Her Trip to France Was Just the Ticket

I have been the ultimate dieter. From the time I was in grammar school, I have had a serious weight problem. I still vividly remember other children making fun of me because of my weight.

I have tried every diet known to woman. I have watched my weight go up and down with swings as great as 50 pounds. Before I finally changed my lifestyle, I had virtually given up losing weight and came to accept my being overweight, even though I knew it was extremely unhealthy for me. I was also at an age where weight was not quite as great a social issue.

All this changed when my husband and I took a three-week trip to France with the Berkeley Travel With Scholars Program. We ate as a group most of the time, including some exquisite seven-course meals. The catch was having fabulous flavor but small servings. The other lifestyle changes were walking a lot every day, never eating between meals and eating only sitting down at a table.

France was marvelous, but what was even more exciting for me was coming home and getting on the scale and finding I had lost 5 pounds. This gave me the inspiration to reflect on what had happened. I thought a great deal about how satisfied I had been in France--never feeling hungry but never being “stuffed.” I also enjoyed all the walking and found my body felt stronger and generally healthier.

This gave me a wake-up call to just continue this easy way to lose weight while still enjoying food and life. I continued my new “France lifestyle,” and the more time that has gone by, the more natural it feels to me.

I exercise at least three times a week by either using my exercise bike for 30 minutes or fast walking for an hour. This also has resulted in stress reduction--what a bonus.

A most satisfying experience was going to my 40th high school reunion recently and having the people in the “inner circle” tell me how great I look. I have been living my new lifestyle for over two years now, and I am sure this is the way I will live the rest of my life.

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Vital Stats

Janet Jack

Age: 58

Occupation: Nurse

Height: 5 feet, 4 inches

Old Weight: 220

New Weight: 135

Time to Get There: 18 months

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