Photograph courtesy of Jenny Jahn-HudecAll the while, I was working as a nurse, doing long shifts, sometimes the night shift. I saw patients who smoked and drank too much, and I told myself I was OK because I didn't abuse either of those things. But I did abuse food. (Here are 4 tips for fighting your food addiction.) And I was finally ready to change, this time for the long haul.
The very next day after my scare, I decided to start by focusing only on my diet, which at that time consisted of pizza, bread, sweets, fast food, and pasta—tons of carbs and comfort foods. I attended Weight Watchers meetings and counted points religiously. I also focused on cutting out processed and prepackaged foods and slipping healthy substitutions into recipes I enjoyed. I substituted lettuce for the tortillas when I made tacos, and I made my own zucchini noodles to eat in place of pasta. (Check out this delicious, Paleo-friendly zucchini noodle recipe.) For the first time in my life, I stopped drinking diet soda, which helped keep my cravings for sweets under control. To juggle healthy eating and my crazy work schedule, I planned ahead, preparing and freezing healthy meals on my days off that I could easily pull out and microwave when I got home.
Photograph courtesy of Jenny Jahn-Hudec
With a push from a friend, 3 months after changing my diet, I added exercise, specifically a 30-minute Jillian Michaels DVD. The first time I attempted the workout, I was so sore that I could barely walk for a week. But I did it again, and then a few days later, again. I dreaded doing it, but slowly but surely, it got easier and I could feel myself getting stronger. Plus, the pounds were coming off. So I moved up to a 45-minute version. Not only was I losing weight, I could feel myself getting stronger—I had so much more stamina than I'd had before. (Want to get in shape but don't have time for the gym? Check out Prevention's new Fit in 10 DVD; it's packed with super-effective 10-minute workouts you can do in your living room.)
Then, the same friend who turned me on to the workout DVD introduced me to her women's weight-lifting group. The group met at a small, private gym after hours, which made it feel both exclusive and intimidating. I was so nervous the first night I went, but as soon as I saw all the different types of women and their ranges of fitness level, I relaxed. Everyone supported each other, and I had a good friend there working out right next to me.
That group was the big turning point. I learned to do sets and to steadily increase the amount of weight I lifted. I loved it! I have always been a tomboy, and weight lifting was motivating for me because it felt sort of bad-ass. I also loved that I could see improvements in the amount of weight I could lift and the number of sets I could do each week. It was so measurable, which motivated and continues to motivate me.
I immediately noticed a jump in my weight loss after I added the strength training. As I worked out, lifted more pounds, and stayed focused with my eating plan, the pounds melted off my body. Since that night in the hospital 2 years ago, I have lost 100 pounds! Today, instead of struggling to lift patients and get through my busy day, I am the one the other nurses call when they need help with something physically demanding. "Call the bodybuilder!" they say.
Photograph courtesy of Jenny Jahn-Hudec
At work, I also feel like I set a much better example for my patients than I used to. Now when people see my wedding rings on my middle finger and ask me why, I feel good telling them it's because I lost 100 pounds. They get intrigued, and it gives them hope when it comes to what's possible for themselves.
When I reflect on my weight loss, I sometimes think about what made this weight loss attempt the one that stuck. In the past, I constantly criticized myself, focusing on the things I wasn't doing well. This time, I started celebrating my small daily wins. I realized I didn't have to be perfect every day; the important thing was that I tried to do better than I did yesterday. I was kinder to myself this time.
And it's funny. When I started my weight loss journey, my goal was to become the skinny girl in the magazines. But after falling in love with fitness, I care much less about being skinny and much more about being fit and strong. I'm even trying to inspire others via Facebook [Jenny's Losing It] and Instagram [@jennys.losing.it].
In terms of my ultimate goal, I've discovered that when it comes to weight loss, there is no finish line. Staying healthy and fit is a race that lasts your entire life, and I plan to keep on running.
