"I got my life back!"

Phyllis Bourdeaux	2 Years Ago
Highest weight: 350 lbs. Current weight: 150 lbs. Total weight lost: 200 lbs. Height: 5'2" Age: 50 Time it took to lose the weight: 2 years Has kept it off for: 2.5 years

I repeatedly gained and lost weight over the years, and continued my bad eating habits. Over time, I reached a point where I gained so much weight that I started having mobility issues.  Moving from place to place took a great deal of effort and became very difficult.  As I got larger and larger, my world got smaller and smaller.  I stopped traveling.  I knew when I couldn't get on a plane to go to my nephew's wedding that I had reached my all-time low.  I had to do something.

How I Did It

I lost 200 pounds over the course of two years by eating right and exercising.  There was no magic solution.  I followed recommended guidelines for eating lots of fruits and vegetables, so that I felt full on fewer calories.  I was no longer hungry all the time.  I stopped eating processed foods, and I threw out all the junk food from my house.

 

I also started exercising. This was very difficult at first.  Eventually, I got up the nerve to join a formal exercise program.  I met a wonderful woman there who had lost a lot of weight, and she took me under her wing and encouraged me.  I gradually increased my endurance, exercising for 10 minutes,then 15 minutes, and eventually 45 minutes.

Biggest Challenge

Being mindful of the number of calories I'm consuming.  I just turned 50, and I cannot eat as many calories as I used to without gaining weight.

Maintaining the Weight Loss

I work my good habits into every day life.  I do a lot of traveling for work now, and the places I stay offer healthful food choices, often right next to the waffles and doughnuts.  It is possible to stick to a healthy program while traveling.  It's all about personal responsibility and personal choice — making the healthy choices, not the bad ones.

The Biggest Thrill

The ability to take 50-mile bike rides.  Nothing makes me happier than being able to take long bike rides, when just a couple of years ago I couldn't exercise for more than 10 minutes.

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