Although she was only in her late 20s, Cathy C. felt like her life needed a new direction... and fast. She was terribly overweight and uncomfortable in her own skin.
At her lowest point, the 30-year-old was dragging around 253 pounds on her 5-foot-5 frame. Obesity was nothing new to the Marylander, who's been battling a weight problem since her early teen years. In high school, Cathy kept her weight from blowing out of proportion by participating in group sports. However, when she moved on to college, the number on the scale continued to escalate.
Cathy may have learned a great deal through her studies, but it wasnt until she joined eDiets that she got an education in healthy living. Between eDiets Glycemic Impact plan and our team of experts, this determined dieter shed a remarkable 100 pounds, a true achievement for Cathy.
For her, an online weight-loss program was the only way to go. She was too embarrassed to attend weekly meetings at a brick-and-mortar center such as Weight Watchers. And consulting her physician wasnt an option she wanted to consider. With no other place to turn, she put herself in the hands of eDiets.
Today, she weighs just 153 pounds and slips comfortably into medium shirts and size 8 pants. Looking back, Cathy recalls that her initial goal was to be able to fit into size-16 clothing. Shes far exceeded her original expectations and has plans to keep going. Her new goal is to shed another 12 to 15 pounds. These days its not such a lofty and far-reaching ambition.
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Overall, Cathy has done a total 180. Both her personal and professional life have improved by leaps and bounds. Cathy, who works as a public health analyst, says shes no longer the self-conscious, meek person she once was.
I have way more confidence, she tells eDiets. I look people in the eye when I talk to them. At work, I never spoke in meetings before and I never offered my ideas. On my performance review over the last year, theres been a tremendous improvement in the way I speak up and voice my opinion.
Ive made huge gains. Im still working on my self-esteem. There was a time when I used to wear the biggest clothes I could find when I went to the gym. Now I wear whats cool and comfortable. I dont care what other people think. I feel like a totally new person. I have this thing inside of me that says you can do anything.
Cathy says its been a long haul filled with countless ups and downs. When she first joined eDiets in 2000, she wasnt totally committed to her weight-loss journey. In fact, dieting was a new concept to Cathy, whod only relied on diet pills for a brief period of time in the past. During the first year, she lost 33 pounds but called it quits when she enrolled in graduate school and decided to cut back her expenses. Over the next 12 months, her efforts stalled although she maintained her loss.
When eDiets made a membership offer Cathy couldnt refuse, she rejoined and reignited her losing streak. For the next year, she half-heartedly attempted to lose. Unfortunately, her weight began to creep back up into the 230s. About the same time, Cathy laid eyes on an unflattering photo of herself.
I dont remember what the picture was. One day I just truly saw myself for what I looked like and what I was doing to myself. I decided it needed to change, she says emotionally.
Initially she focused solely on eating healthy. In the beginning, thats all it took to melt away the pounds. But as time went by, she hit another plateau head on. For months on end, her weight was at a standstill. Feeling frustrated and at the end of her rope, Cathy reached out to eDiets Chief Fitness Pro Raphael Calzadilla and the rest is history.
Raphael helped her establish an effective regimen and recommended she switch over to the Glycemic Impact plan. Cathy took his advice on both accounts. The G.I. plan was convenient and the foods were simple to prepare. In addition, she learned healthy eating habits she can follow forever.
It really helped to even out my blood sugar levels, she says. I had been following a low-carb plan before and it had worked. But when I increased my activity, I needed more carbs. The G.I. plan helped me learn how to add those back into my diet in a healthy way and kept giving my body the fuel and energy I needed to get through the day and get through my workouts.
Having an effective fitness regimen has played an integral role in Cathys success. She lifts weight four days a week and does a cardio workout five to six days a week. Even more impressive, she rises at 5:15 in the morning to get to the gym. By the time she gets to work, her daily workout is already complete and shes prepared to take on the world.
This past fall, Cathy started running 5K road races. These days shes focused on boosting her strength and continuing to run. In retrospect, Cathy attributes her incredible success to the help of Raphael. When she was at her lowest, the fitness guru who counsels thousands of eDiets members took her under his wing.
Ive told Raphael I cant believe hes helped me as much as he has. He sensed I was frustrated and on the edge of walking away. He helped pull me back in. All the experts I had interaction with were really willing to help.
Theyre dedicated to what their doing. The site provides anonymity but if you want the interaction, the work staff is really caring.
In addition to the support of the experts, Cathy had the camaraderie of other dieters. She started frequenting two of eDiets popular support groups including the Fitness For You board, moderated by Raphael. The support of others kept her going.
At first I didnt post regularly. But since Ive been back Ive thrown myself into two support groups. The men and women are always there for you. Its so important to have other people around to understand what you are going through. Many of them have gone through it themselves and offer advice and support.
Cathy cant say enough about the program that helped transform her life. All of the necessary tools are in one place.
When youre just starting out, you get everything you need to do it. You dont have to go anywhere to educate yourself. eDiets says heres what you need and heres how you do it. You dont have to try and figure it out on your own. They provide the meal plan, fitness guidance and support.
You realize there is so much information and tools on the website. You also have access to the experts, people who know what theyre doing. Once you do that, everything starts to click.
Cathy shed more 100 pounds with the help of eDiets, and you can too. To get your own personalized meal plans and fitness program, click here.
Hara Estroff Marano is editor-at-large of Psychology Today magazine and editor-in-chief of Psychology Today's Blues Buster, a newsletter about depression. An award-winning writer on human behavior, Haras articles have appeared in publications including the New York Times, Smithsonian, Family Circle and The Ladies Home Journal. She lives in New York City.
Susan L. Burke is a registered and licensed dietitian and a certified diabetes educator who specializes in both general and diabetes-related weight management.