So what did it take to get Julie to slim down her portions and hit the gym? Find out here!
Q: What was your motivation to lose the weight and get fit?
A: I was already on my way to a healthier lifestyle before I met Hardy. I was going to the gym three to four times a week and trying to watch what I ate. I had lost 30 to 40 pounds. However, after Hardy and I moved in together, my weight crept back up to 230 pounds. It's too easy to reach for some chips when your partner is eating them or give in and get pizza when the other wants it. In addition, with the move and new lifestyle change, I just hadn't found the right way to make exercise part of my new routine.
But then I read an article about stomach-stapling surgery, which talked about the growing number of people having the surgery as well as who was a good candidate. According to the article, another 10 or more pounds, and I would be a candidate. I was horrified. I never wanted to be in a position where that could even be an option for me. I knew I had to take control of my weight once and for all.
The first thing I did was make exercising an "us" thing. By including Hardy, I found exercising more enjoyable and, at the same time, was able to count it as together time. But I also made sure I made weekly exercise goals for myself. Even if Hardy couldn't make it, I still had to live up to my goals. The second thing I did was change our eating habits. I took over most of the cooking and made sure each meal was 50 percent vegetables, 25 percent carbs and 25 percent protein. And by always having healthy options around, it took away some of the excuses for ordering out. It also helped me for times when Hardy wanted to indulge with chips. I instead snacked on carrots or low-fat crackers.
Within six months, I quit smoking, started running for the first time in my life, and dropped nearly 40 pounds and two dress sizes.
But shortly after, I hit a plateau. I was about ready to give up when I heard about Buff Brides. Having a personal trainer opened a new door for me. For the first time, I was really focusing on strength training. Seeing the results really inspired me to stay on track with my eating. It took a while to see results. I really didn't notice how far I had come until I went to the store to get a new pair of jeans. I grabbed a size 14 (a size smaller than I had been wearing), crossing my fingers and hoping that they'd fit. My mouth nearly dropped to the floor when they were too big. I went back and grabbed a size 12 and was ecstatic when they fit. I even grabbed several other pairs of size 12 jeans just to make sure it wasn't a fluke.
