Weight Loss Success: Kim Konkel Stopped Drinking Soda And Lost 98 Pounds

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Name: Kim Konkel
Age: 31
Height: 5'7"
Before Weight: 236 pounds

How I Gained It: I have always been big. I just read an article that said if you are over 8 pounds, 7 ounces at birth you are considered a large baby. Well, I was 8 pounds, 9 ounces, so right off the bat I was bigger than most kids.

While I was growing up I never really exercised. I was diagnosed with severe asthma that made it hard for me to do much of anything for any length of time. I would play outside and ride bikes and go swimming, but that was about it. And that was only during the summer. Since we live in Wisconsin, playing outside in winter is possible, but only when it's not super-cold, and usually that is just to go sledding.

When I got pregnant with my daughter, I developed severe preeclampsia and got up to 263 pounds. My blood pressure skyrocketed and my doctor put me on medication.

Breaking Point: I was sitting at my computer one day in March of 2011, and I read an article written by Dr. Oz. In the article he was talking about how to lose weight and he said cutting out just 100 calories a day could result in dropping 10 pounds in a year. I had been diagnosed with cervical cancer in December 2010, and I figured the healthier my body was the more likely I was to beat the cancer. I was drinking at least six sodas per day, so that really got me thinking. I did the math and realized by stopping drinking soda I could easily cut out over 700 calories a day, just that easily.

How I Lost It: I started drinking sparkling water instead of soda. If it wasn't for that stuff I would have never been able to give it up. It tastes just like soda, but without any calories, sugar or sodium. I keep a huge supply of it on hand at all times! In the first month I dropped over 12 pounds, by just not drinking soda.

Then, I decided to actually try to start eating healthy. This is hard for me, especially at night. I suffer from severe insomnia. I am awake every two hours, like clockwork. Before, I would get bored or a little hungry and eat a whole TV dinner. I have since discovered I am a huge fan of guacamole! Now, at night when I wake up, I have some guacamole and some tortilla chips and that satisfies me for the next four times I wake up, so I don't eat anything else. I eventually thought about trying to lose more weight. My first goal was to get down to 200 pounds. That happened within a few months, so then I decided to get down to 184. That happened shortly thereafter. I just kept adjusting my goal weight as I would reach the next one.

I stepped on the scale today at 138. I am beyond thrilled. To get to this point I have been extremely disciplined about eating. I went from eating any and everything I wanted to knowing how much fat and how many carbs are in basically every piece of food on the face of the earth! I read tons of articles about weight loss and did a lot of research to educate myself so I would know off-hand what I should eat and what I should avoid.

I discovered that salad dressing doesn't have to be creamy to be good. I love fat-free Italian dressing. Put a touch of parmesan on the salad to give it some protein, and it tastes just like a Caesar salad! I found that in order for a person to be successful in losing weight, he or she needs to find foods that are healthy and tasty. You can't follow a diet if you don't like the food, it won't work. You have to figure out what will work for you. For me, it's all about tricking my brain into thinking I am eating unhealthy food, when I am really not. Take green beans: I flavor them with I Can't Believe It's Not Butter spray. That way, I get the taste of butter with less fat.

I'm not saying that I don't ever eat some less healthy food every now and then, but it's just that -- occasionally, and just a little bit. I always eat a salad or tons of green beans before I eat anything else, that way my body is getting the good stuff first.

After a few months of getting my diet under control, I decided that if I included some exercise into my daily routine I could lose even more weight, and more quickly, too. I started walking. I could only go very short distances, but every week I would go a little farther until I eventually was walking between three and six miles a day. I did this from June to October, and lost a lot of weight doing so, but eventually it wasn't enough anymore. That is when I started doing aerobics, and lost 38 pounds from November to December. The last two pounds I just lost recently, after being at the same weight since December. I am so happy that I can finally go into any store and find clothes that actually fit me. I am still getting used to that.

I went to the doctor recently, and he hadn't seen me since last February. He walked in and said, "Oh my gosh! Did you have your stomach stapled or lap band surgery?" I told him neither, I just started eating healthy and working out, and the weight started to fall off. My doctor said that I can finally come off of my blood pressure medicine if I want to. He and I went back through my chart and discovered that I weigh less now than I did when I was 10 years old! Now that says a lot.

I feel so much better than I ever have in my entire life, like a new person. Now I am finally able to run and play with my 3-year-old daughter. Since I have been eating healthier, my daughter has lost weight, too! I used to be able to hardly make it up a flight of stairs; now I run up the stairs with ease. I have never felt better. I have more energy then I have ever had in my life and I am so happy.

After Weight: 138 pounds

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Comments

[Jennifer Dickerson]

02:05 PM on 04/02/2012

I think these people are an inspiration. But I have a question and a problem. I do eat well but normally I only eat one meal a day. (I know that is not good) but it is the habit I have gotten into. I don't overeat at all such as last night, I had a small salad and a small portion of lasagna. Then absolutely nothing after dinner. In the middle of the day if I get hungry I have cottage cheese and peaches. Seems calorie friendly. I would very much like to walk but I have a bad hip. Can barely go down the street without stopping several times due to sever pain in my hip. The hip is the issue that stops me. Plus I guess I have to admit that I drink several Dr. Peppers daily. But lately, the new rule if I want to drink a Dr Pepper, I have to drink 8 oz of water first. Please help because I so want to get down to the size 5-6 I was prior to a horrific incident in my life. My son passed away and although I wasn't eating more, I gained a lot of weight. I cannot afford to go onto Jenny Craig or any of those type weight loss programs. I would welcome any suggestions.

[Sashata]

08:15 PM on 01/14/2013

Focus on a good mixture of alkaline and acid food but mostly focusing more on alkaline. Oddly enough citrus fruits turn alkaline in the body. The acid however in soda is horrible. It forces the body to work overtime to get the ph balance back to slightly alkaline. You're gonna have to get rid of the dr. pepper all together. Do not substitute with juices either. Another culprit which is damaging is too much fluoride. Over fluoridated products like grapes and powdered tea. If you crave caffeine, you're better off with a cup of coffee. Keep in mind, coffee is acidic. Try starting off by eating an orange first or squeeze lemon juice in water. Make your coffee. Adding the milk and sugar makes it more acidic.

Make sure you have servings of veggies and fruits with your meal. Broccoli has more calcium than milk.

[kymber23]

02:22 PM on 03/15/2012

...38 pounds from November to December? That really amazing. Never heard of such drastic weight loss in a month. So I do aerobics and lose almost 40 pounds in a month?

[bmitche]

09:22 PM on 03/12/2012

You look beautiful .

[ellie612]

08:25 PM on 03/12/2012

I am 34 and had been truly addicted to Diet Coke for several years. I thought I'd never be able to stop drinking it. I was up to drinking six 2 L bottles a day!! I kept telling myself that I had to overcome this addiction!! It was not only bad for me physically but it sure was taking a toll on me mentally because I got up 355 lbs.!! I have since stopped drinking so much Diet Coke and have lost 115 lbs. and I feel great!! I'm not where I want to be as of yet as far as my weight is concerned but I'm going to beat this!!

[schultziequilts]

08:49 PM on 03/12/2012

Good for you, Ellie and keep up the good work! You've already lost as much weight as a whole person weighs! WTG!

[pnut166]

01:19 AM on 03/19/2012

I have to say that it`s impossible to actually drink twelve liters a day. Coke is primarily water; that much water will kill you.

[ellie612]

07:36 AM on 03/19/2012

Now whether you believe it or not is up to you. But I know it to be true because I lived it.

[Nora Knight]

08:19 PM on 03/12/2012

I had breast cancer 3 years ago and sugar or anything that turns to sugar feeds cancer. (bread, pasta or potatoes etc) Also soda water is fizzy so that is not good for you either Need to get your body free of alkaines Once you have cancer or even before it is there so try to starve it

[Sashata]

08:17 PM on 01/14/2013

Get your body free of alkalines? No it's more like the acidic body which is the typical american diet allows cancer to thrive.

Fruits and veggies are alkaline. Except berries.

[vlntyn]

07:55 PM on 03/12/2012

kim looks great! and offered a no-nonsense approach to healthier living! go girl!

it sounds as though she changed her eating habits the smart way - one step at a time, not pushing or forcing any major changes but gradually modifying diet, behaviour and exercise. and it is correct if you do not enjoy the food then old habits sneak back.

i find a no-salt seasoning is good. i make my own salad dressing with garlic, herbs, olive oil (sometimes infused with flavours) and different balsamics. this is always a fun scientific food experiment!

[DinB]

07:14 PM on 03/12/2012

my scrren just melted because you are smokin hot!!!!!

[savanahrose]

07:07 PM on 03/12/2012

I am slightly over weight, I now am at 142, I may only drink one soda a day. Usually it is my version of sweet tea (barely any sweet) and am now drinking more water. During the month of Dec. I lost 10 lbs and thought that I was sick. Come to realize that I was on vacation and was walking every day. At that point I was at 152-153. I have been able to keep it off and now I have to get off of my lazy behind and finish the rest.

Let us not forget the photos of the other people on this page. They did an awesome job too. My hat is off to anyone who loses weight. Kim thank you for sharing your story with us.

[ACR1226]

06:40 PM on 03/12/2012

great story! you will inspire others! more power to you.

[dalaimama34]

06:39 PM on 03/12/2012

uh, anyone else notice how overweight her little girl in the picture is? hope she changes the dietary habits of her child also, or that kid is going to have a weight problem as well....

[savanahrose]

06:58 PM on 03/12/2012

Did you read the article? If you had you will have noticed that she stated that her daughter has lost weight also. :-)

[savanahrose]

07:09 PM on 03/12/2012

sorry dalaimama34, that sounded a bit harsh. It was not meant to.

[mlarkj88]

06:38 PM on 03/12/2012

Congratulations! People without a weight problem really don't respect what an accomplishment that is. They joke about it and think losing weight is easy. If it were, everyone would be thin. So way to go; your story is truly inspirational...you look wonderful!

[chickenlittle220]

06:19 PM on 03/12/2012

Way to go Kim you look great!

[kimk42280]

06:26 PM on 03/12/2012

Thanks! That is a really cute parrot picture by the way!

[smeeg]

06:10 PM on 03/12/2012

congrats on the awesome change :D it's amazing what you can do by just cutting out a few sugary things and being open to change a few other eating habits

[kimk42280]

06:25 PM on 03/12/2012

You are right! I started off cutting out a few things at a time until I got to the point where I am now. I can say I actually don't like soda anymore...never thought I would say that, haha. And thank you for your nice comment.

[dn1fr]

05:36 PM on 03/12/2012

Thanks for the well wishes, Kim. I will definitely try the Crystal Bay and Cascade Ice sparkling water. I'll let you know if they help to take away my desire for the soda's. (smile)

Much continued success to you in your new lifestyle.

[kimk42280]

06:24 PM on 03/12/2012

I hope you like them! If it could work for me I have total faith that it will for you too! Thank you for your well wishes and the best to you as well. Keep me posted!!

[elrisae]

05:31 PM on 03/12/2012

You are awesome