Lorraine Foster
Reno, Nevada
Age: 58
Height: 5’8”
Inches lost: bust 10; waist 11; hips 9
Biggest obstacle
Snacking while watching TV. Instead of munching on something, I get on my elliptical trainer to keep my mind off food.
Weekly exercise program
Walking, elliptical training or cycling: 30-60 minutes/4-5 times a week
Weight training: 30 minutes/3-4 times a week
Eating philosophy
I eat 5-6 small meals a day of minimally processed foods, such as fruits, vegetables and whole grains.
What I learned
-The importance of health.You have to eat healthfully if you want a high quality of life.Before losing weight, I was always tired and achy.Now I?m energetic and happy.
-Find your motivation. Look for a photo of someone with a body type you hope to attain.
-It?s all in your mind.Positive self-talk can help you do another 10 minutes of cardio or keep you away from the cookies.Don?t put yourself down.
Two years ago, I went to my doctor for a yearly physical and after doing a routine cholesterol and blood pressure screening, he was stunned that I was alive ? my cholesterol levels were off the charts and my blood pressure was dangerously high. At 235 pounds, the lifelong battle with my weight had finally caught up with me. My doctor advised me to change my diet, exercise and lose weight. Otherwise I could have a heart attack, stroke or die.
Those harsh words scared me and I finally made some changes to improve my health. I went home and uncovered an elliptical trainer I had bought several years earlier. I set it up in front of the TV and promised myself I would exercise each morning. I made it through only 2 minutes during the first session and it was a struggle, but I knew I had to do it the next day.
I also had to completely revamp my diet. Instead of fried chicken, potatoes and other high-fat fare, fruits, vegetables, whole grains and skinless chicken became my staples. At first it was hard to adjust to the taste of less-processed foods, but after a couple of weeks, I noticed I began to enjoy the taste of foods like cabbage and broccoli.
My biggest vice was my addiction to eating Haagen-Dazs ice cream, especially when I was bored. Because this ice cream was so high in saturated fat, I had to cut it out of my diet. Instead, I treated my sweet tooth to nonfat or low-fat frozen yogurt and topped it with fresh berries.
My other downfall was snacking. I work in my artist?s studio at home and had easy access to the kitchen and unhealthy foods. To remedy this, I cleared out the junk food (although I allowed my husband to stash his favorite cookies somewhere I wouldn?t find them) and kept precut vegetables and nonfat dip to satisfy the munchies while I worked.
I lost five pounds during the first week and I started feeling more confident with my choices. I began exploring other ways to cook; I stopped frying and cooking with oil and instead opted to oven-fry or grill foods.
When I went to my doctor two months later, I had lost 30 pounds! And my doctor said my cholesterol and blood pressure levels were dramatically lower. Buoyed by this success, I was determined to stay on track. To keep myself motivated, I bought a pair of size 10 jeans and hung them up in my closet so I would have a visual image of where I wanted to be once I reached my weigh-loss goal.
It took a year to lose the rest of my weight and for those jeans to fit, but it was worth every second of hard work. Today, I?m in perfect health and I?m confident that the 80 pounds I?ve lost are gone for good. For me, eating right and exercise isn?t just about looking good, it?s about staying healthy for life.
Source:
http://www.theweighwewere.com/Read-W...ories/367.html
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