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Cammy Quit Yo-Yo Dieting and Lost 100 Pounds
Posted on Aug 5th 2010 2:00PM by Martha EdwardsFiled Under: Motivation, Success Stories
Cammy Before
Name: Cammy C.
Age: 51
Start Weight: 250 pounds
Current Weight: 147 to 153 pounds, depending on the day
Goal Weight: 150 pounds
My Weight Loss Approach: After spending most of my adult life yo-yo dieting, I finally figured out that dieting wasn't working for me, or, more specifically, "other people's diets" weren't working. They always seemed to require foods I didn't eat, or were too restrictive in what was allowed. I like a lot of healthy foods, but these diets never seemed to use those foods in ways I could sustain -- man may not live by bread alone, but this gal doesn't live without it! Inevitably I would veer from the prescribed path and go back to my normal, unhealthy habits.
Another problem I had with "other people's diets" was that they focused on scale results. That was fine as long as the scale cooperated, but that beast is fickle. I could do everything right and not lose an ounce (or worse yet, I could gain!), or I could go off the plan and the scale would show a loss. It made no sense, and it was both frustrating and demoralizing. I'm sure scale drama (or is that trauma?) contributed to more than one failed weight loss attempt.
In 2007, a friend who's fit, but not thin, inspired me to try something completely different, to actually take the focus off losing weight and make the effort more about health and fitness. Sure, I wanted to drop some pounds, but I didn't put any pressure on myself to lose a certain number. I knew that if I could change my habits so that I ate healthy, nutritious foods most of the time and exercised regularly, the pounds would follow.
My first change was to stop looking at all foods as "good" or "bad" and start choosing them simply for their nutritional components. Instead of checking a list to see what was required or forbidden, I used SparkPeople to record my meals and snacks. Through its free online resources, I learned how to use the healthy foods I liked to meet my nutritional goals, while still allowing a smattering of my more indulgent favorites.
Knowing myself as well as I do, I built in splurges -- my term for "cheating," a word I don't like -- such as a weekly splurge on a burger or a slice of pizza, as long as it fit within my calorie count for the day. I also allowed myself a monthly splurge meal (not a full day, just one meal.) The only rule was that I had to otherwise be eating healthy foods.
While I was working on changing my eating habits, I started walking regularly and doing some basic yoga poses. As my endurance increased, I knew I needed to add some new forms of exercise. The thought of going to a gym and learning with an audience made me slightly nauseated, so I first went to a personal training studio and worked with a trainer in private.
What a difference! Working out with weights, in addition to cardio-type exercises, resulted in amazing changes to my body, both in strength and shape. Even when the scale wouldn't budge, I was still dropping sizes. Now I'm my own trainer (which has to be amusing to watch), and I exercise consistently five to six days per week. I love it, and I miss it when life gets in the way.
I approached all the changes I made slowly to avoid feeling overwhelmed by trying to change everything at once. I didn't worry about doing everything "perfectly" but focused on doing as many things right as I could. I found this shift in thinking to be energizing and liberating. It was actually fun to seek out new changes and challenges for myself. Some were serious, some were silly, but they all helped me maintain my enthusiasm and build my momentum.
The really amazing thing about the whole process was that in giving up the notion of a specific weight or a single-digit size and focusing instead on changing to a healthier, sustainable way of living, I actually achieved a weight I never thought I'd see again. I'm not sure what to make of this little twist, but I like writer Martha Beck's take on it: "We manifest only what we surrender." Life, especially a healthier one, is so much fun!
Cammy Now
The Best Part of Blogging Is: Hands down, the most rewarding aspect to blogging is the friendships that have developed along the way. Some folks I've met in person, others I'll meet someday, and still others will likely be people I know online only, but I consider them all friends and treasure their place in my life. What's even more wonderful is that new people are always popping in to share their stories, triumphs and struggles, and it's just so much fun getting to know them and cheer them on.
Best Comment I've Received: Oh, I couldn't single out one comment. Supportive comments are always valuable, but nothing thrills me more than to receive a comment that the reader achieved some sort of enlightenment or encouragement from me or my blog. It makes every minute spent writing or commenting worthwhile!
What's Next for My Blog: I've joked about having a goal of becoming the oldest living blogger. For all I know, I already am! My plans are to continue sharing my story and to continue to serve as proof positive that significant weight loss is possible, even for us middle-agers -- and that the process can actually be fun! Who knows what I'll get up to next? I'm always on the lookout for new changes!
It took Cammy a year and a half to lose 100 pounds, and she's maintained it for the same amount of time. Cheer her on as she maintains her healthy habits and tries new things, like her first official yoga class.
Getting fit after 40 sounds daunting, but it is possible -- here's how one woman, like Cammy, refused to let middle age slow her down.
