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Dec 2010  |  By Christy Coughlin  |  Comments

Is 2011 Your Year for Weight Loss?

Sandi Goldstein of Kildeer lost 46 pounds in 6 months and has kept it off.

She participated in—and won—a weight loss contest sponsored by Body Empowered Fitness by losing the greatest percentage of body weight among the contestants.

This busy mother of 3 had tried many different weight loss strategies, losing and then gaining the weight back. After completely neglecting her own health during the serious illness of a family member, Sandi hit the bottom.

“This program came at the right time in my life. I was unhappy with myself and lacked confidence in my own skin,” she says.

She was ready to take control of her weight and her health and make a huge lifestyle change. For Sandi, losing weight through diet, exercise and behavior modification was the strategy that worked. She was held accountable by trainers, regular weight checks and a signed contract to workout 4 to 6 times per week. The contest also provided nutrition counseling and assistance in developing an eating plan that worked.

“I avoided so many activities, including water sports, which I love,” says Sandi when talking about her life before the weight loss. This past summer, Sandi enjoyed a party at a friend’s lake house and wore a swimsuit as she played in the water with her kids. Sandi’s goal is to lose another 15 pounds and keep the weight off. Having won a lifetime membership to the gym, she continues to workout 4 or 5 times a week in addition to power walking and biking. Her life has a new “rhythm” which involves exercise and eating well.  

If this is your year to take it off and keep it off, consider the following for successful weight loss:

• Analyze your impediments to success. You know what is holding you back and when the time is right.
• Adopt a plan based on the basics: diet, exercise, and behavior modification. Fad diets lead to quick weight loss but often lack sound nutrition or long-term success.
• Engage your physician as an ally in your plan. He or she can provide regular checkups to monitor your progress and your health. Your doctor can also coordinate with your trainer and nutrition expert.
• Work with a trainer to develop an appropriate exercise program and stay motivated.
• Enlist the help of an expert in nutrition to ensure adequate intake of nutrients and calories.
• Create a written contract with yourself and share it with family and friends. Set out specific short- and long-term goals for healthy weight loss.
• Ask for support from those close to you. Family can make or break your plan.

Sandi’s “after” smile says it all.