Name: Sandra
Age: 49
Family Status: Single
Location: Gainesboro, Tennessee
Height: 4’6″
Starting Weight: 207 pounds
Current Weight: 95 pounds
Current Waist Size: 34″
Sandra’s Weight Loss Interview!
How much did you lose?
I lost 112 pounds! I am disabled and in a wheelchair so I couldn’t be weighed on a scale due to this. I ended up being weighed in a hospital bed so I’m not exactly sure what my starting weight really was, but my doctor and I estimated that I weighed around 207 pounds.
When did you become unhappy with your weight?
I was always heavy as a child. I knew I was overweight when I became a teenager and people started talking about me being fat and they also stared at me.
What made you decide to lose weight?
My health declined and I couldn’t do simple things like getting dressed without being out of breath. My doctor just straight out told me that if I didn’t lose the excess weight I was going to become bed ridden or end up in a nursing home. That is something I did not want to have happen.
What were the most important changes you made to lose weight?
I had to change what I ate and how I eat. I needed to see a psychiatrist because I had to find out why I liked food better than I liked myself.
What was the most challenging thing you had to deal with during your weight loss journey?
Being tempted by all of the high calorie foods like cookies, donuts and other unhealthy foods that seem to be available everywhere.
How long did it take you to start to see results?
I saw results in a few weeks. My clothes felt looser and I could move around better without being out of breath. People started noticing me in a positive way and giving me compliments instead of looking the other way and saying things like, “she would be pretty if she would just lose some weight.”
How long did it take for you to reach your current weight?
I heard about a Weight Watchers center in my town and I went there, but ended up doing everything at home. I just followed the system and bought their meals and books. It took three years to get to my goal weight. I basically had to learn how to eat all over again.
Did you have any issues with loose skin after losing the weight? If so, how did you deal with it?
Yes, after I reached my goal weight I had to have the loose skin surgically removed.
How long have you maintained your weight loss and what are the most important factors for keeping it off?
I have been able to maintain very close to my goal weight for over 20 years!
What keeps you motivated to continue your weight loss success?
I can take care of myself now! I can get in and out of my wheelchair by myself which I couldn’t do before. That is the reason I am able to live alone and not in a nursing home.
How has your life changed now that you have lost weight?
I can go places alone and not be out of breath. When I was heavier, I would need someone to push my wheelchair for me. Now I am able to do that myself! I have also been able to travel alone and I’ve been to California and London!
Do you have any advice for others who are trying to lose weight?
Yes, the key is to never give up because the weight does not come off fast, it comes off slowly. It’s important to be patient because it will eventually happen.
How did ShapeFit help you reach your weight loss goals?
ShapeFit.com taught me about the right foods to eat.
Sandra’s Weight Loss Tips!
Weight Loss Tip #1:
When you feel full, stop eating! You don’t have to clean your plate like we used to hear our parents tell us when we were children.
Weight Loss Tip #2:
Eat slowly! If you eat too fast you won’t feel satisfied and you are more likely to overeat.
Weight Loss Tip #3:
Wait at least 10 minutes before you get a second helping because it takes your brain that long to realize that we have eaten.
Weight Loss Tip #4:
Don’t let someone talk you into eating if you don’t want to.
Weight Loss Tip #5:
Don’t eat just because someone else is and you are afraid it would be rude if you don’t eat something as well.
Sandra’s Weight Loss Eating Plan!
What do you normally eat for breakfast?
I love oatmeal in the morning.
What do you normally eat for lunch?
Chicken or beef entrée dinner such as Hormel Compleats.
What do you normally eat for dinner?
Half of a sandwich or a Weight Watchers meal.
What do you normally eat for snacks?
Weight Watchers snack bars. I really like the peanut butter bars.
What type of nutritional supplements do you take?
I take multivitamins.
Sandra’s Weight Loss Workouts!
What do you do for weight training?
I like lifting weights!
What do you do for cardio training?
I like to roll around outside in my wheelchair if the weather is good.
2 Comments
This is a very inspiring story for me. I was disabled 6 years ago and have gained 40 pounds. I used to be a long distance runner and a model. Now I am so depressed! I don’t eat as much as I used to, so I dropped 15 pounds but it’s still not enough. I have hit a plateau and need help. I eat super healthy and have started a 500 or less calorie diet this week which I will follow for the next 21 days.
Hi Catherine – Such a low calorie diet is definitely not recommended. You might lose some weight but it will most likely come from lean muscle tissue. Eating only 500 calories a day is basically starving and you should really re-think your game plan. What happens after the 21 days? You will most likely be so hungry that you will rebound and gain even more weight. It takes time to lose the weight so be patient. Eat enough calories per day (at least 1,200) and include weight training and cardio into your routine, if possible.