BEFORE OUR TRANSFORMATION
Like everyone, Keith and I always have had a little extra weight we could stand to lose. Keith is an industrial firefighter and an EMT. I work for a healthcare system as a physician recruiter. Being healthy is vital for both of our careers,
Every year after the holidays, I would try to be healthy — maybe doing a low-carb diet, South Beach, etc. I have inherited high blood pressure, high cholesterol and, in recent years, hypothyroidism. None of these programs was sustainable.
OUR GOAL
Noticing some of Keith’s coworkers and their significant others who were losing weight and keeping it off was amazing; (we were) watching these couples add years back to their lives! So, our goal was to lose weight and look as good as some of his coworkers and their wives.
WHAT WE DIDN’T EXPECT
I personally did not expect to have zero hot flashes and sleep so well in the first 30 days. I also did not expect to get such a thorough education on nutrition and what it does to your body.
As we became more educated about nutrition, we realized how many health-related issues are tied to being overweight.
HOW IT WORKED
We tried a structured eating plan under the guidance of a registered dietician, along with a certified lifestyle coach. They provided education in the four key areas:
- What to eat;
- When to eat
- How to eat
- Most critical — the mindset of “why” you eat
Being successful is not about a “diet,” but making a sustainable lifestyle change!
WHAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN THE MOST DIFFICULT PART
We started this program on Feb. 13, 2020. A couple of weeks into the program, COVID-19 hit, which made it easier to change our habits. Restaurants were closing down, and fresh fruit and produce were not flying off the shelves like toilet paper. We got used to planning our meals and packing our lunch every day.
HOW WE FEEL TODAY
We feel great and enjoy food more than ever!