Marianne Ackerman - I’ve been enrolled in the HMR program since August of 2007. At the age of 48, I felt I had tried everything to lose weight, and I came to HMR feeling desperate and demoralized. In addition to self-esteem struggles, mind games and physical limitations resulting from years of being overweight, my doctor wanted to put me on medication to control my dangerously high cholesterol. Approaching my fiftieth year, I was well on my way to poor health for my second half century.
I started HMR in a low calorie weight loss plan. I was convinced that this would be a big stretch for me. As it turned out, the first months of weight loss were a “piece of cake”. I had promised myself that I could stay in this plan for 10 weeks, but stayed a little longer - 12 or 13 weeks. More
As the weight came off, the physical activity that is a cornerstone of the HMR program became easier and easier. I soon found myself craving exercise. Things I had not done in many years or ever, like running, started to sound like fun. I joined gyms, took classes, and even followed my husband and kids over to the running track. By the time winter came around, skiing was fun again. I could hardly wait for hiking and backpacking season.
Sometime in November, I started to add in fruits and vegetables. I’ve always loved all kinds of veggies and fruits so this was no struggle. As the Christmas holidays approached, I had lost about 40 pounds and was starting to think about maintenance. I was nervous. I knew that maintenance was going to be the most challenging, but most important part of my HMR program. I decided to stay with the Healthy Solutions (HMR meals and shakes with fruit and veggies) through the holidays. I didn’t feel that I had the skills yet to deal with all the temptations I was likely to encounter.
In January 2008, I started maintenance. Now I really had to roll up my sleeves and develop some new life skills. “Not-so-great” food choices happen. I knew I could not expect to be a food saint every second of my life. I’ve been learning in this past year to balance those “not-so-great” moments against better choices. It seems that the trick for me is to have lots of fruits and veggies around all the time and eat huge amounts of them to reduce the “not-so-greats”. I’m still learning. I still make mistakes, but this is where the support of the HMR staff has been a lifesaver.
HMR has added many healthy years on to my life and continues to do so. I feel twenty years younger, no joke. I’m now looking forward to all the great things I will be able to do with my grandkids...and that is still some time away!
(P.S. My cholesterol did come down...no meds yet.) |
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Pegi Braunschweig -
I joined HMR at 203 lbs. After the orientation class, I felt completely intimidated so I decided to go with the Healthy Solutions Plan. Being able to eat fruits and vegetables is what kept me "in-the-box", (3 shakes, 2 entrees and 5 fruits and vegetables per day minimum and at least 2000 calories of physical activity per week).
Food and the concept of "more is better" was not a problem and I ate out of the box only 3 times in 6 months. The physical activity was rough; I started with 2 minutes on my elliptical at home; now I do 20 minutes every morning, take a 20 minute walk in the mornings with one of my co-workers and work out at the Community Center 2-4 nights a week. More
After the first week on Healthy Solutions and losing 8 pounds, my husband joined me on the diet. Besides the support of my husband, my fellow employees, my employer and my daughter have supported my efforts. If I think I am having a bad week, one of them seems to come to my rescue. Like when I ate a box of 50 Kudos bars in 7 days and my husband and I did some "environmental control" by cleaning out the pantry.
Looking back, I feel like I cruised through 6 months of Healthy Solutions and eased into Maintenance, continually losing weight. I lost a total of 66 pounds and currently weigh 145 pounds. Since losing the weight, I am not tired, I do not hurt and my self-esteem has improved, greatly. Now, after attending Maintenance classes for 9 months, I am working on losing 5 of the 9 pounds I recently gained.
With HRM, the support of my friends and family and all the knowledge I have gained by attending weekly classes, I am sure I will be at my goal weight in no time and maintain it.
HMR is not just a diet it is a lifestyle!! |
