September 25 2006 

 

Jessica Scott

Country: Madison, Wisconsin, USA
Age: 28
Weight before diet: 280 lbs.
Weight now: 142 lbs.
Target weight: 130 lbs.

For a woman who was so reluctant to lose weight in the first place, Jessica has been succeeding admirably. Counting calories, regular exercise, and some mental/emotional tools seem to be working for her. Taking it slowly and easy has certainly paid off.

-What finally made you decide to start with a weight loss program?
My husband had brought up the topic of me getting healthy before, but I would always fly off the handle. I'd cry and say that he didn't love me the way I was, and argue that I am FAT and you should love me as I am! I felt personally attacked because I believed that being Fat and being Me were the SAME THING. For him to suggest that I should try to lose weight was a heartbreaking slap in the face! I asked him, "Why did you marry me if you don't love me the way I am?" He assured me that he loved me and that he could not live with anyone else. Then he asked me, "If you lost your finger are you still you?"

I said, "Yes."

"And I would still love you just as much. What if you lost your whole hand, would you still be you?" Again I agreed that I would still be me. He then asked, "If you lost some weight would you still be you?" Here I wavered. I was a Fat Girl!!! Fat was ME! I got mad and argued, "But I am FAT. That is WHO I AM!!!"

But I knew that wasn't true anymore, and my paradigm suddenly shifted! I was finally able to see that being me and being Fat were NOT the same, and I knew it was true! As soon as I accepted that thought I knew that I would be able to get healthy and lose weight, and I have!!!

-What type of weight loss program are you following?
I just try to eat healthy, count my calories, and exercise every other day.

-Why did you choose this weight loss method?
No gimmicks. I'm not really on a "program." I just eat right and exercise. I don't have to avoid certain foods. I just do my best to do what I know is healthy. It's nice not having to avoid cake at birthdays or weddings. I just try to live a healthy, normal life. By living healthy, eventually I became healthy!

-How long have you been on your weight loss program?
I started losing weight August 2002. I've been living healthy for over 4 years now. "Slow and steady wins the race." I am living proof of the success of the tortoise over the hare.

-What kinds of physical activities do you like doing to help you lose weight and stay fit?
My physical activities are pretty varied. I like to do yoga. I have a stationary bike. When the weather is nice, I like to take walks at lunch. My husband and I take 2 Tai Chi classes in a row on Saturday mornings, and we also joined the Madison Curling Club. I play kickball with co-workers in the summer. I also have a set of free weights so I can get stronger and toned!

-What were the most difficult obstacles you had to overcome or are still overcoming?
Emotional Eating. When I am stressed or it's "that time of the month" I run to the comforting arms of CHOCOLATE. Tai Chi, yoga and hypnosis/meditation really help lower my stress. And I just accept that after my period I'll need to ride the bike a bit more. ;)

-How do you keep yourself motivated?
I keep myself motivated with bribery! I set small goals with big rewards to keep me on track. For example, if I exercise every other day for the next 14 days, I will get "X." "X" is always something I really want, and "X" is never food. My desire to get "X" really motivates me. This method is also great for my budget since I only buy "fun stuff" when I earn it.

-Do you have any weight loss tips for our readers?
I have a huge list of tips on my website, but the most important weight loss tip I can think of is: Drink lots of water. Water fills you up and flushes the bad stuff out. It also keeps you running at top speed. I honestly drink over a gallon of water each day.

-Do you think it will be easy to fall back into your old lifestyle pattern? How do you prevent this from happening?
I have been building my healthy habits over 4 years now, so I feel pretty confident that I'll stay healthy and keep the weight off. I can't imagine going back to my old lifestyle where I'd eat an entire pizza all by myself, then have ice cream! *SHUDDER* That's just not who I am anymore. I've changed my whole life for the better and I'm going to continue to stay healthy.

-Do you have a favorite Web site or blog that helps or inspires you to lose weight?
I have a weight loss website, with before pictures, current pictures, weight loss tips and a blog I update regularly at: Jessica's Weight Loss Blog.

I love to use the site NutritionData to find the calories in foods I eat.

I also like to read the fitness and diet articles at WebMD and MSN Health & Fitness.

I've also enjoyed the weight loss tools found at caloriesperhour.com.