Diet Was a Full-Body Health Boost

My husband and I celebrated our 50th anniversary in March 1997. When I saw our pictures, I said, “That’s it!”

I weighed 170 pounds, but for months I hadn’t weighed myself or looked in a full-length mirror. Not only did I look bad, but I needed to lose weight for health reasons. I’ve had juvenile rheumatoid arthritis since I was a teenager, and the extra weight was hard on my feet, knees and back. I also had a huge stomach hernia (now repaired)--the extra weight pressed on it.

I gave myself a goal of five pounds to lose, then made up my own diet. It was basically a well-balanced, high-fiber one with lots of vegetables, grains, beans and rice. Actually, I don’t like to use the word “diet,” but instead call it a change of eating habits. At first I counted calories and weighed amounts so I’d know how much to eat. I was shocked at how little a half-cup of food was.

One of the most important things I did was to eat five small meals a day so that I was never hungry. I ate at the same time each day, cooked all my meals from scratch and weighed myself daily. If I gained, I knew it and ate fewer calories.

Once a week, I ate one special food, usually a dessert, so I never felt deprived.

When I reached my goal, I aimed for another five-pound loss. By September 1997, I was down to 145 pounds, and by November, 140. I’ve maintained that weight. I’m lucky to have a supportive family who encouraged me all the way.

Exercise was as important as the new eating habits. Because of the hernia, exercise had to be limited to mostly walking and mild body exercises. All my health problems are helped by walking--arthritis, severe osteoporosis, emphysema and a depressed immune system.

We’re lucky to live in a small valley surrounded by hills and mountains, so wherever I walk, it’s uphill one way, and the dirt roads are easy on arthritic knees. I’m 75, and can walk two or three miles. My life has been a constant battle to keep walking: Because of arthritis, broken knees and feet, and surgeries, there have been many long periods when I was unable to walk. Often, I had to learn to walk again.

So losing weight was just one more challenge. I’m planning for our 75th wedding anniversary because there are so many things I still want to do--play pingpong, travel, write a mystery novel and, above all, keep the weight off.

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Vital Statistics

Name: Alida E. Young

Age: 75

Occupation: Retired

Height: 5 feet, 6 inches

Old Weight: 170

New Weight: 140

Time to Get There: Eight

months

How Did You Do It?

Do you have a story about how you lost weight and kept the pounds off? Or a story about how you learned to mountain climb or in-line skate, trained for a half-marathon or discovered a unique way of keeping fit or dealing with a nagging ailment?

If so, we’d like to hear from you. Tell us your story in a 500-word essay listing what worked in terms of diet, exercise and encouragement, as well as any emotional and physical changes.

For weight-loss stories, send us full-body color photos of yourself, before and after. For other types of stories, send a color photo of yourself doing the activity you’re writing about.

Send essay and photos to How I Did It, Health, Los Angeles Times, Times Mirror Square, Los Angeles, CA 90053. Include daytime and evening phone numbers. Submissions cannot be returned. And, please, no phone calls.

In addition to publication, winners will receive a Los Angeles Times Health section gym bag.