Combining FlexPoints and the 3-Hour Diet is part of Hilly's weight loss strategy

-What finally made you decide to start with a weight loss program?
In 2002, I was diagnosed with Psuedotumor Cerebri, which generally affects women in their early 30's who are extremely overweight. After having a spinal tap to relieve some of the pressure in my brain as well as taking spinal diuretics for a year, I decided that weight loss would be the most effective way for me to get rid of this condition. At the time, I was also on blood pressure medication and could not walk to the store without crying from the pain that it caused just to walk one block. I just knew that I was too young to feel this awful about myself and have so many medical problems as well; the emotional side of the reason I started my program is written as the first entry of my blog, and it explains a lot of what I was actually feeling at the time.

-What type of weight loss program are you following?
I actually follow two different programs. For the first year, I was strictly on Weight Watchers and followed the Flex Points program to a tee. Last year, I met Jorge Cruise at my sister's wedding and became very interested in his program. Today I follow the Jorge Cruise principle of "The 3-Hour Diet" by eating small meals every three hours, but I also count Weight Watchers points in order to make sure that I stay within the range of calories and fat that I need to for the day.

-Why did you choose this weight loss program?
My weight loss story in my blog tells the tale of a friend that "accidentally" left her Weight Watchers Week One book at my house, as well as a points slider and book with food points...so I decided that I might as well just try it because it looked simple enough and I was able to eat real foods and incorporate eating out into my diet plan. The reason I added Jorge's program later is because I have read many articles and books regarding slow metabolisms and believed that I hit a plateau and needed a super-boost, so to speak.

-How long have you been on your weight loss program?
Wow, I guess I have been at it for three years now, but I took a year off and maintained my weight while going through some difficult personal issues as well as getting married and moving, etc.

-What kinds of physical activities do you like doing to help you lose weight and stay fit?
As far as cardio goes, I love nothing more than a good old-fashioned walk outdoors but since weather does not always permit that, we bought an elliptical machine last year and I use that for most of my cardio needs; I also like to switch things up and do different videos that include Walk Away The Pounds, TaeBo (as much as one can handle, LOL), Yoga and Budokon.

-What were the most difficult obstacles you had to overcome or are still overcoming?
Social eating and social drinking are and always will be my hardest obstacles. When I got married in 2004, I think that feeling of being accepted overwhelmed me and I felt as if I was not losing weight to please anyone else anymore then had to wake up and figure out that I should not have been losing weight to find a man anyway, but for myself. I got comfortable and continually struggle with the fact that I am comfortable and loved and that I like myself, fat or skinny. Socially speaking, it is very hard to eat out with work friends or go out for drinks when you are trying to stay on a program; sure, they say you can do everything in moderation, but that word is almost foreign to me, even to this day.

-How do you keep yourself motivated?
I have made this home stretch more about being healthy rather than losing weight due to some of the reasons that I mentioned above. I am loved and accepted, so being "the fat girl" doesn't really influence me anymore. Also anyone that knows me pretty much knows that I just don't care if people think I am fat or not...so it has to be about health and that is where I stay motivated. I really want to go on The Amazing Race with my husband and although they may never pick us, it is a goal of mine because it pushes me to become physically fit.

-Do you have any weight loss tips for our readers?
Definitely. Just because you fall off of the horse with one slip up, do not let that be your excuse to keep going down a dark path. So you ate a piece of cake? Get over it, move on and do better tomorrow. Also, weight loss does not happen overnight, so expecting that it will is just setting yourself up to fail. One last thing too....measure measure measure!!! Some days the scale may go up but your waist size has gone down; don't let the scale own you.

-Do you think it will be easy to fall back into your old lifestyle pattern? How do you prevent this from happening?
I've actually gone on what I call "benders" where I've gone back to my old pattern for a week or so and I feel physically sick when I do that. I guess that in the long run, I would rather feel great than have a bunch of food that is empty and is not going to take away any pain or solve any problems. One way not to fall back into patterns is to not deny yourself treats now and then in moderation...that is the key.

-Do you have a favorite Web site or blog that helps or inspires you to lose weight?
If you go to my blog - Snackie's Pudge-Free World and click on any of those sidebar links to weight loss blogs; they are all inspirations in different ways. I am closest with Foo Foo over at pink bunny foo foo, as she and I know each other in real life as well as online, so I feel like she inspires me in a different way...but everyone on that list deserves the same amount of praise and attention.