Koz learned to incorporate a balanced diet in her lifestyle by following a modified low-carbohydrate weight loss program

December 8 2006

Koz Bartow    

-City & country:  Lakeland, Florida, USA
-Age: 59
-Weight before diet: 166 lbs.
-Weight now: 148 lbs.
-Target weight: 126 lbs.

Changing her eating habits was only one part of Koz’s road to losing weight. In addition to following a modified low-carbohydrate diet, she stays in motion regularly each day as part of her lifestyle change. For her, eating healthy is not only for weight loss, but more for one’s well-being.

-What finally made you decide to start with a weight loss program? 
At my highest weight ever, I was ready to make the commitment to change my eating habits.

-What type of weight loss program are you following? 
High-protein, low-fat, low-carbohydrate with my own personal modifications and experimentation

-Why did you choose this weight loss program? 
I was successful in losing 36 lbs. in 1996 on this program, one developed by physicians many years earlier, and used by many weight loss centers across the country.  I learned a better way of eating, and found, after losing the weight, I could eat anything, but I could choose to eat in the balanced fashion I'd learned with the program.  I maintained a healthy weight for three years, then slowly returned to old eating patterns and re-gained the weight.

-How long have you been on your weight loss program? 
Approximately one month

-What kinds of physical activities do you like doing to help you lose weight and stay fit? 
I have not incorporated regular exercise into my routine.  I am, however, on my feet and in motion most of the day.

-What were the most difficult obstacles you had to overcome or are still overcoming? 
My manner of eating had come to include so many carbohydrates in the high-glycemic index that I was hungry ALL the time, and craved more and more of the same.  I could not break away from my food addictions until I was thoroughly defeated.

-How do you keep yourself motivated? 
I take it one day at a time, and when tempted to eat "off" program, I think about the last time I was sure I was going to stick to my diet, and didn't -- just like the time before that, and the time before that, until six years had passed and I reached my highest weight ever.

-Do you have any weight loss tips for our readers? 
I was the manager of the weight loss clinic where I originally lost weight.  People didn't lose weight for these reasons:  1. they hadn't hit bottom (though they always thought they had); 2. they didn't eat enough food throughout the day to keep their metabolism stimulated (then, they'd binge or eat some diet-ruining food); 3. they didn't have a Plan for eating, or would not follow the Plan once we established it; 4. they refused to drink 8-8 oz. glasses of water daily.  Those who were truly ready to commit, succeeded.  It might have taken awhile to get the hang of following the program, but they trudged on.  Once they saw the dramatic weight loss others experienced getting in all their food AND their 64-oz. of water a day, and cooperated with the Plan, they too were successful.

-Do you think it will be easy to fall back into your old lifestyle pattern?
How do you prevent this from happening? 
The MOST IMPORTANT TIP I have to share: After weight loss, slowly add back all food types, until you thoroughly understand how to eat and keep a stable weight.  No one can be happy on a restricted diet forever, and if you regain the weight you worked so hard to take off, dieting becomes a way of life.  When working with others to lose weight, I emphasize that the REAL GOAL is not to lose weight, but to eat for health and well-being for the rest of our lives. 

-Do you have a favorite Web site or blog that helps or inspires you to lose weight?
I am sharing my experience, strength and hope at http://journals.aol.com/stonesdoor/KoziesKaffeeklatsch.  As a Life and Relationship Coach, I have helped others to become happier, as someone helped me years ago.  I am so glad to have found a solution to this problem and now share it with others as well.