Success Story #38

Name: S. Santos
Location: JFK Medical Center. Atlantis, FL
Improvement: 25+ lbs Weight Loss
Time: 3 Months
Program: 2010 Total Transformation Challenge

What was your biggest challenge / obstacle (s)?
My biggest challenge was staying mentally engaged with the program. I started off with a feeling of empowerment and a quest to win the challenge by any means necessary! I was ready to get started so that I could lose the weight, earn a zillion points and pulverize my opponents! Things didn’t exactly turn out the way I had anticipated and by mid challenge, I started to become discouraged. I felt as though I was incapable of losing weight independently and was very hard on myself. I mean…you don’t bet on doing a 4 mile (walk/run) on Saturday and a 10 mile (walk/run) on Sunday along with eating right and expect to step on the scale and see a 1lb weight loss! That was very difficult to endure.
 
What motivated you to stay on the course?
My motivation to stay on course was although I did not see “big weight loss numbers” on the scale, my clothes began to fit more comfortably. My children began making remarks like “Mom! You look really nice today. Did you lose weight? Did you do something different with your hair?” Are you kidding me? Teenage children…asking a parent that question? You KNOW how brutally honest THEY can be! With my children’s encouragement, my teammates encouragement, the wise words and even temperament of my trainer, Rami; I opted to continue on…
 
Did your diet change? If so, How? Please be detailed!
My diet was and continues to be a challenge. I have learned to be more selective in my food choice. I have more of an awareness of what I am eating instead of mindlessly popping food into my mouth. I want to use food as a fuel source more than a source of pleasure. Although I was resistant to the thought of keeping a food journal, I know that it helped. I was not perfect in keeping up the journal. What I noticed was that when I did log my food intake, I saw changes on the scale either that week or the next week. Rami said, that keeping a food log is a gold standard in weight loss and he is right! I consciously eat more fruit and vegetables on a daily basis. I eat something within the first hour of waking up in order to kick start my metabolism. That sets the tone for the day. I still indulge in the occasional fast food if I get a craving however; I do not enjoy it as much as I used to. I keep a bowl full of fresh fruit on the counter at home and have noticed that my children are eating from it since it is readily available, instead of going into the pantry for the chips or cookies. The transformation is contagious!
 
What advice could you give to others that want the same results?
My advice to others that want the same results would be to just do it! Every day that you wake up, make a concerted effort to do something for yourself. Take a 30minute walk (15minutes in one direction and 15minutes back) in order to get your body moving. If you can get to a pool and swim around for 15minutes, do it! Once I stopped thinking about exercise as a task and started enjoying the way my body responded and felt afterward, I see that it is becoming more a part of my life. Getting healthier is a good feeling. I want the same for you!
 
How is this experience going to affect you going forward?
The experience has gotten me motivated to set and achieve micro-goals. I am five pounds away from achieving my first micro-goal. Although this particular Transformation Challenge is over, it does not mean that I will revert back to my sedentary lifestyle. I will continue to set my achievable goals until my ultimate health &fitness goal is obtained! This was a great start for me. I am grateful for the experience. The opportunity couldn’t have been better? A free gym, a personal trainer, a fitness advice when and where you need it. I plan to continue on this path until I achieve the new me. Stay tuned! :)