My name is Karen, I’m in my 40s, I am overweight,
I have Diabetes, high blood pressure, painful arthritis, and I’m Not Fluffy.
This is the next chapter of my story.

 

After making the decision to go on a formal weight loss plan (instead of simply “watching what I ate and exercising”), you are probably wondering

“Would you do it again?”

My answer is

“Absolutely Yes!”

The program I have followed has changed my life forever.  I have found that this program is a complete journey to learning how to live a healthy lifestyle.

I needed help; serious help!

I have tried almost everything, from structured diets, to my own modification of diets to starving myself.  Nothing ever worked for me!  It was too hard to keep the weight off once I lost it.

I was desperate to get to a healthy state.  A state I knew nothing about.  I knew nothing about how it felt or how it looked.  I just knew that I wanted to get there because I wanted to live!

Good Choices Lead to Good Results.

I have lost 109 pounds as of May 14, 2012! I weigh 147 pounds, just 7 pounds shy of my healthy BMI (body mass index) of 140!

Aside form my current 109 pound weight loss, the next greatest result is that I have been able to stop taking my medication: 2 for diabetes, 2 for high blood pressure, the statin for cholesterol and the Naproxin for my knee pain.

I am completely controlling my blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol with my diet!

I had my blood work done in February 2012 and I want to share the numbers with you that have so impressed my doctor…

• LDL (Bad) Cholesterol is 87 with 100 or less being optimal
• HDL (Good) Cholesterol is 43 with optimal range 40 – 59
• Triglycerides is 46 with normal less than 150.
• Total Cholesterol is 139 with below 200 as optimal

I am very pleased that my body has responded so well to my efforts to lose my weight by changing my habits. Better yet, I can mow my yard again without my knees hurting, go on cub scout hikes, and enjoy playing with my young grandson!

When I switched to a higher calorie plan and started changing my food choices I was scared to death that I would gain the weight back.

I did all right for awhile.  I maintained my weight loss until September 2012.

 

The problem I encountered was that I went through another stubborn period where I felt I could manage my weight on my own without finishing the program.

I also thought I didn’t need to  completely engage in the behavior modification portion of the program I was following.

Eat Less, Exercise More

Some people can successfully lose weight and get healthy on their own by just following the “eat less, exercise more” motto.

And that’s great!  But the truth is that if it were that easy, everyone would be doing it and we wouldn’t have the obesity epidemic we have today in the United States.

The truth is that losing weight and learning how to keep it off is hard work.  It requires knowing WHY you want to get healthy, dedication to your health goal and learning how to keep yourself in check so when you get off track, you can get back on.

There’s an old saying, Old Habits Die Hard.  

One of the greatest philosophies of learning about a healthy lifestyle in the Program I have been following is that you don’t have to change your habits!

Most people see weight loss and getting healthy as “going on a diet” where you have to change everything you love about life.  That mindset is very unappealing and self defeating even before the person gets started.

Here’s a different way I look at it.  Don’t change.  Start learning a new healthy habit as you go along.  Eventually, you’ll be so focused on living your newly learned health habits, you won’t be practicing your old unhealthy habits.

But there is a catch.

All of your old habits are still there.  They are patterns of learned behavior set down since childhood.  Sometimes

As with anything else, you have to be at the right place in your life to Succeed.

Ready

Here is the thing…anyone can lose weight in any weight loss program, be it Weight Watchers, Jenny Craig, Nutra Systems, a shake meal replacement plan, or Subway.

But, what is the key to that success?

• The plan has to fit your lifestyle.
• The plan has to be healthy and safe for your own health issues.
• You need a Support System & Mentor/Buddy you can relate to.
• There has to be a behavior change program that helps you learn healthy habits.
• You have to be Ready.

Being ready is the most important factor!

I have struggled for years coping with my eating addictions and weight problems. I have dieted, lost weight, and gained it back again (with more for a bonus). The trouble was that I wasn’t ready to accept responsibility for my body, my habits, and my weight gain.

Once I accepted responsibility for myself, I started making habit changes and sticking with them for life. Remember, I only changed one habit at a time!

By last September, I was Ready to change my habits of portion control and giving up excessive fat, carbohydrates and calories. You can read more about my Healthy Lifestyle Journey here.

What’s Right

 

 

What I am Doing Now

Everybody wants that “magic bullet”, the secret to losing weight. There is a secret. The secret is about loving yourself, just the way you are, taking responsibility for your body, and changing your habits one at a time.

Even the best plans and goals can get thrown off the wagon when you fall off!

 

 

The rest of the story is making healthy choices all day long. That means saying NO to those glazed old fashioned donuts and NO to an entire loaf of french bread with a side of butter. Mmmm…those are my favorite comfort foods!

When I am faced with a choice to eat something unhealthy, I remind myself that food choice can kill me. That is no exaggeration! I had a serious case of diabetes with 2 medications and I was controlling my high blood pressure with 2 other medications. Then add a statin drug to the mix to lower my cholesterol.

I always remember my dear sister who died from a food created disease, non-alcoholic fatty liver failure. Abusing your body with the garbage that is sold as “feel good” food can seriously lead to a painful premature death.

I have traveled a long road to change the way I take care of myself so I can start living a healthy lifestyle. This is a journey, not a destination! I love being a travel agent for others who are ready to take this journey to living a healthy life!

Whatever strategy you chose to take as your tool on your Journey to Good Health, I am happy to mentor you.  What I have done to change my body and my life I will share with you to help you change your body and your life!

Follow my story in the pages listed in the drop down menu under I’m Not Fluffy! at the top of the page.

Believe In Your Success, I Do!
Karen