Jackie’s Journey: Starting a healthier lifestyle

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JACK AND JILL – The one month weigh in.

EDITOR’S NOTE: This is second in a series of Jackie’s journey and her effort to live a healthier lifestyle.

Last we met; I had decided I needed to begin the process of eating healthier, exercising and getting back to the life I’ve missed before gaining weight.

With the help of Dr. Jill Gabrielsen at the Healthy for Life Wellness Center in Norway … I am finally on my way. I still have a long journey ahead, but I’ve taken the first step.

I left my first visit with Jill, motivated, inspired and eager to begin my journey.

She even sent me out the door with homework!

“Jackie’s homework included: eating meals with the TV turned off,” smiled Jill. “Others were: drinking more water; not skipping breakfast; exercising; and writing down all intake, calories and activities.”

Why did I feel different leaving her office than any other weight loss plan?

The answer is simple. Instead of hearing a spiel as to how I would melt away on a specific diet, I heard common sense and reasoning as to why changing my lifestyle with simple modifications is key to long-term weight loss.

The first step I had to take was the hardest, and that was to run, not walk from the latest diet fat.

Jill explained to me that when we are dieting we are not eating the way we will be eating for the rest of our life.

“We may not like the food; we may not find it satisfying, but if we are determined, we will stick to it for a short period of time,” explained Jill. “Then we give up and return to our old practice of poor food choices, portions that are too large, mindless eating and lack of exercise.”

The worst part about diets is the promise that you will lose the weight quickly. And who doesn’t want a quick fix?

It was so totally foreign to me to hear the words: stop dieting. How am I supposed to lose weight without a diet? My first reaction was that if I’m not starving and dieting, I’m eating and gaining; This isn’t going to work, I’m going to gain weight!

Then the realization set in; the biggest hurdle in my losing weight was me. Me and my mindset – I had been sabotaging my losing weight by wanting to lose quickly and falling for the “Be 20 pounds thinner in two weeks!” magazine articles.

I have finally woken up to the fact that diets don’t work. Over the last five years, I’ve gained 30 pounds with numerous diets. I needed to change my thoughts to: In six months, making small changes to my daily intake, I can lose 26 pounds.

I immediately headed to the grocery store. And at that point I knew it was Advantage Jackie; I love to cook!

I bought lean meats and loads of vegetables and turned my cooking skills into a challenge to make low-fat, high fiber meals.

I’m getting an A+ so far.

“Jackie has done great, because she has changed her lifestyle – the way she eats and exercises,” said Jill. “Unlike a diet, it’s a change that she can live with, enjoy and continue for the rest of her life.”

Another huge advantage I have is having the support of Jill. It’s like having a diet buddy – and with her spending time with me, supporting and encouraging me, it gives me incentive to not just make me proud, but her as well.

In the four weeks, I have lost 10 pounds and can feel and see the difference. Now I look at high-fat meals or high-calorie desserts and think: that doesn’t taste half as good as how I’m starting to feel.

I can now say that I have officially stopped dieting and enjoy the food I eat. I fill myself with the good foods and still treat myself to an occasional small-portioned dessert.

And the best part? I do it guilt free!