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Tricia Made Healthier Choices and Lost Over 50 Pounds!*
Tricia Voss (VTRICIA)
Weight Lost: 57 pounds
Hometown: Salt Lake City, UT
Occupation: Mother and Student
What was life like before your weight loss?
I thought of myself as pretty healthy even though I have been overweight most of my life and crossed the line into obese now and then. I figured I was just big-boned or had heavy genes. I wore baggy clothes and people said my pregnancies didn’t show for seven or eight months. I thought eating right meant adding protein to whatever I felt like eating and maybe some vegetables at dinner. I didn’t do very much in the way of fitness, even though I have a ton of exercise equipment around the house. As I approached 40, it felt like it was all downhill, especially after I had a few injuries and became less mobile during my recovery.
What was the main motivation behind your weight loss?
I hadn’t weighed myself in a couple years, but one day I was helping my sister weigh her baby and was shocked at what I saw. I was 212 pounds, 22 pounds over my “fat but fit” ideal of 190 pounds. I started using SparkPeople and lost 6 pounds, but then I got pregnant. After the pregnancy, I had blood work done for life insurance and was confronted with elevated LDL cholesterol levels, higher than usual blood pressure numbers and other risk factors that prevented me from getting the best rate.
About this time, I also had an "a-ha" moment about my relationship with sweets. One day I was going along eating one of my personal favorites out of the bag, and I thought: "I just love these things! I don't know how I would ever get along without them." And I realized that if one of the best things in life was some candy, I had a serious problem. That was the beginning of my willingness to put boundaries on my eating.
On New Year’s Day 2012, I decided to resume my activity on SparkPeople and started with tracking my food.
Tell us a bit about your weight loss journey:
Posted 9/15/2013 12:00:00 AM By: : 39 comments 29,059 views
8 Ways to Conquer Emotional Eating
You’ve been putting in long hours at work, the kids have a busier social life than you do, you can’t remember the last time you made it to the gym and the pile of laundry is nearly as tall as you are. Before you know it, you’ve traded your to-do list for a pint of Ben & Jerry’s, a bag of potato chips or whatever happens to be the object of your craving. The kicker? You’re not even hungry.
Posted 9/14/2013 6:00:00 PM By: : 23 comments 44,175 views
Best & Worst Exercises for Arthritis
It might seem intuitive to avoid exercising your joints when they're causing you pain. But, like many aspects of the human body, what seems to make sense isn’t necessarily what's good for you! When you're suffering from arthritis, one of the best things you can do for yourself is to exercise. However, you must learn the right exercises to strengthen the muscles around your joints, and the best stretches to gain and maintain flexibility.
Here are the knee strengthening exercises that I prescribe for my patients with knee and hip arthritis. My patients have had great success with them, and I hope you do, too.
Posted 9/12/2013 6:00:00 AM By: : 73 comments 137,084 views
The Best Peanut Butter Brands
Woman's Day editors tasted 65 jars of the sandwich staple to determine these top picks. (Someone had to do it!) But before you see the winners, learn some necessary PB lingo.
Standard
Peanut butter has to be at least 90% peanuts with no artificial sweeteners,
flavorings or preservatives—otherwise it must be labeled peanut butter spread.
Natural
Natural peanut butters don’t contain hydrogenated oils as stabilizers, so they may separate (you’ll see peanut oil at the top of the jar) and need to be stirred.
TIP: After the oil’s been stirred into natural peanut butter, store the jar upside down. Then you won’t need to restir before every use.
Posted 9/9/2013 12:00:00 AM By: : 52 comments 53,382 views
'I Started This for My Kids, But I'm Finishing It for Me''*
Holly Petras (HOLLYS_NEW_LIFE)
Weight Lost: 140 pounds
Hometown: Fairview, PA
Occupation: Patient Advocate
What was life like before your weight loss?
Other than my kindergarten picture, every picture I have of myself is of a chubby child, a fat teenager or an obese adult. As a kid, I used to play soccer, swim and dance, and I was always the biggest one. When I got to college, I gained even more weight with late night pizza and beer. Right out of college, I got married to a man who loved me so much, he thought catering to my every desire would make me happy. All it did was make me lazy and fatter. This was in no way his fault, but it wasn't helpful either. When I got pregnant with my kids, it was just another excuse to eat whatever I wanted. I craved French fries with my son and pizza with my daughter, and ate them most nights. I didn't know it at the time, but when I look back on things now, I was miserable. I didn't do anything with my kids or our friends. I stayed inside on the couch while my husband took the kids out to play. I hated doing anything that made me sweat, and at that size, everything made me sweat. I couldn't get on amusement park rides, I hated walking around the zoo, and I didn't want to leave the house. Physically, my back and feet hurt all the time. My asthma was out of control, and I never went to the doctor. I didn't want to be told I had high blood pressure, bad cholesterol, and diabetes. I especially didn't want to be told to lose weight. I am 5 feet tall and at my highest weight, my waist was 59 inches around. I was as wide as I was tall; it's not a surprise that I was miserable.
What was your ‘light bulb moment’ that made you get serious about losing the weight?
At the end of May 2010, I was volunteering in my son's class for his birthday. We were lining up to go outside and he introduced me to one of his friends. His friend looked at me, then looked at my son and said "your mom's fat." My son said nothing. What could he say? The little boy was right. It took everything I had not to break down and cry. The look on my son's face broke my heart. I knew right then, I HAD to change for my kids and for myself. I was NOT going to be "the fat mom." My children have been my biggest motivation since day one. I was going to get healthy for them because I didn't want them to grow up to be like me. I wasn't any kind of role model for them. That weekend, I Googled "counting calories" and that's how I found SparkPeople. That's when I began the journey that saved my life. Now as my journey is beginning its fourth year, I can say that getting to goal is a HUGE motivator for me. I started this for my kids, but I'm finishing it for me.
Tell us a bit about your weight loss journey:
Posted 9/8/2013 12:00:00 AM By: : 72 comments 28,768 views
9 Healing Foods for Every Ailment
Straight from your pantry—up energy, get glowing skin, sleep better and more. Keep clicking to find out what to snack and sip on when your body needs a boost.
Posted 9/2/2013 12:00:00 PM By: : 10 comments 17,925 views
Donna Learned to Love Running--and Herself!*
Donna DeGroot (DDHEART)
Weight Lost: 41 pounds
Hometown: Gillett, WI
Occupation: Retired Cardiac Nurse Specialist/ re-retired Passenger Services Manager on a private railcar
What was life like before your weight loss?
I was never hugely overweight, but always heavier than I probably should be. I grew up being "the big little sister." My father said he preferred his girls plump (I hate that word!) while my mother had her own weight problems. Food was the equivalent of love. No hugging, but here have some ice cream. Now, that's not to blame my family but it does help to explain the complex relationship with food and the connection with emotional eating. I love to eat and I eat when I'm unhappy, bored, when socializing, etc. I have almost no pictures from when I was heavier. I would avoid the camera like the plague and when I did find that a photo of me was taken, I would often get rid of it if it was unflattering. It's important for me to note, that when I try to look back through photos, I now see pictures where I was not particularly overweight but if you were to ask me I would've said I was ALWAYS overweight. I did not have an eating disorder, unless you would count the years of yo-yo diets, but during those earlier years, I also wasn't particularly fit. I certainly wasn't athletic. Even as a child, I was shy, cautious and aware that I was "the fat little sister.” I was not as coordinated as other children- at least that's what I thought- and I was afraid to try things for fear that I would look foolish. I missed out on so much.
What was your ‘light bulb moment’ that made you get serious about losing the weight?
A few years ago when I retired, I joined Weight Watchers and had to step on the scale. My ‘OMG moment’ was stepping on that scale and realizing that this weight gain could not keep up. I lost about 40 pounds and actually wore a size six very briefly. Alas, I didn't keep it up. I should have continued to go to meetings, but didn't and soon even size 12’s didn't fit. I managed to keep some control but just couldn't seem to get myself on track. I knew I needed to adopt a different life philosophy if I want to fit inside a different body. I don't know if I will ever be a person who likes to exercise more than she likes to eat, but I sure would like to be someone who doesn't fill the empty spaces with food.
Tell us a bit about your weight loss journey:
Posted 9/1/2013 12:00:00 AM By: : 19 comments 25,184 views
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Down 158 Lbs., Lindsay Shares Her 10 Best Weight-Loss Tips!
Lindsay Pobieglo
Weight Lost: 158 pounds
Hometown: Mesa, AZ
Occupation: Risk Management Program Manager
What was life like before your weight loss?
I began slowly gaining weight at the age of 18. My parents separated when I was 17 and I was stuck in the middle. I went to food for comfort. After the dust settled, I was addicted to food and I was settled into that lifestyle. Life was plain. I went to work, came home, ate, watched TV and then went to bed- day after day. I missed out on lake trips, sporting events and other activities due to my weight.
What was the main motivation behind your weight loss?
My initial motivation to lose weight came when my daughter was two and the entire family went to a pumpkin festival. There was a child's ride, similar to the Dumbo ride at Disneyland, which she really wanted to ride. As we were about to go on, I was told that there was a weight limit to the cars since they went up in the air. I alone exceeded the weight limit. My sister-in-law had to take my daughter on the ride. I was devastated.
My biggest and final motivation came when my co-worker signed up for an at-work weight loss competition. She wanted support and asked if I would join her. I refused. When she asked why, I responded: "I don't want anyone to know how much I weigh". She quickly retorted: "If it bothers you that much, shouldn't you do something about it?” That was it. I realized she was right.
Tell us a bit about your weight loss journey:
Posted 8/25/2013 12:00:00 AM By: : 158 comments 128,401 views
Evelyn Beat Cancer Twice and Is Half Her Size!*
Evelyn Cruze (EVWINGS)
Weight Lost: 150 pounds
Hometown: Crescent City, FL
What was life like before your weight loss?
There are several things that contributed to my weight gain. One of the biggest was that we had very little gym or fitness training in school. This made it difficult to add it to my life as I grew older; therefore, I spent most of my life in a sedate manner. Next, I became smoke-free, and I gained about 40 pounds. After that, I had major stress in my life trying to juggle my job and caring for my ailing mother. My income suffered, and I was very afraid. I would eat and eat and eat some more. Finally, I injured my knee and had to have surgery. During physical therapy, all of the work was blown out and I had to be bed bound for over four months, which also contributed to my weight gain.
At my highest weight of 274 pounds, life was awful. I would cry a lot and after my mother died, I gained even more weight. I felt very useless, especially after my knee surgery. One good thing was that I had a lot of support from my family. My new husband was wonderful about my knee injury, which occurred only a few months after we were married. He said it didn't matter to him what I weighed or what he had to do for me. He said it was called love and he knew I would do the same for him.
What was the main motivation behind your weight loss?
I felt so miserable weighing what I did. I didn't think it was healthy and my doctor agreed. He felt my asthma and sleep apnea could be corrected if I lost some weight. He and I talked a lot and I told him that I wanted to do this slowly to ensure that I would keep the weight off. He agreed and made some recommendations for me.
Posted 8/18/2013 12:00:00 AM By: : 52 comments 24,624 views
8 Things to Know About Going Gluten-Free
Everyone seems to be on a gluten-free diet, and new gluten-free products keep cropping up on store shelves. But is gluten really bad for you? And can nixing it help you lose weight? “Many people are misinformed about who should be on a gluten-free diet,” says KT Park, MD, a clinical researcher and gastroenterologist at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital at Stanford University in Palo Alto, CA. “Unless you have celiac disease or another medical reason to avoid gluten, a gluten-free diet isn’t beneficial.” So before loading your shopping cart with gluten-free foods, here’s what to keep in mind.
Posted 8/12/2013 6:00:00 AM By: : 27 comments 22,140 views
From Bedridden to Loving Life, 240 Pounds Lighter*
Beth Donovan
Weight Lost: 240 pounds (and counting!)
Hometown: Fishers, IN
What was life like before your weight loss?
I have been heavy since childhood. I became my largest in the early 2000s. I ate for comfort and refuge from my life. I had a very controlling mother and watched my father die of a heart attack. Both were abusive and very heavy, but they sure watched everything I ate. Then, behind my mother's back, my dad would take me out and challenge me to eating contests. In my teens and 20s, my weight was kept under control mostly by bulimia. I always sought comfort in food, and when I got married and things got rough at times, my eating would escalate.
At my largest, it also was the saddest time of my life. I lived in my bedroom and could no longer walk. I became disabled by three herniated disks, two pinched nerve bundles, fibromyalgia, degenerative joint disease, and arthritis. I had to stop and rest just trying to get around my house to get to the restroom or kitchen. I also had to quit my job and could no longer fit behind the wheel of a car. Days became very lonely, as I stayed home alone for years. Several times, I became so depressed I called the crisis line.
What was the main motivation behind your weight loss?
My best friend, Tina, was my biggest motivation to lose weight. She had weight-loss surgery, which I didn't want to do, but she was out having a life again. I wanted that too! Then, I read a book called "YOU: On a Diet." It taught me how to stay satisfied. My other friend, Lori, pointed me to SparkPeople and I became an addict. Every time I feel like eating, I log on. Let's just say that some days while I'm home alone, I'm on A LOT!
Tell us a bit about your weight-loss journey:
Posted 8/11/2013 6:00:00 AM By: : 229 comments 60,051 views
8 Resistance Training Exercises
Do you shy away from free weights at the gym? Thankfully, there are a slew of other ways to build your muscles that don’t require a pricey membership or bulky equipment. Besides the benefits of toning your body, resistance workouts help improve blood pressure and lower your diabetes risk. Strength training can also give you an instant mood boost and help fight depression, much like a brisk walk or jog around the block does. Here are easy moves you can do at home and on the go.
Posted 8/5/2013 12:00:00 PM By: : 33 comments 41,419 views
Down 72 Pounds, Crystal is a 'Fun Mom'*
Crystal Turney (CRYSSYBUG)
Weight Lost: 72 pounds
Hometown: Gallup, NM
Occupation: Church secretary
What was life like before your weight loss?
I have pretty much always been overweight. In college, I lost a lot of weight and kept it off until after I was married. However, it slowly started creeping back up on me for various reasons. First, I ate when I felt stressed, and I was stressed a lot during my first year of teaching. When I got pregnant with my first child, I started eating healthier and trying not to gain too much weight. After I had him, I stopped eating so well and--you guessed it--gained weight. About the time I decided to start trying to lose the weight, I got pregnant again. After I gave birth to my younger son, I continued to eat healthier foods, just way too much of them! I reached my highest weight of 222 pounds. I felt fat and, let's face it, I was fat. I was a stay-at-home mom, and while my boys played together, I would play on the computer. I didn't play outside often, and when I did, I usually sat on a chair and watched, instead of joining in. My clothes no longer fit, and I had to buy or borrow bigger sizes. I was miserable.
What was the main motivation behind your weight loss?
My boys were my biggest motivation to lose weight. They often called my dad "lazy" because he would come home from work and sit in his chair instead of playing with them. He didn't mind so much that they called him lazy. Then one day they called me "lazy like Grandpa." I couldn't take it! I'm their mom; I am supposed to be fun and exciting. I am supposed to play with them and show them I care by doing things they love and enjoy. I shouldn't be sitting on my butt for hours at a time playing on the computer. I decided it was time for a change and nothing was going to stop me.
Posted 8/4/2013 6:00:00 AM By: : 68 comments 33,621 views
Is Being Really Lean Really Worth It?
Say what?! Is being really lean really worth it? This probably sounds like a crazy question coming from a trainer who helps clients reach their fat-loss and physique goals.
Before we get started, let me say that I realize this is a very ambiguous question. ''Really lean'' is relative, and I will tell you up front that I don’t have an answer for you. Only you have that answer for you. This blog post is simply intended to help you realize a few things:
1. Everybody is different.
2. Some of us can maintain leaner physiques than others.
3. Going beyond a healthy level of leanness for YOU is a stressor.
4. It’s not normal, and it may not even be healthy, to walk around shredded all the time.
5. How lean do you want to be, and will you sacrifice what it takes to get there?
Let’s explore each of these.
Posted 8/1/2013 6:00:00 AM By: : 164 comments 218,530 views
10 Foods That Fight Inflammation
What if there was a pill you could take daily to help prevent multiple diseases and health conditions? Not just minor issues like acne or stiff joints, but the big ones, too: cancer, Alzheimer’s, cardiovascular disease, diabetes. Not only would this pill prevent these and other conditions, but it could also help increase your energy, tone your body and reverse aging—with zero side effects. People would line up around the block to get their hands on the miracle drug!
While there isn’t currently a drug that can do all these things, there is something that can help: nutrient-dense food—specifically a large selection of vegetables, fruits, herbs and spices. Countless degenerative diseases and health conditions are tied to chronic inflammation, which damages organs, cells—even DNA—and accelerates the aging process. However, the foods mentioned below, and many others, have been shown to subdue chronic inflammation and support numerous areas of health in the process. How many of these health-promoting foods are you eating?
Posted 7/31/2013 6:00:00 AM By: : 74 comments 131,274 views
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