The Weight Loss Revolution Inspiration Story
Weight has been an issue that has affected my entire life. My memories of dieting start at the age of 10 when my sister’s friend jokingly told me I should have my parents put a lock on the refrigerator. Through the years I tried every diet plan conceivable ranging from centers like weight watchers and Jenny Craig to the amazing grapefruit or cabbage diets. Each new plan presented some short term results but never lasted beyond the diet and the roller coaster ride of weight gain and loss appeared to be an integral part of my life.
At the age of 42 I started menopause and the nightmare just got worse. During 12 years of severe side effects it seemed like nothing I tried could curb the spiraling upward weight gain. Depression set in and my doctor recommended waiting until I was through menopause instead of continually frustrating myself. The end result was a 50 pound weight gain and a very unhealthy body. I was not sure what bothered me more, the weight gain or the high blood pressure and high cholesterol resulting from the weight and inactivity. I was now out of shape and on medications and knew that this was not what I wanted for the rest of my life. It was time to find a healthy alternative.
In my quest to get healthy, I knew that weight loss and exercise were the main components to accomplish my goal to eliminate all medication. I decided to set my weight loss objective at 30 pounds and knew then I would be feeling better and possibly be able to eliminate some medication. For the purposes of exercise, I knew I needed help. I went and tried many different gyms and at least 10 different trainers, all without finding any useful help. I was well into the frustration of never finding someone to help me when a friend recommended I try Momentum.
My first visit there was so positive and unlike any of the other gyms I went to in the past. I was told Laura would be a good match for me and boy were they right. From the first meeting I felt she really understood what I was trying to do and set up a personalized training plan that even dealt with helping my physical problems associated with my severe vertigo. The sessions were grueling, but she always made them fun which kept me coming back. At this point I was trying to diet using the LA Weight Loss Centers and was having some results but hated the plan and restrictions. The training I believe was the true reason for any weight loss at that time
Then something happened that turned out to be a real blessing for me, LA Weight Loss went bankrupt and closed. I remember coming in crying to Laura that I didn’t know what I would do about dieting. She suggested that I try the weight loss plan at Momentum and she could work with me personally with the help of a dietician to set up a healthy eating plan that would give me weight loss as well as teach me how to eat to keep the weight off in the future. I was of course skeptical since I had heard this at least a thousand times before and it never was true. But my trust in Laura got me to give it a try, or that’s the way I viewed it at the time.
The online system we used made it so easy to plan daily and weekly meals and to see how what I was eating fit into the overall totals of protein, carbs and fat allowed each day. When I was told I should be eating no less than 1500 calories a day and should stay in the range of 1500-1600 calories, I remember laughing and asking if I should also just eat a cupcake a day to put the weight on quicker. I could not believe that I could eat so much each day; it was so against everything that I had been taught about dieting in my life. But I was constantly reminded that this was not a diet but a healthy eating plan that would allow weight loss.
At first, I had a hard time getting all the food in each day. It was difficult to look at a 6-8 oz piece of protein and believe I could eat it all and not gain weight immediately. Getting over the old belief structure was tough, but as I did and started eating as the plan dictated the weight just melted off each week. The plan allowed me to eat all normal foods and to also be able to eat at all restaurants, just be selecting the correct foods when I did. This was important to my lifestyle and husband since our life is very social and we eat out at least 4 times a week. I never feel hungry and eat constantly all day long, the quantity still surprises me. Friends have a hard time believing I am losing weight when they see how much I eat.
Feelings of being deprived do not happen under this plan; I can now sample any food without feeling the guilt I use to experience. I have learned that protein is your friend when trying to lose fat mass and retain the lean mass. Losing weight correctly is something I never experienced before and is so much different than the fads I tried in the past.
After a year of training and 8 months of the eating plan, I am now 60 pounds lighter and my fat mass is very close to where it should be, better than I ever thought it could get. My doctor is really impressed and has removed me from all medication. My blood pressure is now on the low side and my cholesterol is in the good range and still dropping. I have more energy than I had in the last 15 years and through this I have never felt like I was dieting or felt at all deprived of food. I am still losing slowly but am close to my final goal, a place where I never thought I could be at my age.
I am so thankful to Laura and Momentum for giving me back a body and lifestyle I thought I had lost forever. Friends and family are shocked by the new healthy me and I have to say that I am still surprised when I look in the mirror. I never thought that I could do this, and could not have accomplished this without the support I received. I believe that healthy eating is something I can live with for the rest of my life and for once I do honestly believe that this may be the last weight loss plan that I will ever need.