My Story … yup it’s long
Okay … here it goes. I am writing this because, like so many others, I have struggled with my weight all my life. So many people make resolutions year after year, but few succeed. When I am conducting interviews (in my day job) I always ask “Give me an example of a recent failure.” The failure that is used more often than not is trying to lose weight and failing (on a side note: people have a hard time talking about failure in interviews; if you are applying for a job always have a good example). I have tried so many diets and exercise plans and had given up when finally I discovered the secret … eat right and exercise. Ha! If only I had known this simplicity earlier … The problem with this is: what does it mean to eat right? That is the true discovery I made.
I was currently on Weight Watchers and working out five nights a week, but still putting on weight. I was at the gym for my weigh-in and was vocal with my frustration when the front desk receptionist asked me if I had ever seen a nutritionist. I said no, but I was on Weight Watchers. She told me that my gym membership included a free consultation with a nutritionist and asked if I would like to book an appointment. Feeling hopeless and skeptical, I said sure, feeling like I had nothing to lose but the extra weight on my butt, thighs, etc. So I met with said nutritionist and she gave me access to free meal plans (through Truestar Health) as long as I bought the supplements (which I still use today and have recently become a wellness consultant for), saying that I could easily lose the 15lbs I was aiming for. I left feeling a little duped, signing up for supplements that I didn’t think I needed and then her saying it would be EASY for me to lose the weight I had been battling my whole life. Well, I was determined. After spending the money, I was going to follow this plan to the T. I went home, made my meal plans, got my groceries and started cooking my first meal.
The first three days were the hardest. I went through major carb withdrawal and had to fight the urge to snack while watching TV each night. It was all worth it though. The next time I went to the gym (I only went twice per week the whole time I was losing weight), I had already lost 2 lbs. I thought it had to be water-weight, until next time I went and I lost another pound. Each time I weighed in I was a full pound lighter. By week three I was hooked. Four pounds lighter, I was over my initial cravings and rarely hungry. For week five, I went on vacation to see my family in Kelowna. I tried my best to follow my plan, playing in the kitchen with my mom, showing her what I had learned. I did fall off the wagon a few times, who can resist Mom’s secret weapon desserts … When I got back home and went to the gym for the first time I was amazed. I figured that I would either be the same or have gained a pound or two. I had lost more weight. Two pounds in two weeks; slower than what I was normally losing but lighter nonetheless.
When I finally hit my weight goal, a full 15lbs lighter, inches smaller, I thought why stop now? I was feeling good, why would I go back to my old ways? The one thing I wanted to do, however, was learn how I could re-create my old favorites so that they would fit within my new lifestyle. The food on the meal plan was okay, but not the most exciting and I knew if this was going to be a permanent change I would have to be able to enjoy my meals more.
Thus starts my exploration into the Zone. My current meal plans were based on a 30-40-30 ratio (carbs, protein, fat) to jump-start my metabolism and the Zone is a 40-30-30, more for maintenance. The great thing about my discoveries in the Zone is that I learned how you come up with the ratios; i.e. what does 40% carbs look like in any given meal. First I would have to learn how to read food labels and then figure out how much of that item I could have. I first experimented with this trying to make pizza. I wanted a ham and pineapple pizza (I know, not everyone’s favorite, least of all my husband’s). I calculated just how much pita (whole wheat of course), cheese, ham and pineapple I could use. It was a little scientific but worth it. And after that I kept on going, re-creating as many old favorites as possible. Now keep in mind, when I started this journey I was in no way a good cook. I come from a family who bakes, desserts no less. I didn’t even know the difference between homogenized and buttermilk. Luckily I had lots of help from my husband who does come from a family of cooks. Through reading, experimenting and gentle encouragement from my husband I was able to learn how to make meals that were healthy AND tasted great.
In the end I lost 40lbs, about a third of my body weight, over a span of one year. Since then I have had my fair share of relapses, usually during the holidays when I put on a pound or two (and I do mean two, not five or ten).
My next endeavor has been competing in the Bikini Division within the CPA (previously OPA). After 10 years of continuous competing I earned my IFBB Pro Card. It wasn’t easy and I had many bad placings, but I kept at it and got better and better every show. It taught me a whole new level of training and dieting which has helped me enable others to achieve their goals too.
In the end it’s all about the you choices you make everyday, not who you are or where you came from. I am not special in my ability to lose weight and build strength and muscle. You can do it too.
Small but Mighty,
Gina
