It's funny how things happen sometimes.
This column was going to be about a local guy who has chosen to go public - very public - in his quest to lose 100 pounds. But I decided his story would have to wait when a colleague dropped off a book for me to look at.
On the cover is Chantel Hobbs, a gorgeous woman who has shed 200 pounds - without surgery, pills or deprivation. The subtitle caught my eye: "Make five decisions and break the fat habit for good."
What a coincidence. My last two columns have been about five small changes to your eating habits and five helpful hints to get you off the couch. So, in what seemed to be a theme, I just had to check out Hobbs's five. And they're all good.
Her book, Never Say Diet (WaterBook Press, 240 pages, $24.99), isn't vastly different from the huge choice of weight-loss books lining store shelves, with exercise suggestions and food guidelines. What I do think sets Hobbs's book apart is her blunt honesty and her belief in a more spiritual approach to weight loss.
Anyone knows - or should know by now - that when you have significant weight to lose, it's usually about more than just the brownies.
Hobbs, who lives in Florida, suggests we make a real connection to our inner selves in order to bring about change.
Her five decisions - Be Truthful: Be Forgiving: Be Committed; Be Interested and Surrender - are the cornerstones of her program.
She goes into personal details for each one. And her experiences can be quite painful.
When I spoke with her last week, she told me that "change comes from a place of misery," and she had been miserable - even though most people wouldn't have guessed it.
In the Get a Move On chapter, for example, she cites the time when she was trying to begin an exercise regime. A member of the gym staff tried to measure the percentage of her body fat, but couldn't - the machine couldn't handle more than 50 per cent body fat.
Still, it didn't stop her from trying. As she stresses in her book, consistency is vital.
"Since my goal was to establish a new exercise habit, I needed consistency. No debating whether I wanted to exercise every day. I treated it as my new job. I had to show up six days a week no matter how I felt or how I might be influenced by outside sources. As with any new job, I figured I had no vacation or sick time coming."
And stick to it she did.
The first month was the toughest. She eliminated all sugars and junk food. But after that, she didn't deprive herself of anything. If her family was having fettuccine alfredo, then she would, too - just a much smaller portion. And after the third month of her eating plan, one evening a week she'd indulge in whatever it was she wanted.
A church-going gal her whole life, Hobbs claims it was God she turned to in order to help turn her life around.
She remembers with clarity the evening she asked Him for help, and recounts hearing a voice saying she was not being the best she could be. And she wanted to be her best.
Hobbs has certainly accomplished that. She's now a certified personal trainer, a spinning coach and motivational speaker. She even runs marathons. "There are days even I can't believe I run them," she laughed. And she admits: "it's awesome to know I don't ever have to go back. I can be the new me forever."
Hobbs has begun a Brain Change Challenge on her website, encouraging people to get on their own path to changing their lives. She's been on Oprah and on the cover of People magazine
There's no denying her commitment - and the value of the five decisions that led to it.
For more information, visit www.chantelhobbs.com.
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Saturday, February 23, 2008
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
200 pounds weight loss inspiration by 57 years old woman
At 452 pounds, Deborah Diederich could barely walk without breathing heavily. Sometimes, she'd call her children from across town to help her up if she fell.
The Burton resident developed diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol.
A yo-yo dieter, Diederich had tried Weight Watchers and Take Off Pounds Sensibly groups in the past. She even considered gastric bypass surgery.
"I've always been an emotional eater," said Diederich, 57. "I used food for medicating. I'd eat when I was happy, sad or bored. I could eat a big bag of chips in one sitting or go through a half-gallon of ice cream."
Now a much-thinner 250 pounds, Diederich is an inspiration to TOPS Chapter 1738, which she leads.
She will tell her success story at the chapter's open house 6-8 p.m. Thursday at West Court Street Church of God, 2920 W. Court St., Flint. Also speaking will be Irene Houghton, nurse manager of the heart unit at McLaren Regional Medical Center.
"Even when (Diederich) did have a little setback, she still kept going," said Kim Murdough of Swartz Creek, chapter secretary. "She didn't let it throw her off track. She really walked the walk of eating sensibly."
Diederich was the state and international division winner for her weight group in 2006. She was honored in Providence, R.I., last year.
TOPS - a nonprofit, weight-loss support organization based in Milwaukee, with chapters worldwide - celebrates its 60th anniversary this year. It has 200,000 members in 10,000 chapters in the U.S., Canada and other countries.
After years of losing and gaining weight, Diederich was fed up.
"I had to change my lifestyle or I was going to kill myself by overeating," she said.
Either that, or she figured she would be bedridden.
A friend who belonged to TOPS told Diederich about the group she attended in Flint.
"I'd always had good success with TOPS," Diederich said. "I know I have to go every week. If I don't want to eat at 10 p.m., I can give someone a call. It's affordable, too ($24 per year and $5 for monthly dues at the West Court Street Church location)."
Diederich tackled her weight loss one day at a time, sticking to a 1,200-calorie diet.
She used a smaller plate and didn't fill it up to overflowing. She chose an 8-ounce glass for milk. She wrote down everything she ate, and she didn't eat after 8 p.m.
"I try to eat healthy - whole grains, lean meats, lots of vegetables," she said.
For example, she'll drink vegetable juice and eat a small bowl of cereal with low-calorie bread and a teaspoon of peanut butter for breakfast.
Lunch includes a cup of soup, a sandwich with turkey and lettuce, a small salad with cucumbers and tomatoes and a glass of milk.
For dinner, she'll consume a 3-ounce piece of lean meat, a small sweet potato with spray butter, salad with low-fat dressing and fruit.
"Once in a while, I'll have a small candy bar," she said. "But I try to stay away from it. Sometimes I have to argue with myself and say 'you don't need that' (especially) at family gatherings where everything revolves around food."
Diederich, who is 5-foot-6, said the reason she succeeded this time is because she was "very determined. It has to all come from within. No diet's going to do it if you don't do it for yourself."
Diederich exercises regularly by lifting 10-pound weights, walking on a treadmill and using an exercise bike or "mini-stepper."
Someday, she might have surgery to remove the excess skin from the weight loss, she said.
As part of her makeover, she cut her hair and bought a few new clothes. But she wants to lose another 100 pounds before purchasing any more outfits.
"I'll wait until I get to my goal and buy a new wardrobe," she said, beaming.
www.mlive.com
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The Burton resident developed diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol.
A yo-yo dieter, Diederich had tried Weight Watchers and Take Off Pounds Sensibly groups in the past. She even considered gastric bypass surgery.
"I've always been an emotional eater," said Diederich, 57. "I used food for medicating. I'd eat when I was happy, sad or bored. I could eat a big bag of chips in one sitting or go through a half-gallon of ice cream."
Now a much-thinner 250 pounds, Diederich is an inspiration to TOPS Chapter 1738, which she leads.
She will tell her success story at the chapter's open house 6-8 p.m. Thursday at West Court Street Church of God, 2920 W. Court St., Flint. Also speaking will be Irene Houghton, nurse manager of the heart unit at McLaren Regional Medical Center.
"Even when (Diederich) did have a little setback, she still kept going," said Kim Murdough of Swartz Creek, chapter secretary. "She didn't let it throw her off track. She really walked the walk of eating sensibly."
Diederich was the state and international division winner for her weight group in 2006. She was honored in Providence, R.I., last year.
TOPS - a nonprofit, weight-loss support organization based in Milwaukee, with chapters worldwide - celebrates its 60th anniversary this year. It has 200,000 members in 10,000 chapters in the U.S., Canada and other countries.
After years of losing and gaining weight, Diederich was fed up.
"I had to change my lifestyle or I was going to kill myself by overeating," she said.
Either that, or she figured she would be bedridden.
A friend who belonged to TOPS told Diederich about the group she attended in Flint.
"I'd always had good success with TOPS," Diederich said. "I know I have to go every week. If I don't want to eat at 10 p.m., I can give someone a call. It's affordable, too ($24 per year and $5 for monthly dues at the West Court Street Church location)."
Diederich tackled her weight loss one day at a time, sticking to a 1,200-calorie diet.
She used a smaller plate and didn't fill it up to overflowing. She chose an 8-ounce glass for milk. She wrote down everything she ate, and she didn't eat after 8 p.m.
"I try to eat healthy - whole grains, lean meats, lots of vegetables," she said.
For example, she'll drink vegetable juice and eat a small bowl of cereal with low-calorie bread and a teaspoon of peanut butter for breakfast.
Lunch includes a cup of soup, a sandwich with turkey and lettuce, a small salad with cucumbers and tomatoes and a glass of milk.
For dinner, she'll consume a 3-ounce piece of lean meat, a small sweet potato with spray butter, salad with low-fat dressing and fruit.
"Once in a while, I'll have a small candy bar," she said. "But I try to stay away from it. Sometimes I have to argue with myself and say 'you don't need that' (especially) at family gatherings where everything revolves around food."
Diederich, who is 5-foot-6, said the reason she succeeded this time is because she was "very determined. It has to all come from within. No diet's going to do it if you don't do it for yourself."
Diederich exercises regularly by lifting 10-pound weights, walking on a treadmill and using an exercise bike or "mini-stepper."
Someday, she might have surgery to remove the excess skin from the weight loss, she said.
As part of her makeover, she cut her hair and bought a few new clothes. But she wants to lose another 100 pounds before purchasing any more outfits.
"I'll wait until I get to my goal and buy a new wardrobe," she said, beaming.
www.mlive.com
Best weight loss pills article
Top weight loss tablets on the market
All about natural weight loss pills
Saturday, February 9, 2008
Alex Bennet weight loss - 15 kilos in 6 months
Alex Bennett lost 15 kilograms in six months. The bonus? He no longer needs medication for blood pressure, gastric reflux or cholesterol.
At the beginning of 2007, after spending a relaxing summer holiday on the beautiful New South Wales beaches, I should have felt terrific. Instead I was disgusted as I viewed the photo snaps of myself. Gut hanging over my board shorts, T-shirt bulging past my feet as I looked down.
Time to diet, exercise and discipline my body back to health.
Ten years earlier I had lost weight on the Atkins diet, but that weight returned quite rapidly and I wasn't comfortable with all the bacon and eggs.
I also recognised the value of exercise as I had had some success in the past with swimming laps, but found the results rather patchy.
I was willing to work out but needed it to be convenient and relatively cheap. I purchased some second-hand gym equipment, set up the machines in my garage, and invited my family and a close friend with similar goals to work out if they felt the need. It is terrific to have another person to help you become committed to routine.
Getting started
I chose the CSIRO Total Wellbeing diet because it seemed like a more sensible use of a broader range of food groups than the Atkins diet, and had the backing of a very reputable organisation.
I started to exercise about three times a week for 20 to 30 minutes a time, but soon found I could extend my routine and enjoyed working out five days a week for around 40 minutes.
I appreciated the relaxed feeling after exercise and preferred not to miss out. It really helps to have an exercise partner to keep you on task.
The weight loss was slow at first and I preferred to weigh myself in the morning after sleep. Originally I hadn't considered what sort of weight reduction I could achieve and my primary focus was to reduce the waistline.
I purchased a set of electronic scales that calculated BMI, or Body Mass Index. It showed that an ideal weight for my height would be around 80 kilograms. That would put my BMI at around 25 which is on the upper limit of a healthy range.
With fluctuations I lost 15 kilograms in six months. My weight plunged from an obese and disabling 97 kilograms to a more reasonable and comfortable 82 kilograms. I felt fantastic but I found additional benefits.
No more medication
Prior to this time I was on 'permanent' blood pressure, gastric reflux and cholesterol medication. Upon losing the weight, I discontinued the blood pressure medication (on doctor's advice) because I was feeling very dizzy. Blood pressure without medication is now well inside normal limits.
A relaxed and calmer man would arrive home from work, without feeling the need for a stress-relieving red wine. In fact, alcohol was easy to cut down on as my health improved.
No need for the gastric reflux meds anymore. The CSIRO diet does not include many carbohydrates after the midday meal. I found this was easier on my digestive system. No longer did I have the uncomfortable feeling of gastric juices fighting with my evening meal. No more waking with a very uncomfortable burning in my throat, and no need for the expensive medication.
No cholesterol medication because I was no longer at risk. My reduced weight, sensible diet and regular exercise has put me into a very normal category. Not superman, just normal.
The new me
My message is simple. Don't allow pills to let you follow an unhealthy lifestyle. I made a decision to improve my health by losing weight and I now save over $90 a month on medication and I feel much better. My stamina and concentration has improved and my general demeanour is far more positive and less aggressive (lower blood pressure makes you far less volatile).
My family prefers the new me and I get the bonus of people telling me how much better I look. All my family members benefit from better food and they have an exercise partner to help them reach their own goals. I look forward to my exercise and I enjoy my meals a lot more than the junk food and snacks that I rubbished on before.
www.abc.net.au
Weight loss tablets review
Proactol and Alli compared
At the beginning of 2007, after spending a relaxing summer holiday on the beautiful New South Wales beaches, I should have felt terrific. Instead I was disgusted as I viewed the photo snaps of myself. Gut hanging over my board shorts, T-shirt bulging past my feet as I looked down.
Time to diet, exercise and discipline my body back to health.
Ten years earlier I had lost weight on the Atkins diet, but that weight returned quite rapidly and I wasn't comfortable with all the bacon and eggs.
I also recognised the value of exercise as I had had some success in the past with swimming laps, but found the results rather patchy.
I was willing to work out but needed it to be convenient and relatively cheap. I purchased some second-hand gym equipment, set up the machines in my garage, and invited my family and a close friend with similar goals to work out if they felt the need. It is terrific to have another person to help you become committed to routine.
Getting started
I chose the CSIRO Total Wellbeing diet because it seemed like a more sensible use of a broader range of food groups than the Atkins diet, and had the backing of a very reputable organisation.
I started to exercise about three times a week for 20 to 30 minutes a time, but soon found I could extend my routine and enjoyed working out five days a week for around 40 minutes.
I appreciated the relaxed feeling after exercise and preferred not to miss out. It really helps to have an exercise partner to keep you on task.
The weight loss was slow at first and I preferred to weigh myself in the morning after sleep. Originally I hadn't considered what sort of weight reduction I could achieve and my primary focus was to reduce the waistline.
I purchased a set of electronic scales that calculated BMI, or Body Mass Index. It showed that an ideal weight for my height would be around 80 kilograms. That would put my BMI at around 25 which is on the upper limit of a healthy range.
With fluctuations I lost 15 kilograms in six months. My weight plunged from an obese and disabling 97 kilograms to a more reasonable and comfortable 82 kilograms. I felt fantastic but I found additional benefits.
No more medication
Prior to this time I was on 'permanent' blood pressure, gastric reflux and cholesterol medication. Upon losing the weight, I discontinued the blood pressure medication (on doctor's advice) because I was feeling very dizzy. Blood pressure without medication is now well inside normal limits.
A relaxed and calmer man would arrive home from work, without feeling the need for a stress-relieving red wine. In fact, alcohol was easy to cut down on as my health improved.
No need for the gastric reflux meds anymore. The CSIRO diet does not include many carbohydrates after the midday meal. I found this was easier on my digestive system. No longer did I have the uncomfortable feeling of gastric juices fighting with my evening meal. No more waking with a very uncomfortable burning in my throat, and no need for the expensive medication.
No cholesterol medication because I was no longer at risk. My reduced weight, sensible diet and regular exercise has put me into a very normal category. Not superman, just normal.
The new me
My message is simple. Don't allow pills to let you follow an unhealthy lifestyle. I made a decision to improve my health by losing weight and I now save over $90 a month on medication and I feel much better. My stamina and concentration has improved and my general demeanour is far more positive and less aggressive (lower blood pressure makes you far less volatile).
My family prefers the new me and I get the bonus of people telling me how much better I look. All my family members benefit from better food and they have an exercise partner to help them reach their own goals. I look forward to my exercise and I enjoy my meals a lot more than the junk food and snacks that I rubbished on before.
www.abc.net.au
Weight loss tablets review
Proactol and Alli compared
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