- When Lisa Dove finally realized she needed to prioritize her health, she lost 160 pounds.
- The mother of three struggled with emotional eating and type 2 diabetes before she lost weight.
- She overcame her diagnosis by dieting, exercising, and cutting out self-defeating habits.
This essay is based on a conversation with Lisa Dove. Edited for length and clarity.
My tech job involved a lot of business lunches. When we went to the restaurant, the usher asked us where we wanted to sit. “I’d like a table, please,” I said, jumping in before anyone could suggest a booth. I couldn’t bear the embarrassment of trying to get into the booth but not being able to fit my stomach.
I hated requesting seatbelt extenders when I was on a plane. I couldn’t see the play because the theater doesn’t reserve seats for big people. I couldn’t paint my toenails or tie my own shoes. When I was sitting on the floor with one of my kids, it took me a few minutes to get into the right position to sit up.
I figured out why I was overweight, but I didn’t deal with it.
I was always talking to myself and making excuses for being fat in my head. I think, “You have a demanding career, you’re raising three kids, you’re busy, so you’re probably under extreme stress.” “It’s no wonder you don’t have time to eat fast food and exercise.”
The truth is, I was putting the needs of my family and work before my own health. After losing 160 pounds through a combination of diet and fitness, I realized how dangerous that kind of thinking is.
I have always been an emotional eater. But after my youngest, Ashley (now 11), was born, I really lost control. Since I had so little time to cook, it was much easier to go to the drive-thru and order pizza.
I was eating grilled cheese and fries at my desk every day. I order a McDonald’s cheeseburger and fries as a snack between meals. I eat pizza with all the meat and vegetables on it. I literally ate until I couldn’t eat anymore.
I started by taking short walks to relieve stress.
My exercise regimen was non-existent. I sat straight all day at work. I take my 2-year-old to gymnastics, but he doesn’t move at all on his own.
I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes 14 years ago. I saw an endocrinologist every three months. She advised me to lose weight and I tried every diet under the sun. They last only a few days or even weeks. And anything stressful triggers me. I eat too much and end up making a mess.
And during the pandemic, I couldn’t bear to do my job while making sure my kids were doing their schoolwork over Zoom. “Oh my god, I have to get out of the house,” I thought. I’m going for a short walk around the neighborhood. It wasn’t a planned practice. It has relieved my stress.
It made me think about my body. I weighed myself on January 5, 2021. The scale read 297 pounds. I was 5 feet 4 inches tall and obese. It was a terrible awakening. “Enough is enough,” I thought. “I’m not going to allow myself to go over 300 pounds.”
I joined Weight Watchers. I thought the point system was relatively easy to understand. Everything had a point value. The goal is to not exceed the allotted number of points. Weight loss is calculated according to your height, current weight, age, and gender.
When I was hungry, I chose foods that represented my zero point, such as eggs. That doesn’t mean you can’t have a slice of apple pie. But I should have known that it would cost a lot of points.
If you don’t like the type you try, the exercise won’t last long.
That worked for me because nothing was off limits. There was a weekly allowance that could be used beyond the daily points. I started giving myself weekly rewards, like going out to dinner with co-workers or celebrating a special occasion. It was all about accountability.
I started to see weight loss. This gave me the confidence to join a Lifetime gym near me in June 2021. I started with Zumba his style of dancing. It was a lot of fun. I didn’t really feel like I was doing aerobic exercise. If you hate everything about going to the gym, it’s not sustainable.
I hired a personal trainer who introduced me to weight training. For a woman my age (I’m her 49), building and maintaining her muscle is important. I don’t want to be a weightlifter. I’m just doing enough to be healthy. However, there were lines on my abdominal muscles. And you’re starting to develop so-called “baby biceps.”
Meanwhile, in 2022, I learned that I no longer have diabetes. I have officially stopped all four medications.
My daughters are into competitive sports like soccer and volleyball. You can actually play together during practice. Before, I didn’t want to do that. Previously, after she climbed three or four flights of stairs, it took her five minutes to recover. I haven’t been short of breath lately.
You should stop making excuses like I used to.
My weight dropped to 140 pounds. I went from size 26 to size 4. My top was a triple extra large, but now it’s a size small when I wear a shirt.
The biggest lesson for me is to strive for progress, not perfection. Forgive yourself when things don’t go as planned. You can start again the next day. Stop making excuses and establish smart eating and exercise habits.There teeth How to transform your health.
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