From Size 16 to 6 in 8 Months
Chris G.
Hometown: Elkhart, IN
Goal: My goal is to maintain my weight for the rest of my life (as most of the women in my family get heavier the older they get).
Motivation: My motivations are my husband, and my son and daughter, ages 26 and 23 respectively. They all encourage me to eat well and stay healthy.
My Story
I attended my cousin's wedding, and when the pictures came back, I saw myself and thought, "Oh my gosh! Is that what I look like?!" I saw that my face was round, I realized I was wearing a size 16, and my weight had gone up to 210 pounds. This was my "ah-ha" moment.
I decided right then and there that I was going to change my lifestyle. My goal was to eat healthier, exercise more and to just take better care of my self. I didn't really have a weight-loss goal in mind, but I thought if I could lose 50 pounds I'd be doing good. So I began walking for exercise. I would walk after dinner, I took the stairs instead of the elevator whenever I got the chance, and I walked more at work (I would type out memos and deliver them, I would take my own mail to the mail room, etc.). I also began taking a good woman's multivitamin and 1,000 mg of oyster shell calcium every day to aid my well-being.
The biggest change I made was to my diet: I began eating 6 to 7 small meals a day instead of 2 to 3 meals. I carried fresh fruit, crackers, cheese, vegetables, trail mix and water (or Crystal Light) with me to work and everywhere I went. I would eat something every 2 to 3 hours so that I never became hungry. When I had cravings for sweet things, I didn't deny myself those things. For instance, if I wanted cookies or ice cream I would eat 2 to 3 cookies or scoops of ice cream. However, that would be my meal for that 2 to 3 hour period, and the next several meals had to be healthy.
Well, let me tell you, the weight started falling off within a week. After only one month I had lost 20 pounds. The weight kept falling off and after eight months I had lost 75 pounds! I weighed 135 pounds. I am proud to say that my cousin's wedding took place 10 years ago this month and I have kept off the weight. I now weigh 140 which is more realistic for me as I am six feet tall. To this day, I carry that photo with me from my cousin's wedding to remind me that I am never going to look that way again!
Editor's note: Do you have a weight-loss success story of your own? If you've lost weight or are in the process of losing weight, email editor.neversaydiet@nbcuni.com with "Weight-Loss Success Story" in the subject line and tell us your story. You may be featured on NeverSayDiet.com!
most popular stories
Most Recent Stories
Newsletter Signup
Comments
Date: 11/17/2009 - 10:25 am
i'm so glad to hear that u managed to lose your weight and its like 10 kg in a month.....but what u didn't was the best and so appropriate...however, if u don't mind, i would like to ask u.....how is it that u ate 6 to 7 small portions of food intake per day.......i guess that action works the best plus exercising....i'm gonna try it out....thank u so much...u build big confidence in all readers..... so cheers.....
Date: 11/11/2009 - 08:04 am
Louisa
Thanks Louisa, your plan seems great. I think I am going to try it. I have been struggling with my weight for approximately 5 years. My current weight is 220 pounds. It has been really difficult to lose this weight. I cannot get under 200 pounds. I will drop an ease 20 pounds, and then regain this weight in about 1-2 months. These short term diets do not work. I need a lifestyle change. Hopefully, this is the one. Thanks again.
Date: 10/29/2009 - 04:22 pm
This is the first article I have read which has left me feeling positive and hopeful. I will try this especially the increased walking during the working period. I will first invest in a good shoe that will encourage me to walk. Thank you