Grandma Lost 168 Lbs to Get Fit for Her Family
Posted on Nov 4th 2009 1:00PM by Deborah DunhamFiled Under: Diet & Weight Loss
Lynn Haraldson-Bering once weighed a whopping 296 pounds. While she always felt like the same person inside, after years of yo-yo weight gain, she admits her body became unrecognizable. "I allowed my weight to dictate how I lived my life," she said on The Today Show.
She confessed to missing out on years of family events as she grew heavier and more ashamed of her appearance. "My daughters were in high school and I avoided many of their band concerts and games. I stopped visiting my family in other parts of the country because I didn't want them to see me so heavy." Her weight also affected her career. "I quit my job as a writer for our local newspaper because I'd grown so uncomfortable with the constant public interaction."
Click on the video below to watch Lynn share her weight loss journey. Story continues below.
Lynn's first step was to take responsibility for eating too much. She joined Weight Watchers, learned how to control her portions, journaled every day and eventually began exercising. The result: She now weighs 128 pounds and wears a svelte size 6 -- a change so drastic that neighbors often fail to recognize her in the supermarket.
Not only has Lynn earned herself a spot as the newest member of the Joy Fit Club, she earned her way back into life. Lynn is now active with her family and friends, writing again and enjoying her two grandchildren. "I am so grateful I made that choice to take back my body and become as healthy as I could. I missed out on so much of life when I was morbidly obese, but I'm making up for it now as a healthy, 46-year-old grandmother."
If you need help losing weight, a nutritionist may be able to help. Enter to win a free one-hour nutrition consultation with Keri Glassman, author of "The Snack Factor Diet."
She confessed to missing out on years of family events as she grew heavier and more ashamed of her appearance. "My daughters were in high school and I avoided many of their band concerts and games. I stopped visiting my family in other parts of the country because I didn't want them to see me so heavy." Her weight also affected her career. "I quit my job as a writer for our local newspaper because I'd grown so uncomfortable with the constant public interaction."
Click on the video below to watch Lynn share her weight loss journey. Story continues below.
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Lynn finally realized it wasn't the public she was running away from though. "It was me." Fed up with the unhealthy lifestyle, medical issues, depression and social isolation, Lynn decided she needed to take control. She realized, "I wasn't being honest with myself about how my weight was affecting my life."
Lynn's first step was to take responsibility for eating too much. She joined Weight Watchers, learned how to control her portions, journaled every day and eventually began exercising. The result: She now weighs 128 pounds and wears a svelte size 6 -- a change so drastic that neighbors often fail to recognize her in the supermarket.
Not only has Lynn earned herself a spot as the newest member of the Joy Fit Club, she earned her way back into life. Lynn is now active with her family and friends, writing again and enjoying her two grandchildren. "I am so grateful I made that choice to take back my body and become as healthy as I could. I missed out on so much of life when I was morbidly obese, but I'm making up for it now as a healthy, 46-year-old grandmother."
If you need help losing weight, a nutritionist may be able to help. Enter to win a free one-hour nutrition consultation with Keri Glassman, author of "The Snack Factor Diet."
