As a nurse, I was taking care of patients who were as heavy as I was, and I saw them struggling. I have heart disease in my family, so I knew I needed to make changes or I would be headed that way.
I decided to start with exercise. If I didn't, the diet wouldn't matter. I got a treadmill and started walking. I gradually increased my time and was walk- ing about an hour at a time after two months. I stuck with that every day until I had a groin injury in the spring.
I had belonged to a gym for years, but never went and decided it was time to start going to New Lady Fitness. Because of my injury, I switched to swimming. I knew it would burn calories, and I enjoy it a lot. After work, I swam laps for an hour at least five days a week.
Last October, I started making use of the whole gym, including weight machines. Now, I lift weights three times a week and work on cardio machines -- elliptical trainer, treadmill and bicycle. A couple days, I still swim.
Last December, I got a personal trainer. I was bound and determined last Christmas I would not gain any weight back. I needed her to keep me on target. At first, my weight dropped fairly quickly. I lost 3 pounds per week. Now, it's more like a pound or pound and a half per week. I've already lost about 100 pounds. But I still have 50 pounds I would like to lose.
Last year, I also started a low-fat diet. I try to keep my calories from 1,200 to 1,300 a day. I don't restrict foods, but I try to leave food on my plates and only eat half-portions when I go out. I keep a food diary, which helps me keep track of what I eat.
Everybody always says how much better they feel when they lose weight. But it is unbelievable. At first when I came home from work and exercised, it seemed like I was tired. Not anymore.
It also has helped that two other women at work are changing their diets and exercise routines, too. We get together a couple times a week and go on long bike rides on trails in Indianapolis, which is wonderful. We keep each other in line at work, especially when someone brings in birthday cake.
Once I hit my goal weight, I'll keep the same diet. I try to exercise an hour to 90 minutes a day, but I may cut down to an hour a day then. I know I have to keep this up.
