Exercise Went From Torture to a Treat
For many of my adult years, I was able to maintain my desired weight and stay in reasonably good shape. As I got closer to 50, though, extra pounds would not go away despite the usual diet and exercise routines.
Seeing a couple of photos of myself--along with the realization that little in the closet fit anymore--forced me to confront the extra 20 pounds I was carrying.
My plan was simple: Exercise every day for 30 minutes and at the end of each day write down the food I had wanted but had chosen not to eat.
For a bit of fun, I decided to tell no one to see how long it would take before family and friends noticed my weight loss.
Ten pounds came off slowly and nobody noticed, so I decided to try for another 10. Those were harder yet to lose but, in a couple of months, the scales registered the desired numbers. This time, everyone noticed, and that felt good.
I learned that eating smaller and more frequent meals was important. Not eating out as often and not anticipating my next meal also helped. This meant remembering to take fruit or a bagel along with me in the car to avoid the endless fast-food temptations.
I kept asking myself: “Would I not eat the more fattening item if a more healthy choice could be enjoyed?”
The only way I could fit in exercise with a hectic work schedule was to get up earlier each day. Exercising went from being a low form of torture to being a reward for the day, and soon it was easy to increase the duration.
Walking, tennis, swimming and gardening were the daily exercise choices. My five brothers gave me a pair of roller-blades as a “gag” gift for my 50th birthday, so learning to skate again has only added to the exercise fun.
Nine months ago I started working out with a personal trainer and a couple of other women in his private gym. He taught me much about weight training, posture, breathing and flexibility. I had not fully understood them before.
I am 52 now and continue to reward myself each day with an hour or more of exercise. A pair of athletic shoes is always in my car trunk, just in case an opportunity arises. My muscles are tight and I try not to brag about my metabolism rate!
It is a blessing to feel this great, and I value this healthy feeling more than how I look in a bathing suit, or any of the other vain reasons to stay fit.
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The Vital Statistics
Name: Laura Cate
Age: 52
Occupation: Property tax consultant
Old Weight: 144 pounds
New Weight: 124 pounds
Time It Took to Get There: 3 months
Feel Like Sharing Your Success Story?
Losing weight is as individual as gaining weight. Do you have a story on how you got in shape and stayed there? If so, we’d like to hear from you with a 500-word essay listing what worked in terms of diet, exercise, encouragement / support as well as your emotional and physical changes.
We’d also like you to send us full-body color photos of you, before and after.
Send essay and photos to “How I Did It,” Health, Los Angeles Times, Times Mirror Square, Los Angeles, CA 90053, and include daytime and evening phone numbers. No phone calls, please. Submissions cannot be returned.
In addition to publication, winners will receive a Los Angeles Times gym bag and a gift certificate for a free pair of athletic shoes of your choice, redeemable at any Big 5 Sporting Goods store.
