September 14 2006

 

Tonya (MissTonya)

Country: Fullerton, California, USA
Age: 28
Weight before diet: 175 lbs
Weight now: 147 lbs
Target weight: 135 lbs

For Tonya, joining SparkPeople has proven to be a great way to let her move closer towards her goals of losing weight and becoming healthier. She also shares with us her favorite forms of exercise, the hard parts about her weight loss effort, and the importance of patience through it all.

-What finally made you decide to start with a weight loss program?
At first it was all about image. I wasn’t happy with the way I looked or even the way I felt. I was plain miserable with the way I neglected my body of proper nutrition and exercise. I would go through each day with no energy and feeling tired all the time. I also have a family history of high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol and cancer. I wanted to make a change now while I am young to decrease my chances of disease and to look and feel better about myself.

-What type of weight loss program are you following?
I am currently following the SparkPeople Program. The SparkPeople Program is all about making small goals along your journey. Basically taking baby steps along the way to reach your ultimate goals. It is a lifestyle change rather than a diet. Absolutely no fad diets or quick fixes with the SparkPeople Program.

-Why did you choose this weight loss program?
To be honest, this is the first time I have ever gone on a weight loss program. When I did Internet research to choose a program for myself, the word FREE jumped out pretty loud and clear. When I further looked into the program I was impressed to see that a team of fitness, motivational and nutrition experts backed the site. This really started to motivate me to give the program a shot. From the very first day I started the program I have been hooked. I have spent countless hours just soaking up the wealth of information the site provides. The program provides weight loss tools such as a nutrition tracker to make sure you are eating enough calories to fuel your body as well as a fitness tracker to track how many calories you are burning each day. When you set up your SparkPeople account you input your current weight and your goal weight along with your activity goals and SparkPeople will provide you with a simple plan to follow.

My current plan is to eat between 1330-1680 calories a day. As you lose weight and meet goals along the way your plan constantly changes based on the information you supply. One of the most important aspects of the site to me is the Community Forums. We all need motivation to keep on going and to never give up. In the forums you come into contact with countless other members who are also trying to reach their goals. It is nice to know you have a place to go to when you need help and to give help in return. The experts are there as well for those difficult questions.

-How long have you been on your weight loss program?
I have been on my weight loss program since December 25, 2005.

-What kinds of physical activities do you like doing to help you lose weight and stay fit?
I like to do many different activities. I love to go hiking because I love to be outdoors. When I can, I will seek out new trails to hike on the weekends. I also love to run! Growing up I was a runner and I have found I still love it. I am currently training to run a Marathon. I also spend a lot of time in the gym. Every morning I start my day with some kind of activity such as the elliptical trainer, stair climber, stationary bike or treadmill before I go to work. I have also incorporated weight training into my fitness program.

-What were the most difficult obstacles you had to overcome or are still overcoming?
One of my most difficult obstacles is night snacking. After the dishes are done and put away I still have this need to snack on something sweet. Another obstacle I still work on is the dreaded office atmosphere. There is always some kind of celebration at the office in which sweets are being offered. Half the time I decline the offer of sweets and the other half of the time I give in to temptation. What works best for me is when I just have a little to satisfy the temptation and then be done with it.

-How do you keep yourself motivated?
I keep myself motivated by joining different challenges on SparkPeople. On SparkPeople you have the ability to create your own SparkTeams or join a SparkTeam. There are hundreds to choose from on the site. I also signed up to run a marathon in January 2007. This is a very motivating challenge!

-Do you have any weight loss tips for our readers?
Always keep in mind that there is no quick fix to weight loss. If you can keep that in mind and be patient with your body, the weight will come off through hard work and perseverance. Never lose weight solely for someone else. First and foremost, do it for yourself. Constantly challenge yourself so that your weight loss progress continues. Change your workout and diet every few weeks so that your body doesn’t get bored or get used to the same old thing. Our bodies adapt very quickly. Our bodies always need a new challenge. Reward yourself when you reach your goals along the way. It is always nice to get a new outfit or spend a day pampering yourself when you meet your goals and challenges. And finally, give yourself rest now and then. Listen to your body and give it the rest it needs. Nothing is worse than being “too” motivated in the beginning, which can lead to burnout and ultimately quitting altogether out of frustration. Change doesn’t happen overnight.

-Do you think it will be easy to fall back into your old lifestyle pattern? How do you prevent this from happening?
For me, I honestly do not think it will be easy to fall back into my old lifestyle pattern. I feel too great to go back to the place I was once in. I love the feeling of exercise and getting my heart rate up. I love the feeling of accomplishing new challenges and the number of new possibilities out there for me. I can’t wait for the new comings ahead.

-Do you have a favorite Web site or blog that helps or inspires you to lose weight?
This is Simply Me
SparkPeople
Hungry Girl
A Weight Lifted
No More Kelly Belly