Success Stories #6, #7, #8, & #9

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-04-2003
Success Stories #6, #7, #8, & #9
7
Tue, 12-06-2005 - 5:48pm
Stephanie Dexter: 160 pounds lost
In September 2002, 35-year-old Stephanie Dexter was explaining to her three-year-old twins how to escape from their house if there was a fire. "I looked at them, looked at the window and realized that it would be my responsibility to get them out – and at 317 pounds there's no way I could do it," she says. "I recognized that if I didn't change, I wouldn't be able to look after my family."


The plan Stephanie joined Weight Watchers to learn better eating habits, and started walking the trails near her home. As she became more fit, she added strength training and volleyball to the mix. These days, Stephanie runs four days a week for 45 minutes to an hour, takes Pilates and weight trains three times a week. She also plays a variety of group sports and rides her bike.


Her secret weapon A great pair of running shoes that she can throw on for a workout anytime, anywhere. Stephanie also swears by team sports. "I have to make exercise fun – that's key," she says. "I really enjoy the camaraderie that comes with being a team member."


The sweetest reward On her 38th birthday, Stephanie started her day with a run. "It might not sound that exciting," she says. "But every day I'm amazed my body can do something like that – that I can move and breathe when at one time it was so difficult."



Bonnie Guther: 120 pounds lost

In 2001, Bonnie Guther and her partner applied for life insurance. When the 34-year-old stepped on the scale for her medical, the doctor informed her she weighed 304 pounds. She cried as she left the office, but didn't do anything about losing weight. A few months later, Bonnie's own doctor diagnosed her with sleep apnea and suggested she lose weight for her health. "I was finally ready to do something about my predicament other than cry."



The plan For the first two months Bonnie switched pop for water, swore off junk food and cut her portions in half while increasing the amount of fruit and veggies in her diet. She also worked out on a second-hand exercise bike, which her partner bought her, four mornings a week.


Bonnie is still trimming down with regular exercise: she walks her dog for an hour every morning before work and strength trains two to three times a week. "I feel off-kilter if I don't exercise in the morning now," she says.


Her secret weapon Her colleague Robin. "Until a few months ago, we shared a very confined office space, so when one ate well, it rubbed off on the other," says Bonnie. "We still share healthy food ideas and keep each other motivated."


The sweetest reward "There's nothing better than knowing I have control over my body and what I put into it!"



Margaret Kowal: 118 pounds lost

Shortly before her 46th birthday, Margaret Kowal says, "I decided enough was enough. There was so much I felt I couldn't do – go on the waterslides at Ontario Place, try a helicopter ride – because of my weight. I wanted more energy and a more interesting life."



The plan Instead of the usual resolve to "lose weight," Margaret broke her weight-loss goals into 10-pound increments. "Every time I met one of those smaller goals, I was encouraged. It kept me going," she says.


Margaret picked up nutritional brochures such as Canada's Food Guide to Healthy Eating from the fitness centre at work, and learned portion control. She also took strength-training and Pilates classes, and joined the Chatelaine Walking Club.


Margaret strength trains two to four times a week, uses the Stairmaster at her gym and climbs stairs at work during her lunch hour. In June, she started belly dancing. "Before, I wasn't willing to be seen in a bathing suit – never mind a shimmy skirt!"


Her secret weapon Mantras. When food cravings hit, Margaret talks herself down by repeating phrases such as, The answers aren't in the refrigerator, and This is not the last meal I'll ever eat.


The sweetest reward Feeling that she's just one of the crowd. "When you're overweight," she says, "you feel like you enter the room before you get there."



Leigh-Anne Nielsen: 125 pounds lost

When her brother married in 1998, Leigh-Anne Nielsen, then 23, bought a dress she thought looked good on her. "The dress was a beautiful burgundy A-line – a perfectly flattering cut for someone with my figure," she says. But when she saw photos, her heart sank. "I thought, I cannot possibly be that wide," she says. "I went to bed and cried, but I wasn't crying in a self-pitying way – I was crying for strength to exercise and lose weight and never look back."



The plan Leigh-Anne dug her parents' exercise bike out of the basement and started peddling in her bedroom. "I remember thinking, How long will I last before I collapse? and Why do they make these seats so damn small!" She lasted three minutes the first day, but was soon biking longer and adding dancing, sit-ups, jumping jacks and running on the spot to her workout. She also cut out junk food, started drinking lots of water and snacked on fruit and veggies.


Her routine now includes a 30-minute run on the treadmill followed by weights and a set of 30 crunches, four times a week. In May 2005, Leigh-Anne completed her first 5K run!


Her secret weapon Trash TV. "I hop on my treadmill and run to Entertainment Tonight, American Idol, you name it! It really keeps me going."


The sweetest reward Leigh-Anne used to be too embarrassed to accompany her kids to swimming lessons. This year, she bought a multicoloured, spaghetti-strap bathing suit and strutted her stuff at the local pool. "I didn't run for a towel or anything," she says.


iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
Tue, 12-06-2005 - 9:04pm
Great motivational stories! (By the way.....where do you find these??)


~IslandGirl



~~~ Moderation IS Key ~~~



_____________________________________________________

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-04-2003
Wed, 12-07-2005 - 12:03pm

I think these ones were from Chatelaine Magazine.

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-15-2005
Wed, 12-07-2005 - 12:47pm

I love these success stories, and I love that you don't put the ones about women who hire trainers, who have all day to work out, personal chef's etc. Hell, if we ALL had that, I'm sure we could all lose weight. lol. But yup, I definitely like the ones that are busy, and still make time. I like reading HOW they did it.

Makes me realize, stop being so lazy Cheryl. lol.

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-01-2005
Wed, 12-07-2005 - 1:48pm

Hi Miranda

I was just wondering if you have any more success stories to share or if you could give me an idea where to find more?

Thanks Amy

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-09-2003
Wed, 12-07-2005 - 1:49pm

These are great stories! I agree with Miranda about being jealous, me too. I love The Biggest Loser and appreciate that they have bigger challenges than I do to over come but I swear I want to scream when they whine about the trainers or how hard the work out is etc. They should be so grateful they are getting 24/7 attention on their health and should take full advantage.


Also, agree with Cher. Just need to make a couple better choices and get


iVillage Member
Registered: 12-04-2003
Wed, 12-07-2005 - 4:38pm

Hi Amy, most of these I've found on Chatelaine and Canadian Living which are two Canadian magazines.

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-01-2005
Thu, 12-08-2005 - 9:17am
Thank you so much Miranda!