Healthy Me! In Deborah's Words...

The following was written by Healthy Me! Program participant, Deborah Gordon. On April 1st of 2014, she weighed 244 pounds. Last week when she weighed in on February 5th, she weighed 181 pounds, having lost a total of 63 pounds. Not only has her weight decreased, but her labs have improved greatly and she feels better!
Deborah reflected on her time in the program and here's what she had to say:

Finding the Healthy Me!

     My name is Deborah Gordon and I was one of the lucky and fortunate individuals to get picked to participate in the SBMF ‘s 2014-15 Healthy Me program.  When I first read about the program, I was already saying to myself, that this is the push I need to start getting control of my health, weight, and happiness.  I found it funny that the Healthy Me program would start on April 1^st 2014; April Fools Day!  I’m embarking on the one year journey and proud to say that I have embraced this program like a job.  My goal weight for the end of this program is ideally 160 pounds and per my February weigh-in I was at 181 pounds, so just 21 pounds left to go.  Also, it has been 21 years since I weighed 160 pounds and my one regret is that I didn’t have the drive or motivation to lose the weight before.  My ultimate goal weight is 140 pounds, by the 4^th of July 2015, but whatever it is, I will stay on track and keep at it.

     I look at the word “diet” as an acronym for D-daily I-intake of E-edible T-treats.  Yes, even an orange pepper can be a treat for the body.  A healthy one!  When someone asks me what have I been doing to lose weight, I advise them lots of exercise and eating good healthy food.  Everyone wants the “magic pill” or the “miracle diet” to follow.  Sorry it doesn’t exist.  The first time I heard of losing weight and keeping it off was considered a “lifestyle choice,” was Dr. Phil on his talk show.  I am living proof, that he is correct.  Being healthy is a commitment you make to everyday choices in life. 

     Some of the choices are as simple as: do I get up early or sleep in today, do I eat breakfast or skip it, and on and on.  I found that when shopping for groceries for my family, I have to be mindful about making the “healthy choices” of food products that I’m buying.  I also make exercise a priority in my life and find new things to try at the gym.     

     Do you remember when you were a kid, everyone wanted to go out and play?  Play with a jump rope, a hula hoop, ride a bike, kick a ball around, shoot baskets, run or play tag, the list goes on.  Exercise should be fun and as I grew up, I forgot to have fun with exercise.  I remember the first time I saw someone using the “battle ropes” and I said that looks like fun.  They were difficult to manipulate at first, but I got the hang of them and found it to be a great upper body warm up exercise.

     The best fun is the exercise I do with my husband and two tween daughters.  We like to go on bike rides, swim, and play together as a family.  It was for my family that I wanted to become a healthier person, so that I will be there for my children and husband in the future.  I did not want my daughters to have poor eating habits or experience weight issues like I did when I was young.  I want to be a role model for them and hope that they too will live their lives as healthy as me.