by Caitlin H,
October 16, 2023
Name: Lala
age:55
Profession: retired teacher
eating plan: Balance 1,200
favorite meal: Bistro Chicken Salad
start date: May 2023
Starting weight:200
high:5’9″
Lose pounds:42
activity level: Take a walk every day; slowly return to running
My go-to technique when I have a craving is: I had a little sweet taste, like the diet brownies that came with a grilled cheese and tomato soup meal, while keeping my goals in mind.
My favorite weight loss tracking app is: I record the weighing results on my calendar.
When Lara, 55, recently slipped comfortably into the size 10 pants she’s worn for years, it was a big moment for her.
“I tried everything on again and thought, ‘Okay, you’re almost there. Keep going!'”
Although this moment affected Lara greatly, she also used it to remind herself that she was less than 10 pounds away from her goal weight. After seeing a full-body photo of herself after three months of hard work, she became more determined to continue on.
“When I took this photo, I was like, ‘Wow!’ I don’t have a full-length mirror, so it was amazing to see this!” she said. “I’m almost there, but not there yet. I just have to keep going. I do enjoy the feeling that I’m getting closer.”
A few weeks later, in mid-September, she did reach her goal weight.
Lara recently retired from the Department of Corrections, where she worked for 28 years as a teacher of adolescents and adult men. In 2019, she also became the legal guardian of her 7-year-old granddaughter.
“With her around, I have to try to stay active,” Laura said. “We do swimming and taekwondo. She’s so funny.”
Lola also used to spend a lot of time running and ran a half marathon every January.
“In January of this year, I was slow, but I got it done,” she said, adding that she weighed about 200 pounds at the time. “I also went to Kauai for a retirement trip. I loved it, but I was uncomfortable because I felt so big. I was angry at myself for being so big on this particular thing. “
These were the catalysts for Laura to make changes. She had tried dieting in the past, but finally decided to try Diet-to-Go after reading an article in Sports Illustrated about the plan’s many benefits.
“The first week, I thought, ‘This can’t be 1,200 calories; that’s too much food,'” Laura said. “I didn’t think I would lose weight, but I did think, ‘This is heaven!’ I loved the taste. There were so many meals, and by the end I thought, ‘Wow, that’s really good!'”
Determined to stick with it, Lala focused on three nutrient-dense, portion-controlled meals a day, a far cry from the six small meals and snacks she had tried throughout the day — a diet she said she would never achieve. continue. She has had one of her most challenging struggles with unhealthy snacking.
“Diet-to-Go has helped me solve my snacking problem,” she said. “The meals are larger, so I don’t have the urge to snack. I’m able to focus on my meal and really pay attention to how I’m feeling.”
Portion size and nutritional content also help Laura when she travels, such as a recent trip to Legoland with her granddaughter.
“I’m able to navigate food better because I’m learning what a meal should be and how to keep that sustainable,” she said. “It helps me avoid splurging and going crazy.”
Lara said her weight loss also had a huge impact on her confidence and energy levels.
“I definitely feel more like myself. When I gained weight, I didn’t want to do anything or feel anything,” she said. “For me, I have to get to a certain weight…my confidence has improved. I don’t feel anything particularly strongly about anything, but it’s one thing.”
The weight loss also gave her the motivation she needed to turn her daily walks into daily runs again, which is what she really wanted to do.
“It’s become a comfort, a doable thing,” Laura said. “It just makes me feel stronger and happier.”
When asked what was the most critical factor that led to her weight loss, Lala said it was “Diet-to-Go”.
“Diet-to-Go delivers meals to your home, giving you structure and taking the work out of preparation,” she said. “It limits your attention, and once you get into the habit, it’s very easy.”
Laura advises others to give it a try, stick with it and keep going one day at a time.
“I always tell my granddaughter, ‘You can do hard things,'” she said. “I say the same to other people. You are important enough to do this. You have done so much for other people; you I can do this for you and it’s worth it.”
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Author: Caitlin H
Food community manager
Caitlin is the Diet-to-Go community manager and an avid runner. She is passionate about connecting with others online and maintaining a healthy, active lifestyle. She believes moderation is key and that people will have the greatest weight loss success if they practice common-sense healthy eating and fitness.