| My Mother put me on my first diet when I was 9 | | | | eat healthy but just for the record I'll go over the |
| years old. The fad at that time was a high | | | | basics. Never skip breakfast. It's considered the most |
| carbohydrate diet. All I can really remember about it | | | | important meal of the day because until you put |
| was that I ate a lot of crackers and tuna fish and all | | | | food into your body, your metabolism is in low, low |
| the pasta I wanted. I was always 10-15 pounds over | | | | gear... sleep mode is a fasting mode. Even a small |
| weight and tried every diet that came out. With each | | | | piece of fruit, slice of toast or small yogurt will do it. |
| significant weight loss I immediately put the weight | | | | Also drink a large glass of water. You are dehydrated |
| back on, and then some. I have concluded that diets | | | | from having slept 7-9 hours without drinking a drop. |
| are not only making us fat, they are killing us.I was in | | | | Make your mid day meal your largest meal if you |
| my 20's when I hit my all time high... I stopped | | | | can...lean protein (4-6 oz.), 2-4 servings of veggies |
| weighing myself when I hit 220 lbs. and was wearing | | | | (salad with steamed or grilled veggies), a small serving |
| a tight size 18. I am 5'11'' tall and of course, I could | | | | of pasta or sweet potato...more water. Dinner can be |
| carry it better than someone 5'4'' but I was now a | | | | similar only smaller in size...more water. It's an |
| BIG girl for sure. I decided to join the local YMCA and | | | | excellent plan is to snack at 10am and 3pm by the |
| take some aerobic classes. It was all high impact back | | | | way. Research has proven that if we ingest a small |
| then and I will never forget the way I felt the day | | | | amount every 2-3 hours, our metabolism stays |
| after my first class. I thought someone had snuck in | | | | revved up, and the body realizes that more food is |
| to my apartment and beat me with a two by four | | | | coming on a regular basis.Once this pattern has been |
| from head to toe...I'm serious. My next game plan | | | | in place for week or so the body begins to let go of |
| was to join the older women in an aqua aerobics | | | | stored fat...it knows nutrients are always coming. No |
| class. I had done some competitive swimming in high | | | | white anything...white bread, white rice, white pasta, |
| school and had always loved the water. That was | | | | white potatoes and white sugar. Eat as little |
| the best thing I could have ever done. It might sound | | | | processed food as possible and avoid fast food like |
| crazy but, that class and group of women, changed | | | | the plague. Pretty simple. Not always easy.Do the |
| the course of my | | | | best you can most of the time and recognize that |
| life.There are several points that I am trying to | | | | there will be times that you will eat pizza and hot |
| make. One, I had found a form of exercise that I | | | | fudge Sundays. As long as it is 'once in a while' not |
| truly enjoyed and looked forward to doing. Two, I | | | | weekly, you will be fine. Personally I can't have |
| realized that the career choice I had been pursuing in | | | | tempting food in my house...if it's there, I will eat it. |
| college was all wrong for me. Three, I discovered my | | | | When I have to have some sort of treat, I go out |
| natural talent for motivating others. I lost weight | | | | and buy one piece...savor every bite and be done |
| because I was so emotionally satisfied by | | | | with it. Do yourself a favor...give up dieting; It simply |
| encouraging others. Just three months later, having | | | | does not work long term.I am certified in fitness and |
| changed my diet, and having been consistent with | | | | exercise by the American Council on Exercise (A.C.E.) |
| my exercise I had lost 25 pounds. The director | | | | and a weight loss and nutrition professional certified |
| approached me wondering if I might want to train | | | | by Lifestyle Management Associates. I have an |
| for an instructor position. I was thrilled.You are no | | | | Associates Degree from Monroe Community College |
| doubt wondering what all that has to do with eating | | | | in Rochester, New York and have spent 23 years |
| well. Everything. I had been dieting for 13 years at | | | | working in the physical fitness industry in such places |
| that point and what I did differently was I applied | | | | as Duke Diet and Fitness and Structure House, both |
| common sense and it worked. We all know how to | | | | located in Durham, North Carolina. |