Simone's weight loss: Getting there with diet and exercise

Simone Coetser

-City & country: Somerset West, Cape Town, South Africa
-Age: 31
-Weight before diet: 107.7kg (237.4 lbs.)
-Weight now: 103.0kg (227 lbs.)
-Target weight: 65kg

Simone isn't going through her weight loss journey alone. She's doing it with her husband, and they're both going about it with the help of a nutritionist. Simone shares the early part of her experience, the importance of certain reading material, and gives advice on the mental challenges that come with losing weight.

-What finally made you decide to start with a weight loss program?
I have been contemplating weightloss for a while. I had practically come to a point where I decided that it was just better to love myself where I was at and subjecting myself to stress and the pain of dieting. My husband decided that he wanted to go to a dietician and asked me to join him. I knew how many times I tried to do this on my own and did not succeed. I decided that I would give us both a chance and try again.

-What type of weight loss program are you following?
Low GI diet with a dietician and starting to apply the principles of the 4 Day Win by Martha Beck.

-Why did you choose this weight loss program?
I like the support and paraphernalia that a dietician has – it’s easier to get my husband to spend money on stuff that the dietician recommends.

-How long have you been on your weight loss program?
2 months

-What kinds of physical activities do you like doing to help you lose weight and stay fit?
Powerplate and yoga aerobics.

I plan to include free weights, walking and other aerobic DVD’s.

-What were the most difficult obstacles you had to overcome or are still overcoming?
My main obstacle has been my health. Just as I start an exercise program I seem to get sick. The doctor put me on a detox program to help eliminate that problem – then I just had laryngitis and a cold!

-How do you keep yourself motivated?
Reading the 4 Day Win book while I sick for 3 weeks and being unable to exercise really helped me. I was not doing the exercises but it still helped me not to fall into a depression and totally pig out (which is the pattern I have been following for the last 3 years).

Reporting my progress and non-progress on Weighing Wednesdays on my blog and the messages from Sparkpeople also motivated me.

Measuring my waist was another motivator.

-Do you have any weight loss tips for our readers?
Drink more than 8 glasses of water a day. Don’t overstrain yourself when exercising. Find ways to feed your mind and soul – whether it’s meditation, yoga, reading or going on date with yourself.

-Do you think it will be easy to fall back into your old lifestyle pattern? How do you prevent this from happening?
The 4 Day Win has helped me identify my weaknesses and strengths. I have now completed reading the book. I am now going to re-read it and do the exercises that will help me develop the skills that will ensure that I rewrite my patterns of behaviour and be able to deal with relapses successfully.

-Do you have a favorite Web site or blog that helps or inspires you to lose weight?
My Blog: http://simonesbutterfly.blogspot.com
Sparkpeople: http://www.sparkpeople.com
Weightloss Wednesday: http://twomomsinablog.com/?cat=46
The Art of Weight Loss: http://www.artofweightloss.com/lose_weight_blog