Going on a low-carb lifestyle and working out are major factors in Deb's weight loss success

August 5 2007

-City & country: New Jersey, USA
-Age: 38
-Weight before diet: 210 lbs.
-Weight now: 165 lbs.
-Target weight: 150 lbs.

Deb made the decision a few years back of taking control of her weight and health, and she hasn't looked back since. Controlling her carbohydrate intake and doing Firm workouts have made her look and feel better. Read Deb's story to learn more about her low-carb lifestyle and exercise habits, and gather some weight loss tips as well.

-What finally made you decide to start with a weight loss program?
My defining moment happened on Memorial Day of 2003. I had let my weight skyrocket to 210 lbs. I was at my father's house for a BBQ and while sitting on his deck I saw my reflection in the glass of the patio doors and I didn't even recognize who that person was. From that moment on I decided that I was going to get my life back and take charge of my weight and health. It took me about 4 months to lose 40 lbs and since then I've been struggling to lose the last 20. But I have incorporated exercise into my life (mainly Firm workout DVDs and walking) so  even though I haven't hit my target weight I am much more healthy now than I was in May 2003.

-What type of weight loss program are you following?
I've tried them all and I don't really do one particular diet but I believe in the low-carb or controlled carb way of eating. I try to take what works from the various plans that I've tried (I've tried a lot of them!) and I have found that since hitting my 30's I must monitor my carb intake, especially the 'bad' carbs like bread, sugar, processed foods, pasta, etc.

-Why did you choose this weight loss program?
I have tried all of the popular weight programs (Weight Watchers, Zone, Atkins, etc.) and I think they all have valuable components so I take what works and make my own plan. When I initially lost my weight in 2003 I lost it by counting calories but I've lost additional weight by using low-carb principles.

-How long have you been on your weight loss program?
I started eating low-carb about 1 year ago and I couldn't believe how good I felt and how the weight seemed to come off effortlessly. The biggest challenge is finding meals and recipes that I like and my family will like.

I lost the majority of my weight in 2003 and have maintained a 40-50 lb weight loss for 4 years.

-What kinds of physical activities do you like doing to help you lose weight and stay fit?
I am a big advocate of Firm workouts. They help to keep the boredom at bay and the results are incredible. When the weather is nice I like to incorporate walking. Usually I will take a few months off in the summer from Firm workouts and only focus on walking. My theory with exercise is that it is a habit. Just force yourself to do an activity that doesn't bore you to tears and within a few months of consistently exercising you will not feel right if you don't do it.

With walking I highly recommend getting an iPod or similar. I love mine!

-What were the most difficult obstacles you had to overcome or are still overcoming?
At 38 I have finally realized that monitoring my weight is going to be a lifelong process for me. At my age it seems very easy for weight to creep back on so I must always monitor my weight and my eating habits.

-How do you keep yourself motivated?
The biggest motivator to me is reading other people's blogs and also reading message boards. People out there in blogland have been so incredibly supportive!

I also tend to focus on events to keep me motivated. For example, a vacation, party, etc. I want to look good at the event and after that event I focus on the next upcoming event.

-Do you have any weight loss tips for our readers?
I know there is a lot of debate about how often to weigh yourself but I find I must weigh myself daily or at least a few times a week. If I don't keep an eye on my weight it can creep back on so quickly. For example, we bought a new house in May of this year and I went about a month without weighing myself and I gained 10 lbs! I am now working on getting those lbs off but if I had been aware of my weight I don't think I would have gained back those 10 lbs.

-Do you think it will be easy to fall back into your old lifestyle pattern? How do you prevent this from happening?
It is so easy for me to fall back into bad eating patterns, especially during periods of stress. Summertime is also very difficult for me because we have a lot of social activities going on. The key for me is to just get back on track as soon as possible. I can't allow myself to fall back into old patterns for too long or I will gain weight back.

I always allow myself treats or cheat days. I try to be spot-on during the week and then the weekends I can have more freedom.

-Do you have a favorite Web site or blog that helps or inspires you to lose weight?
I have 2 health blogs
1. http://www.firmthisfanny.com - Firm This Fanny. This is my 'fatblogging' blog. The details of my diet and exercise on a daily basis.
2. http://www.debgiordano.com - Confessions of a Jersey Girl. This blog focuses more on health, body image, intuitive eating, body size acceptance, etc.
3. http://shrinkingladies.wordpress.com - Incredible Shrinking Ladies. This is a great blog with various authors who talk about weight, diet and health.
4. http://www.thefitshack.com - The Fit Shack. This is another great blog with a ton of useful info on health and overall well-being.