Country: Jackson, USA
Age: 33
Weight before diet: 247
Weight now: 216
Target weight: 165

"Dieting is not for the weak," is Donna's declaration. Here, she gives some advice on the importance of having the right mindset when going on a weight loss diet -- any diet. Donna herself follows the Cambridge Diet, a dieting plan that has her full commitment.

-What finally made you decide to start with a weight loss program?
I decided I was tired of watching life pass me by. There were so many things that I have been missing out on. I didn't have the energy to play with my kids, and just ENJOY myself. I have always had trouble managing my weight, but I haven't always been fat. Before my pregnancy I never weighed more than 175. When I got pregnant the first time, my weight climbed to an all-time high of 257. Then after my daughter was born I fought to get back to my previous weight of 160, and it just seemed like NOTHING would work. I got down to 226, and that was IT. It seemed that the harder I fought to lose, the more I seemed to gain. It was an endless cycle, trying to lose, not seeing results fast enough, getting discouraged again, and gaining more weight.

-What type of weight loss program are you following?
I am now doing the Cambridge Diet. It is the only diet I will ever be on.

-Why did you choose this weight loss program?
I chose this diet because I tend to get discouraged if I don't see immediate results, and I didn't have a lot of money to spend. I was so desperate to lose weight, I was checking into having gastric bypass surgery. My insurance would not cover the cost of surgery, and to be honest, I was afraid to risk my life to lose weight. I thought, if I could just lose weight QUICK, then I think I could stay motivated long enough to see it through. Other diets were so slow, I just gave up.

Then one day while looking into the Optifast program, I found Cambridge. Cambridge was the EXACT same thing, but I could actually AFFORD it. I was ecstatic!

-How long have you been on your weight loss program?
I have been on Cambridge for about 2 months all together.

-What kinds of physical activities do you like doing to help you lose weight and stay fit?
I have a Gazelle, and I enjoy using it to burn calories, and it really is enjoyable, not strenuous at all. My family does a lot of camping, so I enjoy walks in the woods, and swimming too.

-What were the most difficult obstacles you had to overcome or are still overcoming?
The hardest thing to overcome is the "mental" side of dieting. I honestly believe that dieting is 90% mental and 10% physical. I had told myself for so long that I couldn't lose weight. I honestly felt like it was a hopeless quest. It's something you have to overcome daily. In the beginning there is the "honeymoon phase" with ANY diet. You are excited about starting something that is going to change you, but after a month or even a few weeks, you get bored, and the honeymoon is OVER. That is where a lot of people fall by the wayside.

I've done it a hundred times. You just have to push onward, and don't lose that image in your mind of how you want to see yourself, and don't get distracted at any cost. The days are going to pass one way or another. It's better to use them wisely, and weigh 100 pounds less next year, than to find out a year from now that you have gained 30 pounds!

-How do you keep yourself motivated?
My motivation comes from my daily weigh-ins. On Cambridge, I almost always see a loss. That is a wonderful feeling. I honestly can't WAIT to hop out of bed, and hop onto the scales. I know that with each day, and each ounce that passes, I'm getting one step closer to my goal.

-Do you have any weight loss tips for our readers?
No matter what diet you decide to use, you have to do it wholeheartedly. Dieting is not for the weak. It is one of the hardest things on earth to do, BUT it can be done. Get yourself mentally focused, use positive self talk. Tell yourself DAILY that you CAN, and WILL achieve your goals, and then follow through with your actions!

-Do you think it will be easy to fall back into your old lifestyle pattern?
If you don't make it a lifetime commitment, of course you will fall back into old habits, but if you LOVE the new you, you're going to want to KEEP yourself that way.

How do you prevent this from happening? I call it the "4 pound rule." When I decide to go off Cambridge, I make sure that I still weigh EVERYDAY. If I see my weight has crept up 4 pounds, I immediately get back on Cambridge for a couple of days. That takes the weight right back off. Then I can enjoy myself again, and eat what I want, but if I see those 4 pounds come back...back to Cambridge for a day or two. It works! I will use this routine the rest of my life. It's hard work to lose weight, and I don't ever want to be faced with a challenge this big again, so I will always make sure I abide by that 4 pound rule!

-Do you have a favorite Web site or blog that helps or inspires you to lose weight?

My CambridgeLife
This guy gave me TONS of inspiration. He lost 100 pounds in 100 days! When you think of it like that...WOW! 100 days is NOTHING to actually BE the weight you want to be?

CambridgeDiet.org
Also, Pam Turner has been a GREAT help to me. She lost 125 pounds on Cambridge, and has maintained it for many years now.

And here's mine: Losing Weight, Feeling Great, and Taking Control of My Life! My own website inspires me to keep going, because I feel accountable. It also motivates me SO much when others say I have said something on my blog that has helped them in some way! When you get serious about losing weight, I encourage you to start one of your own. It really helps when you can see it in writing!