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Your 'Aha' weight-loss moments
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Outrunning The Heart Attack
In 2002 when I turned forty, the mid-life crisis kicked in and I made radical changes that led to me losing 37 pounds and going off high blood pressure meds. The weight stayed off for about five years and one day I just got tired of the effort it took to maintain the weight loss. Nearly ten years later I had gained back all 37 pounds plus, and was back on a high dose of blood pressure medication. In January of 2012 I read a weight loss article online and it had an illustration of abdominal fat that is attached to internal organs. The article said if you had a big, hard belly, you had this kind of fat and it is the worst kind to have. The illustration grossed me out and at that moment I decided to try to lose weight again. I started by running at our local university's indoor track. I remember the first day I could only run two laps - 1/4 of a mile! I also cut my food intake in half, cut out beer and most breads, which is a challenge because I travel and eat out a lot. When I started running and dieting I weighed 239 pounds and was on a high dose of blood pressure medication. I have a family history of heart disease and cancer so it was a real no-brainer to make some radical changes. By May of 2012 I was under 200 pounds for the first time in 6 or 7 years. By June 2012 I had reached my goal of 192 pounds, 47 pounds down in six months! This was perfect timing because on June 21 I was fortunate enough to take the HLN Morning Express Tour and meet Robin! I felt much better meeting her 47 pounds lighter. I now run or ride my bike about 5 days a week and lift weights the other two days and my blood pressure medication has been reduced by half. My most recent check up showed a strong, healthy heart with no signs of heart disease. I am feeling great and never, ever want to gain that nasty weight back. Like they say, "nothing tastes as good as skinny feels"!
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