My Journey…

Although I am a dietitian, I have had my own struggles with weight.  After graduating college, I needed to complete a six month dietetic internship.  Depending on the location, I might spend anywhere from a few days to weeks at a different place.  This was one of the first road blocks that I encountered.  Since I didn’t have a regular schedule, I was not able to plan workouts, dinners, etc.  Also, I wasn’t always packing lunches and eating at the hospitals from time to time. I was stressed out and the last thing I was thinking about was myself and what was going in my mouth. 

This picture of me was taken in 2008.  As you can see, I even had dessert in my hand, clearly not concerned about watching what I was eating.  Now, this picture is not something I am proud of, but it just shows that we all have our struggles.  Even though I love healthy eating, I am also only human.

So you might ask, how did I get back on track.  I kept on this unhealthy journey, unfortunately, until I passed my exam to be a Registered Dietitian.  I started working full time in February 2008 and it was then that I slowly got back into a routine.  I give a lot of credit to my coworkers.  They encouraged me to join a gym that they belonged to.  I joined them for workouts at the gym during my lunch hour a couple days a week.  We also held a “biggest loser” weight loss challenge at my work which also helped to motivate me.  We weighed in weekly, which helped to keep me on track.  Part of me was afraid to step on the scale for the first time, knowing that I had gained a lot.  At the end of the challenge, I had lost about ten pounds.  I started packing healthy lunches and cooking at home more often.

Today, I have gotten back to what I use to weigh, losing approximately 15 pounds.  I have a set workout schedule which usually includes 4 days..2 days of weights (sculpt and body pump), and 2 days cardio (jump rope and sculpt).  I would love to be able to do more exercise but with working ten hour days, it can be difficult.

Losing weight can be a difficult process, but I know from experience that it is not impossible.  

Here is a recent picture of me in 2009…

Keys to my weight loss success…

• Work out with a buddy.  I will try to work out with friends as much as I can. It keeps you held accountable for the workouts and makes it much more fun.
• Have a workout schedule. I tell this to my patients all the time. If you make your workouts just as important as you would an appointment, you will be more likely to keep it and not skip out on it.
• Try to remove any junk food out of the house.  I always say, if it is there, you will eat it.  It is much easier to resist if the junk food (candy, cookies, sodas, etc.) are not there to tempt you.
• Try to surround yourself with positive people.  It is easy to get back into unhealthy habits if the people around you are eating unhealthy. I only have so much will power. 
• Indulge in moderation.  You might notice that I do have my fair share of treats, Starbucks is one of them.  I indulge on occasion but try to make it a bit healthier.  With Starbucks, for example, I choose the tall and no whip.  It does make it easier to splurge on occasion because you don’t feel as deprived.

I am happy to share my story because if it helps at least one person, I know it was worth sharing.  Being a dietitian, I am always happy to answer any of your questions. 

Have a good Sunday! 

Do you have any goals/tips that have helped you along the way?