Jill Scoggins was on her way to weight-loss success. Then, a new job, a new home, and a family wedding nearly derailed her efforts. But she managed to get back on track, eventually losing 37 stubborn pounds.
Her secret? She concentrated on her accomplishments rather than dwelled on her defeats.
Jill, age 41, says that she never worried much about her weight, not even as her dress size got bigger. “I suppose that I was in denial,” she explains. “It was a very gradual gain, so it was easy for me to ignore.” But when her size-14 clothes—what she calls her fat clothes—started feeling tight, she decided that she had to slim down. And as a health-care communications professional, she knew exactly what to do: Eat better, drink lots of water, and, for the first time in her life, exercise.
Jill launched her weight-loss program in September 1998. She concentrated on making healthier food choices while phasing out late-night snacking. She also joined a gym and consulted a personal trainer, who helped her develop an exercise program that included aerobic workouts and strength training.
Jill’s plan worked perfectly. Within 1 month, she lost 8 pounds. “That convinced me that I could lose even more,” she says. “So I kept at it, and the more I lost, the more I wanted to stick with it.”
She managed to stick with it for 4 months, taking off another27 pounds. Then, her life turned upside down. Both she and her husband landed new jobs farther away from home. When they weren’t commuting, they were house hunting, hoping to find a home closer to their respective workplaces. In what little spare time she had left, Jill was helping her stepdaughter plan her wedding.
With her schedule crammed, Jill’s weight-loss program stalled. “I didn’t have time to go to the gym or even to pack my lunch,” she says. “I found myself in the drive-thru at Jack in the Box more often than I care to admit.”
Jill could feel herself getting discouraged. “I was still losing weight, but at a much slower rate,” she explains. But then, she remembered how faithfully she had followed her program and how easily the pounds had been coming off. “I told myself, ‘You’ve proven that you can lose weight. Just do what you have to do,’ she says.
Her personal pep talk paid off. Within a year of starting her weight-loss program, Jill dropped 37 pounds and four dress sizes. She has maintained her weight at 120 pounds ever since. She and her husband eventually found a new home, and her stepdaughter’s wedding went off without a hitch. “Many of the guests commented on my weight loss,” she says. “That made me feel great!”
WINNING A C T I O N
Remember your victories. Revel in your successes, no matter how small they may seem. Today, you may be only I pound lighter. In 6 months, that 1 pound could be 50! Acknowledge every step that you make toward weight-loss success. Knowing that you can slim down will keep you motivated when your determination starts to wane.
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