is girls for what it is worth. And speaking of worth, it must be, for whatever your reason or motivation, ??WORTH IT to YOU.

?Tune in next time for a horrible article. Yes, it will deal with what I call sabotage. No, it is not about terrorism, but about "help" from those who should be cheering for you to succeed.