As the woman stared at me, I asked myself, "Who is this woman?" I do not recognize her face or features; but I know her eyes. This woman was me! I had become severely overweight. A person I did not know. How and when did it happen?
As I looked at the new corporate picture, I realized that the time had come to bring out the woman I knew was within. At 38 I was 236 pounds!! I was carrying an extra 100 pounds on my 5'2" frame. No wonder I was feeling miserable and depressed.
After some serious soul searching and praying, I decided that I needed a plan. For years I had been stressed way beyond my limit. With the current information about stress and weight, I decided dealing with stress alleviation was the place to start. I knew that I needed to get my body moving to help me handle the stress. The next day I went to investigate Curves. I loved the concept and so I joined for a year. At first I was just trying to make it through each week. Then as the weight started to come off, I started to pick up the pace and added a couple days of walking. During this time I was also using a computer program called Balance Log. It is a program that tracks all of your nutritional information and exercise and helps you balance out your calories in and calories out. Before beginning to use the new software, I had my metabolism tested using a small device that measured my oxygen consumption. With this information, I was able to discover my unique calorie level to allow me to lose weight efficiently and effectively. Knowing my resting metabolism gave me my own number with which to work. As months progressed, the weight was coming off! For the first time in 20 years I was experiencing weight loss success.
About 17 months into the program and 75 pounds lighter, I hit a major road block, the scale stopped moving. I needed help and giving up was not an option. The ladies at Curves had been speaking about a woman in South Burlington with a business called Healthy Lifestyles. I listened carefully and thought this is for me. I called the owner, Kathryn Evans and set up an appointment. I made an appointment to have her re- test my metabolism to see how it had changed after losing 75 pounds. Sure enough, my metabolism had decreased because I had become smaller and my body didn't require as many calories. I changed my calorie level and the weight started to come off again. For the next 7 months I worked with Kathryn and dropped another 20 pounds. Wow! 95 pounds!
I am still working my program of healthy eating, exercise, and Healthy Lifestyles. With 16 pounds to go, I am confident and I am a success. Kathryn has been a tremendous mentor and support system. Healthy Lifestyles is what weight loss is all about, a way of life, not a diet. Through this journey I have finally discovered the woman within.
Aimee Miles 4.20.06
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