Lisa lost 100 pounds

Weight Loss Transformation of the Day: Lisa lost 100 pounds.  This proud mom started at over 300 pounds and has changed her eating habits to battle emotional eating and improve her health significantly.  Not only has her life changed, but she was also a positive, motivating influence on her family.  Here is what she shared with us…

Hi, I’m Lisa Cole. In 2012, after being tired of being sick as well as life kicking me in the behind, I decided to live a healthy lifestyle.  I wanted a lifestyle that was not just physically healthy, but also mentally, emotionally and spiritually healthy. At 45 years old, it was time to make sure that I was still here for my kids in 10 years, especially since my own mom passed at 45.

Weighing in at 318 lbs, I began watching what I allowed in my body, in my space, and my life. Although years before I feed my emotions with drugs, my addiction to food and feeding emotions had to change. So, the healing began with giving it all to God. It has been a long journey.

I changed my eating habits by cutting out fast foods the first month. No sugar, sodas, fried foods. I increased water to 1-2 gallons a day. During my first 2 months I ate 1 cup of any green veggies, 1/2-1 cup of rice and baked or grilled chicken or fish the size of a deck of cards. I had 3 meals a day and all the fruit, yogurt, cottage cheese I wanted. After 1 month I allowed myself one cheat day a week. I found by two months I could no longer eat anything bad because I would get physically sick. I prep my meals in advance for the week. I grabbed one when I left house in order to resist buying fast foods. I also find that pre-making meals keeps you from going in starvation mode because you just toss them in microwave. With processed foods out and lots of fresh veggies and fruit, I realized my grocery bill cut was in half by preparing fresh foods. Try price comparing and find sales in stores. When eating out, I ask for to go box with half the meal and I eat the other half. My trick now is eating from a bowl or plate the size of my hand span. If the food portion doesn’t fit, I can’t have it.

I had medical issues, including arthritis and chronic back painso I couldn’t workout but I would park the car far from my destinations and get some walking in when my body permitted. When I started in 2012, I was on 20 different medications and today I am on 3 meds. Making me first and learning my health comes first helps me get through stress. I keep busy and my mind is occupied. This week I have started working out and even taking a yoga class. My body still tries to dictate limitations but I push past that. I am in control and I plan.to stay that way

I lost 100 pounds with just eating healthier and portion control. I still battle feeding my emotions with food in tough times but it’s one I won’t give up. It is not an option. Also, in changing the entire household food dynamics my two young adult children lost a significant amount of weight too.  They now have adopted this way of living and are now living on their own. In my case, losing the weight became easier when my old pains were feed with healing.