14 Jun Weight Loss Success – Renee’s Story
Weight Loss Success – Renee’s Story: Meet Renee (My AUNT Renee!)
Quitting the Weight Gain/Shame/Blame Game and Winning the Grand Prize… The 49 year struggle
In Renee’s words…
Approaching age 50 and close to 200 lbs, I felt depressed, unattractive and hopeless. For as long as I can remember, food has been a problem.
As a child, I would sneak into the fridge and eat my Mom’s chocolate ‘diet’ candies. I got sent home from summer camp because I could not/would not stop eating the sugar filled condiments on the lunch table.
At age 15, my Mom signed us up for a ‘pay n weigh’ program. That began my 30 year ‘career’ as a professional dieter. ‘Yo-Yo’ dieting managed to keep the weight gains to about 20 lbs. UNTIL….. Menopause began, my metabolism slowed down, and I gained 75 pounds!
Believing ‘fat was my destiny’
I gave up dieting. My grandmother died at age 49 from obesity related diabetes, and my Mom had developed heart disease, a complication from diabetes and being overweight.
Thinking ‘fat was my destiny’, and wanting to meet others with food issues, I joined a support group for compulsive eaters. With support, the journey back to health- physical, emotional and spiritual- began.
My friends recommended finding a nutritionist who would tailor a healthy plan for my lifestyle and needs. I began taking Yoga (and had to sit up on many blankets to move my belly out of the way to sit on the floor!).
Good food in, bad weight out
With a good nutrition plan, food cravings stopped. With the physical cravings for sugar and processed carbs under control, I started to feel hopeful. In the first year I lost 50 pounds WITHOUT DIETING.
In the second year, the other 25 lbs. came off. The original food plan- 3 healthy meals and 2 metabolic snacks (I’m hypoglycemic) is the same plan that still works today.
Many of us have lost weight-some of us a lot- only to gain it back countless times. Each time, our self-esteem takes yet another dive and motivation becomes elusive. Imagine -the day has arrived- you’ve finally reached your fitness and weight goals!
Picture this, one year from now, you go in your closet and EVERYTHING STILL FITS. And five or even ten years from now, you no longer wake up dreading looking in the mirror.
It’s been 14 years since I lost those 75 pounds. Here is what helped me, what worked and continues to work:
- Following a food plan daily, taking just a few minutes each evening to plan my food (and check to see if I need to buy any groceries)
- Cutting out all added sugar, except what occurs naturally in fruit
- Alcohol- I read that in detox, the hospitals give alcoholics lots of sugar which calms the effects of withdrawal. After reading that, I decided not to drink alcohol- it could lead back to sugar cravings
- Gluten and Dairy -After years of unhealthy eating, I developed stomach problems and have now cut out gluten and dairy. My stomach problems disappeared completely!
- Keeping a journal- if something bothers me, I write it out instead of eating over it
- Continuing to utilize a support group
I AM NOT HUNGRY!
People tell me they can’t imagine not having sugar or alcohol (or wheat & pasta). My answer is my truth- I will feel better tonight if I don’t have any today. Eating ‘just a bite or two’ risks setting up cravings/obsessing/bingeing and back to being a prisoner in food hell.
Today- just for today- I choose to say NO to processed foods and YES to a healthy and vibrant body, mind and spirit.
Now 63 years old and I feel in the best shape ever. My husband thinks I am beautiful (after 42 years together!). Best of all- now I can sit on the floor and play with my precious granddaughter!
To those who may still be struggling, I hope sharing my story will encourage you to make TODAY THE DAY you say Yes- I CAN DO THIS TODAY. One decision- one meal- one day at a time.
Ps- every morning I do Natalie Jill’s exercises. I modify the exercises for my fitness level and continue to surprise myself every day. If I can do it at age 63, YOU CAN TOO! Thanks Natalie Jill!!
Congratulations Aunt Renee! WHO IS NEXT? You can do this too!
Give me 7 days to teach you the habits to change your life FOREVER. Get started on YOUR 7 Day Jump Start HERE
Renee’s entrepreneurial background involves fitness, dance and Yoga. While pregnant with her first child, she created MotherDance, an innovative Prenatal and Postpartum low impact fitness program in Baltimore, Md. In 1991, Renee founded the internationally acclaimed youth dance ensemble Tappers With Attitude (TWA), and in 1995 co-founded Knock On Wood tap studio, celebrating twenty years in 2015. TWA presented and commissioned choreography from leading tap masters around the nation including Brenda Bufalino, Dianne Walker and Josh Hilberman. At age 52 Renee became a certified Yoga instructor to add to her B.S. degree in Dance.
“I am excited to work with my beautiful niece Natalie. Her programs make sense, are fun and her passion is contagious. And the support she offers makes her programs work – for her and many thousands of other people. Natalie cares greatly and wants each person to have the tools to be their personal best. Her motto “Be Happy, Be Healthy, Be Fit!” Is a mantra that brings excitement and new possibilities every day!”
