Brownwood, Texas

Member Since June 2008

My Story
In May, 2008, I made the decision I needed to "Change Stations Now" in my life. By my calculation, I was 100 pounds overweight, was 55 years old and would turn 56 in August. I'd weighed 98 pounds when I graduated high school in 1970, and weighed 110 when I got pregnant with my first son in 1978. I weighed 227 pounds on May 24, the day I walked into "Curves" and started my journey.

The decision didn't come easily. Food had become my comfort and most accessible companion. Funny thing is, I didn't know how out of shape I was, or even " get this " how bad I felt or how much of life's truly delicious adventures I was missing.

Several things triggered my decision. First, alumni from my high school had set up a Website, and I was embarrassed that people who knew me when could see what I had become. Secondly, my middle son announced he would be getting married in May, 2008, (The wedding's since been postponed until June, 2009). And finally, a college friend told me about her sister-in-law who had lost 175 pounds. "How?" I asked. "Portion control and exercise," Kate told me.

So my adventure began. I made a list of things I did not want to do including drinking yuk diet shakes, going to meetings, starving, failing in my attempt, and giving up food that I thought I loved (but realize now I was addicted to) like ice cream. Then I made a list of what I wanted. I wanted to be healthy, and I wanted to be thin.

And I took the first step. Since with my work, I frequently have to eat out, or at banquets, or on the run, I studied the calorie and fat contents of the restaurants I frequented. I studied what foods were the most healthy and nutritious, and most importantly, at first, I simply cut down on portions size. A year later, I use real butter, not margarine, but less than a tablespoon a day. If I want to sweeten something (and I almost never do) I use real sugar. I already had the good habit of drinking two quarts of water a day.

One day, that first week or so, I had to attend a celebration party where they were serving the requisite grocery story bakery cake with piles of icing. I was offered a piece, and I thought, "You know what? I don't even like that cake. If I'm going to waste calories, I'm going to waste them on something I like." Wow! How empowered I felt. I loved all the wonderful things I was discovering.

I became committed to my decision. I got up each morning and walked two miles. I went to Curves five days a week, and I was eating almost too sensibly until our Curves manager, Melissa Million, told me I needed to eat at least 1200 calories a day. That was a gift. On June 24, 2008, when I had my first weigh and measure, I'd lost 10 pounds and 11 inches.

I was pumped!

Oh, but I should say this. One morning, about two weeks into my "change stations now," I was washing my face before setting out on my morning walk and I looked in the bathroom mirror. I was amazed at how clear and fresh my complexion had become.

OK, as I said, I was pumped. Two days after the first weigh and measure, I only had time to walk a mile in the morning. So, that evening, about 9:30, I decided to go to the local park and walk my second mile. I chose the park instead of the track at the high school where I had been walking because the park was lit. But they were working on the track. I stepped off about a 3-inch drop where the black top went to cinder, turned my ankle under me, and broke both bones in my lower right leg at the ankle.

I was taken by ambulance to the hospital and the next day I had surgery. Two screws and a metal plate were used to repair the break. For the next three months, I was confined to a wheel chair.

I had a friend call Melissa at Curves, and she was one of the first to call me in the hospital. "Everything's ruined," I cried. "No," she said, "It's not. We'll get you back. You'll get through this."

I continued to eat my sensible diet and actually lost 17 pounds the three months I could not exercise. And on Sept. 24, with my foot in a cloth brace, and a doctor's permission in my hand, went back into Curves.

Needless to say, of course, I haven't lost 100 pounds. Now, I think (and my doctor agrees) 100 pounds will be too much. I think that if I lose another 25 or 30, I'll be at my ideal weight. I had plateaued at 50 pounds and 50 inches until the first of the month, when I decided I needed to begin my 2 mile walks again. I'm still afraid to go to the park, but I'm walking in the mall, where our Curves is located and have lost another 5 pounds (even though it's not time for my official weigh and measure.

At the beginning of my journey, I considered so many things in my life. I was a fairly recent empty nester. My youngest, who was 20 at the time, is a Marine and was about to deploy to Iraq " I couldn't control that. I found comfort in what I could control " and that was what I ate and how I stayed active. I missed nurturing my sons, so I decided to nurture myself.

I cannot say enough about the support and caring I've had from my newfound friends at Curves. I love the convenience of making the workout time fit my reaction-based schedule. I try to work out a minimum of four times a week. I like me again. I like to see me in the mirror.

I've gone from a size 26-28 shirt to an 18, and sometimes a 16 " in certain brands. I've gone from a size 22 pants to a 14 and the pants I'm wearing as I write this are 12s and baggy. I have more energy. I can kneel at the altar at church " something I hadn't been able to do for 15 years. I can crawl under the bed and get the dog, much to his dismay.

When I went back to my bone doctor for the year-after check up on my ankle he greeted me with, "If you feel half as good as you look, you must be doing great."

And I am.

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