Part 3

"I touched on eating “right” and getting exercise, but the final point I would like to make is to bring someone along with you. For me, exercising and eating healthy is daunting. I applied for the Gazette Healthy Challenge for 3 years prior to getting accepted, because I knew that with a team and with my weight loss being advertised in the paper each week, I would remain motivated. How many people made the New Year’s resolution to get fit? I am sure many are staying on track on Day 6… but what about Day 30. You CANNOT do it alone. You need a buddy, a friend, a coach – someone to keep you accountable. For me, I worked out with the team twice a week, we kept in touch via email to encourage each other. I knew that I would be letting down my team if I did not produce a weight loss that week.

Now that the competition is over, I needed someone to go along with me. I immediately emailed the moms in my neighborhood and asked if anyone wanted to run or walk with me. We started walking every evening. When it got colder, my husband and I started going to the gym together. For me, having that person who is waiting on you to go for a run, or asking you to go to the gym, makes it that much harder to say no. And often times, I find that I am motivating people to get up and get “fit”.

In conclusion, eat less of the right things more often. Get 150 minutes a week of moderate-intensity. And it is tough to do it by yourself especially if you live with someone who isn’t living right. Get a partner, a team, a friend who can take this journey with you. They don’t need to be overweight too… maybe you have a friend who is in shape – ask them if you can join them (they might even consider it a compliment).

The statistics are against me though. According to the CDC, 50% of people who lose a large amount of weight quickly gain in back within a year and 95% gain it all back and more within 3 years. This is a statistic that I want no part of. So my husband and I began working with a personal trainer in December to jump start my weight loss again. I know I will struggle with this for the rest of my life. As my great Aunt says, “You can exercise as much as you want, but if you don’t watch your elbow, you will gain weight.

So, my goal is to never be 5lbs over my goal weight. 5 lbs is easier to lose than 41lbs. Thank you."