2 great contests going on right now, yoga mat bag giveaway and perfume/lip gloss combo.

Today’s weight loss superstar is Shelly B from ”A Forty-Somethings Weight Loss Journey “  She was kind enough to answer the same 5 questions I always ask:



What was the #1 thing you focused on to lose lose the weight (i.e, cutting calories or exercise)?
“At first, and for quite a while, it was cutting calories.  I never was a very physical person so getting up the energy to exercise, especially when I was so heavy, was hard to do.  Eventually as the pounds came off the exercise was easier to do.
How long did it take you to lose the weight and how long have you kept it off?

It took me about a year and a half to lose 100 pounds, and I still have about 20 left to lose.  The important thing for me is that even though my weight loss has been slow, I’ve not had any noticeable gains along the way, which tells me that I really have changed the way I eat. “

Now that you have lost the weight, what is your favorite go to meal when you need to get back on track?
“Big salads filled with lots of good stuff like broccoli, cucumber, mushrooms, avocados, grilled chicken breast, strawberries and toasted nuts – very filling and healthy.  I seriously could eat a variation of these just about every day of the week.”

What is your favorite form of exercise?
“I really like my cross-fit workouts, which give me a lot of strength-training along with cardio.  I have a small group that I workout with and a couple of trainers, whom I love.  I never thought I would like working out as much as I do, and I’m convinced that having a group and trainers that I’m accountable to is instrumental in keeping me going week after week.  I bike ride a lot in the warmer months, and I’ve also started running, which shocks me as I never did that, even when it started being popular in the 70’s (when I was a mere child!).”

What advice would you give to someone else starting their weight loss journey? 
” Get going now.  Don’t wait until after that holiday or birthday – just jump in and do it.  Celebrate your successes and accept your failures – everyone has them.  Look to other bloggers for ideas and inspiration – there is a very supportive community of weight-loss bloggers out there who are willing to help.  And remember, if something isn’t working, don’t give up – just change it up.” 



Looking good Shelley, lookin’ good! Congratulations.  Would you like to be featured? Just send me your real life weight loss stories w/before & after pics to mnowac@gmail.com.

Hi everyone, today is Tuesday, Biggest Loser day, so here is another real weight loss success story!  I’ll let Lori tell you about her journey in her own words:

“My name is Lori and I have a blog at http://www.findingradiance.com  I am 41 years old and am maintaining a 100+ pound weight loss.  I have struggled with weight throughout my whole life.  I yoyo dieted for years, and it wasn’t until I was older that I really realized that it is truly a lifestyle change.  There is no magic pill or diet to go on.  It really comes from within.  I have changed my diet to eat more whole foods and whole grains.  When I want treats, I make sure I have the real thing, not some fake low-cal substitute.   That makes my tastebuds happy.  I have also discovered a little inner athlete in the last year and a half!  I went from 250 pounds to being able to do a triathlon and duathlon in 2009! ”

Questions:

What was the #1 thing you focused on to lose lose the weight (i.e, cutting calories or exercise)?  “There really was no one thing that I focused on.  I found it needed to be a combination of portion control, the quality of food, and exercise.”

How long did it take you to lose the weight and how long have you kept it off?  “It took me several years to lose 100 pounds.  I have kept off that 100+ for 1-1/2 years now.”

Now that you have lost the weight, what is your favorite go to meal when you need to get back on track?  “Oatmeal!”

What is your favorite form of excercise?  “I love, love biking.”

What advice would you give to someone else starting their weight loss journey?  “Make incremental changes and build on them.  So many times, we try to change everything at once, get overwhelmed, and just quit.  Small changes will add up over time and will build healthy habits you can sustain for a lifetime!”

Since my favorite show airs on Tuesdays, The Biggest Loser, I decided to share real life weight loss stories every Tuesday in honor of those inspiring contestants sweating it out for our entertainment!  I love reading weight loss stores in magazine and seeing the different ways people turned their lives around.  The first person I would like to induct into the OnTheGo Weight Loss Club is my brother in law Tim!  I’ll let Tim tell you about it in his own words:

” When I turned 40 years old I decided to change my lifestyle, I was sick and tired of my knees hurting, my back hurting, etc.  My wife Tina inspired me to lose 160 lbs. through diet and exercise. We both used Weight Watchers. At my heaviest I weighed 360 lbsand now after 3 years I am maintaining at at 200 lbs.  Tina and I made an appearance on the Today show in October 2006 to share our weight loss success story.  II started running, something I never thought I would do and completed my first half marathon with Monica in Akron last October 09. I  also have completed the Columbus half in October 09. I have never been in such great shape before. I have never felt better. I have discovered that it truly is all about the food we eat.”

Believe me I know TIm in real life and he is such an inspiration. He never misses a workout and cooks up some good meals, he’s also a total label reader. I asked him a few questions that I will be asking each person who shares ther story:

What was the #1 thing you focused on to lose your weight:   “Making healthier food choices”
How long did it take you to reach your goal weight and how long have you kept it off: “It took me about 1.5 year to reach goal and I have kept it off for about 3 years”
Now that you have lost the weight, what is your favorite go to meal when you get need to get back on track: “Rosemary lemon salmon and steamed asparagus”
What is your favorite form of excercise: “Running”
What would be your advice to someone else starting their weight loss journey:  “Be responsible for what goes in your mouth.  Don’t listen to others who want to tell you things like – oh you can eat this or that -do what you know is right, focus on yourself, eat for yourself.”
 
BEFORE:


After:


Can you believe it!  And he’s fast too, you should see him bound up the hills like a billy goat.  Go Tim!
You can see him and his wife (my sis) Tina on the Today show here -

Would you like to be featured as part of the OnTheGo Weight Loss club?  Just send me your real life weight loss stories w/before & after pics to mnowac@gmail.com.