Weight-Loss Success Story: Kathleen Ross Lost 229 pounds

Before: 409 pounds
After: 180 pounds

The Lifestyle
Kathleen Ross, now 39, has always struggled with her weight; by the time she was in the sixth grade, she already weighed 200 pounds. Her parents worked long hours, so when they hired a babysitter to look after Kathleen and her siblings, the easiest option for dinner was fast food. "My life was surrounded by food," she says. "I'm not blaming fast food [for my weight], but eating food made me happy. I don't know why." Kathleen carried this relationship with food well into adulthood.

"Working out never interested me," says Kathleen, who’s 5'10". So by 2005—the same year that Kathleen gave birth to her son—her weight had climbed to 409 pounds.

The Change
As her son grew, Kathleen realized her size was becoming a physical barrier for her. "He was always moving, and I couldn't keep up with him," she says. "And if I couldn't keep up with him, what was it going to be like when he got older? Plus, he'd probably get teased because he had a 'big' mom." That fear became even more pronounced after one grocery outing: While shopping, another woman's child looked at Kathleen and said, "Mom, that's a big lady." As much as Kathleen tried to shake it off, she says "it ripped me apart."

A few months after the incident in the supermarket, an Anytime Fitness gym opened near Kathleen's home in Smithville, Virginia. "I had joined exercise programs in the past," she says, "but you had to work out during their business hours—not anytime during the day." Since Anytime Fitness was open 24 hours, it was better-suited for Kathleen’s busy schedule raising a family and working in the credit bureau industry. After signing up, Kathleen began exercising between one and two hours every day. She spent most of her time on the treadmill, but she always felt like the people using the elliptical were having more fun than her. "I got on it for the first time, lasted five minutes, and thought I would pass out," she says. "But instead of avoiding the machine, I had to stop my attitude of, 'I can't do this.'" She slowly increased the time she spent on the elliptical, and now it's her go-to exercise machine.

Kathleen tried various diets, but they never worked for her. Sure, she'd shed a few pounds. But those plans didn’t turn out to be sustainable for her. After doing some digging about healthy weight-loss strategies, Kathleen decided to cut back her daily calorie intake to 1,500 calories. "I used to hate fruits and vegetables," she says, "and now they're my best friends." Although she'd previously eaten a lot of fried foods, Kathleen decided to try different cooking methods, such as steaming. But her real favorite treat: strawberries, banana slices, and pineapple with a dollop of fat-free Cool Whip. "People think I'm crazy, but I don't miss ice cream at all," says Kathleen.

Eventually, Kathleen hit a plateau. So she dropped down to 1,200 calories a day, continued exercising, and has so far managed to maintain her current weight—180 pounds—for about a year.

The Reward
"I'm so much healthier now," says Kathleen. "That's my number one reward." Before, she could only spend 10 minutes in her local shopping mall before she had to ask someone to bring the car around to the nearest entrance because she couldn’t make it out to where the car was parked on her own. Now, she loves to move—she ran her first 5-K in April and completed it in 40 minutes. And while it may seem like a small win, Kathleen can't believe she can now bend directly over her toes to tie her shoes—instead of having to tilt toward the side to grab her laces.

What's more, Kathleen says she finally feels more at ease stepping outside of her comfort zone. "When you're hidden behind 409 pounds, you try to stay in the background," she says. "If there's a 'before' picture of me, someone probably snapped it while I wasn't looking—I used to stand in the back in photos. Now, I'll stand front and center."

Kathleen's Tips
Find supportive people to cheer you on. "You want to surround yourself with people who have gone through what you’re going through or people going through the process, too," she says. "Everything becomes easier when you have someone to lean on."
Remember that plateaus don't last. "You will make it through this journey, even when you hit a wall. It's not going to stay that way forever."
Pay more attention to what you're eating. "Read nutrition labels. I love that they're changing them so that you can see things like fat content and sodium more easily."
Celebrate even small feats. "I only lost an ounce this week, but it's a loss! Anything that’s a loss is better than a gain."
Try new things. "Go outside your comfort zone. Being in mine is what got me to 409 pounds. They just opened up a zip-lining place in Virginia Beach, and I want to go so badly. That's my next journey."

More from Women's Health:
6 Smart Snacking Habits That Can Help You Lose Weight
5 Ways to Eat Less Without Feeling Deprived
7 'Healthy' Ingredients That Are Making You Gain Weight

 

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