Jen - our Marathon Mama
Houston, TX
30 years old
Starting weight: 158.5
Current weight: 132
Target weight: 135
What finally made you decide to lose weight? I was tired of being chubby. I wasn't really fat, but I was super-unfit. Terribly out of shape.
What type of diet did you follow? Weight Watchers first and then Clean Eating.
Why did you choose this diet? I used Weight Watchers because they had a program for nursing mothers, and because I had used it before to lose a few pounds. It really helped me to learn to make better choices with my food. I knew if I ate a high point lunch that I had to have a lighter dinner! I made the move to Clean Eating after I had reached my WW goal and was struggling to maintain. I was tired of counting points, and once I started Clean Eating, I felt great and just stuck with it.
How long were you on your diet program? I started WW in September of 2002. I lost my weight and kept it off until I got pregnant in 2003. I started WW again in June of 2004 when my son was 6 weeks old. I was below my goal weight by the end of September 2004.
What kinds of physical activities do you like doing to maintain your weight and to stay fit? I am a fitness instructor, so I do whatever kind of physical activity my boss tells me too!!! I teach boot camp, yoga, and Spinning. I am also a personal trainer and a marathon/running coach.
What were the most difficult obstacles you had to overcome or are still overcoming? Emotional eating. I have always used food as a crutch, a reward, a celebration, and a friend. Constant vigilance is what keeps this under control for me.
How do you keep yourself motivated? I sign up for events, go to different trainings and fitness workshops. I love to read about food and fitness, so I am always trying something new!
Do you have any weight loss tips for our readers? Journal, journal, journal. And don't make excuses. Drink your water. Keep the food clean and the workouts dirty!!!
Do you think it will be easy to fall back into your old patterns? I would lose my job if I fell back into my old patterns. That is great motivation to keep going!
How do you prevent this from happening? I always try to stay on top of my game, whether it is food or working out. Once you miss one workout, it is a little easier to miss the second. Same thing with food. You make a poor choice at breakfast, it is pretty easy to throw in the towel the rest of the day.
Do you have a favorite Web site or blog that helped or inspired you to lose weight? My favorite sites are Weight Watchers, Runner's World, and PnP! :)