Be kind to yourself. Be proud for what you’ve done. Know that it is a journey. There ain’t no end! If/when you stray, go right back.
Weight Loss:
Peak weight was 265.8 in September 2011.
Weight on 3/01/12 was 187.4 for a total loss of 78.4 pounds.
Exercise Routine:
“I have a bad knee, so I can’t do things like walk on the treadmill. I am a member of the YMCA and I water walk in the pool for a mile Monday-Friday (7 laps equals a mile). I also take a water fitness class. My achievable goal is to go to the class 3 times a week, but I try to go 4 or 5 times a week. Anything over 3 times is gravy. After water fitness class, I water walk, and then I swim. Some people from my water fitness class noticed that I was doing this routine and have also started to water walk after class.”
Motivators:
“I start my day with 20 minutes of stretching in bed which is self-motivating for me. Then I do ten minutes of physical therapy exercises for my knee. I am retired and I treat my Monday-Friday water walking like my job, in a nice way. The social aspect of my water fitness is definitely nice. I have made friends and the lifeguards all know me. And it doesn’t hurt that the weight keeps coming off!! I’ve gone from a size 24 to a size 16 and some size 16 pants are too loose. If I see someone that I haven’t seen since going to Structure House, they see a smaller me and that’s been very motivating.”
Lifestyle changes:
“I was worried about a few things when I got to Structure House, 3 meals a day was one thing. I found that eating in the evening (after dinner) was a habit that I didn’t need. Now I eat 3 meals a day, I don’t snack. It was hard for my family to understand in the beginning. They would make appetizers of carrots and apples for me, but I couldn’t eat those things. I’m a grazer and snacks of any kind are not good for me. I also don’t eat any processed sugar because I noticed that I don’t feel good when I eat sugar. For me, sugar has moved from a dietary to a health category.”
Eating patterns:
“I was at Structure House when they had a success panel. The panelists said they ate the same thing every day and I thought BORING!” Now she eats similar things on a daily basis. Breakfast is 2 starches, a fruit, and a protein and is normally kashi or Arnold 40 calorie bread, an egg white omelet with reduced fat cheese, and fruit. Lunch is 2 cups of salad, 3 oz tomatoes, 1-2 oz carrots, fruit, dairy, and 2 oz of turkey or 1 oz of turkey and ½ tbsp of peanut butter on a sandwich thin. Dinner is 4 oz of meat, ½ baked potato, tsp. margarine, a vegtable, and some fruit. She frequents one restaurant when she goes out to dinner and they cook low fat options for her.
Structure House Visits:
Two. First time was 30 years ago for 2 months. Second visit was in Sept. 2011 for 2 months.
Self-Monitoring/Diary Use:
“I keep my diary devoutly. I keep the diary online on the grad website and in the book. I write down my meals after eating.”
Success Indicators:
“Clothing size. Positive affirmations from family, friends, and acquaintances. People behave differently toward me. I’m not sure if it’s me or the weight, probably both. I can do things I never thought I could do, like walking longer in the pool and pulling myself up out of the pool to sit on the side.”
Challenges:
“Maybe being a little cocky. I have to remind myself to keep reflecting and going back. I worry about sugar; that I’m going to eat it again and not be able to stop.”
Hopes for the Future:
“I’m seven pounds away from the goal that Nancy [nurse at Structure House] set for me. I want to lose more than that. I’m going for the 100 pound jacket now.”
Advice to Others:
“Be kind to yourself. Be proud for what you’ve done. Know that it is a journey. There ain’t no end! If/when you stray, go right back. Try to keep meals as regular as possible time wise. Every restaurant can make accommodations. Never think you have to give up and eat what the restaurant has to offer. If they can’t accommodate, go somewhere else.”
