Name: Wendy Del Signore
Age: 29
Location: Chattanooga, Tennessee
Before: 232 lbs.
After: 163 lbs.
What was the “turning point” that prompted you to lose weight? My son celebrated his second birthday. When I uploaded the pictures of that special day to my computer, I was just devastated! I looked horrible so I hid behind a camera which put me on the sidelines of life with my family. We went on vacation to the beach and I was just plain miserable! I had heartburn so severely that I vomited blood in the bathroom of our hotel. I was scared that I was just killing myself by ignoring the problem. I knew then that this had to stop.
When did you start trying to lose weight? I started my journey in November of 2011.
How did you get started? I started counting calories and keeping a food journal. I would make one healthy change at a time and let it become a habit before introducing something else. It seemed so much more manageable that way!
What was your biggest challenge? Plateaus are definitely my biggest challenge! I would go a month with seeing no loss at all. I would get pretty frustrated because I put in a lot of effort.
Were there any times when you wanted to quit or give up? How did you stay motivated? During the plateaus, I kept looking at my before pictures and realized how far I have come. It made all the difference in the world! It was my biggest motivator! When times were tough, I stayed accountable on my blog, A Daily Dose of Del Signore, and had the biggest outpouring of support! My readers kept me accountable and cheered me on.
If you reached a weight loss plateau, how did you break out of the rut? I started evaluating my diet first. I varied my calories each day so my body didn’t grow accustomed to the same thing. I also switched up my activities. Some days I’d play soccer in the yard with my son and the next day I would be jogging while he rode his bicycle.
What’s your current exercise routine? I attend an hour long Zumba class two days a week. When I can’t make it to a class or do something outdoors, I use my Just Dance for Wii to keep me moving! I try to incorporate physical activities that include my family so we can spend time together. We enjoy taking walks and biking together.
What’s your daily diet look like? I start out with one Fiber One protein bar and greek yogurt for breakfast. That gives me about 10 grams of protein and about 240 calories first thing in the morning. I snack on apples and string cheese during the day. For lunch, I eat a huge salad! I will pile on grilled or baked chicken or turkey, cheese, and a salad dressing of my choice. Some days I’ll add chopped egg or dried cranberries to change things up. For dinner I eat fish, chicken or seafood with two types of vegetables and one serving of whole grains. My diet is mostly clean, unprocessed food and I feel so much more energetic now! If I eat something processed, I feel so run down and moody now!
What’s your favorite healthy snack/meal? I am obsessed with Cuties! I can eat so many of those during the day! I am also in love with the Fiber One Protein bars.
Do you have specific suggestions for avoiding temptations? Drink water! Take your body weight and divide it in half. That is how many ounces of water your body needs each day. One of the first signs of dehydration is a feeling of hunger. If you eat when your body actually needs water, you’re just putting unnecessary calories in. You will feel so much healthier and your body will function better if you hydrate it properly!
What’s your life like after weight loss? My life is simply amazing now! I am no longer living on the sidelines of my life. Instead of watching my little boy grow up, I am actively participating in his life. When you can finally do something as simple as swing next to your child or chase after him in the yard, you become so grateful for the ability to do that! You notice all the little things….when your once too large behind can fit in a seat at the amusement park….when you can wear the latest fashions because you can find them in your new size….when your husband says that you just look so beautiful, but you realize he loved you no matter what size you were. There are just so many things we take for granted each and every day. I have my health back! I said goodbye to the daily heartburn, the constant back issues, and depression medications as I lost weight. I have been given a second chance to live since losing weight and I will cherish each moment now!
If you have any suggestions to others what would they be? There will be times that you won’t see the number on the scale. Take before pictures so you can see how far you’ve come! Also, take measurements because as you replace the lost weight with muscle your inch loss will decrease and may not show when you weigh in.
Source: Everyday Health
0 Comments:
Post a Comment