Meet Teresa

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Today I want to introduce you to Teresa as someone I’d like to highlight in the new series called “Stronger Together“.

I believe I first “met” Teresa on Twitter and then I really started to get to know her better via the Facebook page.

One morning I woke up to the following private message from her and with her permission I’m going to share a bit of our exchange with you because I think it is such a common way of feeling for us all…let’s also give it a nice title, shall we?! LOL

How to ENJOY Your Vacation Without FREAKING Out About Gaining Weight WHILE at the Same Time NOT Completely Derailing ALL Your Previous Efforts! (Hint: Teresa did this and went on to continued weight loss) 😉

Teresa is SUCH a huge source of support to me and so many people at the FB page. If you spend any time there (and I hope you are), you will see her active participation and encouraging notes.  So, without further ado, I give you Teresa’s story…

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My Weight Loss Journey

Hi, my name is Teresa and I am a 46 year old woman who was 95 pounds overweight. Now I say 95 because I couldn’t wrap my mind around the number 100. I know it’s only a five pound difference but at the time I set my goal weight I wasn’t strong enough to not see it was just a number, thankfully I am now.

In August 2011 I went to my family doctor for a checkup that I had been avoiding because I knew what was coming. I was overweight, and unhealthy. I was having anxiety, and heart palpitations, not sleeping well due to all the extra weight.  Like I guessed, my doctor weighed me, something I avoided at all costs. When he said the number out loud, I thought he was talking about someone else. 215 pounds! Then on to the blood pressure reading.  190/115. Ugh. I had given a blood sample the prior week and he had the results from that.  I sat there in my paper gown that does not accommodate a 215 pounder very well, as my Doctor told me I had high blood sugar and was a pre diabetic! I was shocked, and scared. He told me I was a ticking time bomb with high blood pressure and high sugar combined. He suggested the weight for my height was 125.  He also handed me some info about higher protein, lower carbs and lots of fruit and veggies.  Also Exercise.

I had heard this all before, diet and exercise. I was overwhelmed and now on several new medications. I got on the computer and Googled “weight loss”. I saw something pop up called Spark People. I went to the site and it was amazing. Story after story of success, and best of all a WAY to do it. Not a diet. What? No diet?! I was hooked. It was also FREE!

I began to read all the great information on my specific issues, and was there for hours. I set up a profile and began slowly tracking my food. Wow, I was so surprised to see how much I was consuming! I also bought their book, and cookbook. I started eating healthy, six times a day and drinking a gallon or so of water a day. I learned what portions were, and what my body needed.  I also had one day a week as a “free day”, where I had some of my guilty foods. I faithfully logged in with the free mobile app several times a day to log my food. I faithfully packed my meals and snacks for work every day. I completely gave up my beloved diet Coke (I drank 6 a day), and no more fast food at all for now. I also became an avid reader of diet and nutrition sites and e books. I love Hungry Girl, Body for life, and Weight Watchers. I found great recipes and information.

I went for a follow up with the Doctor after one moth. I had lost 8 pounds! I could not believe it! He asked me if I was becoming active and I admitted I wasn’t there yet. He told me of the importance of that to my health.

I went home and dusted off my treadmill. I put some music on and started walking. Wow, I was so out of shape. Ten minutes about did me in. I was still over 200, and it was all I could do. I got up every morning and added one more minute. I was sore and sweaty, but felt so proud. I worked up to 30 minutes and then added crunches and small hand weights. I did this every day with one day off a week.

The weight was really falling off now. I had lost 22 pounds! I got the nerve to join a small, local gym. I started going faithfully every day, and used the elliptical, the treadmill, and the weight machines. It was all new for me but I was enjoying it! I kept up with the Spark and logged all my food. I had good days, and bad days. But I hung in there.

One day as I was searching for books on weight loss, I found “How to Lose 100 Pounds” for Kindle. WOW! This was a real person, who had lost over 100 pounds and wrote all about tips and advice in real life terms. So inspirational! I followed her on Twitter and Facebook, and got daily motivation. We have since become “friends’ online and I consider her to be a huge force on my journey to get healthy and get to my goal weight.

In May 2012, my employer urged me to enter the Susan G Komen, 5K. I agreed and started training outside. I ran, walked one mile at first, and worked up to three. I entered and finished in just under an hour. I know that is a snail’s pace, but for me it was the Olympics! (see the happy pic of me at the top of this post!)

My goals have been to get healthy, get off all medication, be 120 pounds, and have more energy, at one to two pounds a week loss rate.

I am currently 155 pounds, having lost 60 pounds to date. I have 35 more pounds to go.  Upon returning back to my doctor in June, ALL my numbers were normal! He took me off all medications!! He asked how I did it, and if I did anything crazy. I answered yes; I got up and started running and eating healthy and haven’t stopped! We laughed. He said he would share my success with Spark People with his other patients who needed to get healthy, but were not motivated. I am currently training for my first 10k in December 2012!

If I could offer any advice to someone just starting on this healthy, weight loss journey it would be this…

1.  Get a support system. Either a friend or loved one, or an online group or site.  Someone to share the ups and downs, the triumphs and failures with. Someone who will encourage you. It has been invaluable to me.

2.  Set small goals. For example, I will drink 8 glasses of water every day this week. It feels good to accomplish small goals.

3. Read as much as you can about nutrition and healthy weight loss. I have learned so much and continue to learn every day.

4. Move your body! It doesn’t matter where you start, just start. Walking is a great way to get moving without buying any equipment or needing a gym.

5. Track EVERYTHING you eat and drink. It is important to see where you are calorie and nutrition wise. Also calorie cycling has worked for me too. Eating at the top of your calorie range a day or two a week and on the low end the rest of the week. It helps to shock your body when you hit a plateau. And you will. Hang in there.

6. Last, Positive affirmations daily. I have always had an inner voice that said you’re fat; you can’t do this.  I now tell myself YOU GOT THIS! And I DO! :)  So do you.

Here are the books and web sites that really helped me, and continue to inspire me.  Also, follow how to lose 100 pounds on Facebook, it is a great support group there!

• How to Lose 100 Pounds (series) by Paula  Seymour
• The Spark by Chris Downing
• Body for Life by Bill Phillips
• The Skinny Rules by Bob Harper
• Weight Watchers Start Living, Start Losing by Weight Watchers
• Weight Loss Boss by David Kirchhoff
• I Got This! by Jennifer Hudson
• Low Carb Revolution by John McLean
• Winning By Losing by Jillian Michaels
• Running Sucks by Jennifer Jolan

You can find me on SparkPeople.com.  My screen name is Trakahn – friend me and read my story and pictures and you can follow along with my journey! I would love to support you on your journey, and I could always use all the support I can get too! 😉

Teresa

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A note from Paula…

A BIG thank you to Teresa for taking the time to share her journey with us all.

One big, somewhat unexpected benefit to running the Facebook page is the amazing connection you can develop with people that you only really know virtually (until we all get together for a nice big meet-up!). I definitely am delighted to call Teresa (and many of you) a friend and I’m honored that she would take the time to help me with this project. I know that she also has a heart to reach and connect with others who are on a similar journey.

I also thank Teresa for the kind words and enthusiasm about the Facebook page and my book series. The support you all give me with my own journey and also in getting the word out about my book series means more to me than what I could put into words.

My hope is that you would comment below with words of encouragement for Teresa and also share a bit of your own “story” with us all.

Much love,

~ Paula

P.S. Please join us at the Facebook page – I’d love to “meet” you! 🙂