Weight Loss Success: Barbara Hawkins Starting Walking And Lost 100 Pounds

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Name: Barbara Hawkins
Age: 47
Height: 5'7"
Before Weight: 250 pounds

How I Gained It: I gained my weight when I became pregnant with my twins. The pregnancy was high-risk and I was on bed rest for most of it. Blood pressure and gestational diabetes became a problem. The day the twins were born, I weighed 211 pounds. I continued to gain weight after they were born. I was careless, sedentary and went on to gain 40 more pounds.

I was tired all of the time and always short of breath. I continued to have problems with high blood pressure and sugar. I became tired of people asking me when my baby was due. A lady at the beach told me that a woman in my condition shouldn't be in a hot tub! I couldn't ride roller coasters and other rides with my children, because the belts and bars wouldn't fasten.

Breaking Point: One day in the fall of 2007, I woke up and decided I was going to do something about it. My husband bought me an iPod to help make walking easier.

How I Lost It: I started out walking three miles, three times a week. At first it was hard. I tired easily and my shins hurt, but I kept at it. The weight started to come off, and walking got easier, and I even started running some. I gradually increased my miles; now I'm walking at least 30 miles per week, and I could do more if I had the time.

I have totally turned my life around by changing my attitude about exercise. If you keep at it long enough, instead of feeling like you're going to die if you head to the gym, you can turn that into feeling like you're going to die if you don't do it. Find what you like. For me, it was walking. I love being outdoors with my iPod. It's my quiet time; it's like therapy

I've never been a huge eater, but I ate too much fast food just because it was quick and convenient. Now, I would never eat a Whopper or a Big Mac. If I'm in a hurry, I choose healthier options, like Subway. I gave up sugary soft drinks, although I will still drink diet ones.

I try not to load up on carbohydrates. That doesn't mean I never enjoy a plate of spaghetti or birthday cake, I just see that sort of thing as a treat. I've always enjoyed salads and fruits. Chicken, fish and lean red meats are an everyday thing for me.

The sad part of my story is that I remember how I was treated when I was larger, and I see how I am treated now. I can attest to the fact that life is much harder for overweight people and not just physically. People can be mean.

I feel great. All of my numbers are in a normal range, and I look a lot better. I remember the first time I got to shop for clothes in the Misses section. I was an 18 then, but still so much better than a 24W! I now wear a 6 or 8. I feel 10 years younger than I did 10 years ago.

After Weight: 148 pounds

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Comments

[William Anderson LMHC]

09:26 AM on 04/06/2012

Great job, Barbara! And don't listen to those mean ones who tell you it won't last. Permanent weight loss is entirely possible. I took off 140 pounds over 25 years ago and I've maintained my ideal body weight since. You can too. Best wishes.

William Anderson, LMHC
Author of 'The Anderson Method - Secrets of Permanent Weight Loss'
www.TheAndersonMethod.com

[Steeplechase2000]

08:02 PM on 04/04/2012

amazin

[barb582]

07:58 PM on 04/04/2012

All of these people look fabulous! Good for them!

[Becbinky]

06:32 PM on 04/04/2012

the only thing I'd like to say is sugar free drinks are worse for your body ones with added sugar.

[trbilbo]

05:46 PM on 04/04/2012

Neighbor at 51 lost over 50 pounds (was almost 210 at 5'8"..... and looks like she is 35 at the most now... even younger. She feels great but has been aksing how to take careof the local loose skin this creates. She is looking into surgery and said I would ask other too. What is the best way to remove the loose wrinkles from stomach, back of thighs.. upper arms, neck etc....
Things fit great but she wants to be able to bare a bit more...
she really look amazing.
Any serious suggestions to help?

[psychedelicspell]

07:05 PM on 04/04/2012

First off congrats to your neighbor!!! She has a good friend in you:) As someone that dropped 180 many moons ago under a doctor's supervision. Here are a few things that helped me out. Take vitamins give your body what it needs so it does not rob from the other systems. Skin hair nails the neglected organ. And the first place the body robs from when it is deficient. So you hit the skin from within. Topical I highly recommend 3 oils. Tamanu Oil is wonderful for stretch marks loose skin. Baobab Oil is a quickly absorbed into the skin. And Argan oil. Also a cold laser will help drive it into the skin and get your body to produce collagen. Not needed but a huge help if you want to accelerate results. The recipe if you want to mix the oils is. Equal parts of all oils. Apply after a hot bath or shower. Keep in mind if (mixed) they need to be used right away. Within 3 weeks when mixing essential oils they are not processed. Store the oils in a tinted glass bottle.

[trbilbo]

08:14 PM on 04/04/2012

Thank you sooo much. she has experienced thinning of the hair at her back crown... so vitamins it is. And where do you acquire such oils?
Good luck with your program as well.
hugs!

[steve2530]

05:39 PM on 04/04/2012

GREAT JOB :))))))))

[PMarsh0613]

05:23 PM on 04/04/2012

I agree as long as you all mean business. No one fat, or too skinny (a sign of disease). No one who has a cough, (sickness), or who isn't married ( a sign of sexual problems). No one who isn't cheerful (last time I was in a hospital this was the big downer), and no one who can't pass a test on all the medicines they have to give out. I think it's time most of the nurses in America were fired.

[mayday1313]

05:00 PM on 04/04/2012

You look great, I'm sure it was hard work but well worth it in the end. Here's wishing you a very long life with your family. They must be so proud of what you have accomplished!!

[ae12wrangell]

04:17 PM on 04/04/2012

If I want to be in a hot tub, I will.

Oh, those pictures would looka lot better if the entire body was shown, and not just split-screened (which makes each picture super-narrow).

[Fonsini]

04:11 PM on 04/04/2012

I never knew I could squirt diet soda out my nose until I saw the "before" picture of Condola.

[Rodeogoat]

02:57 PM on 04/04/2012

Yea, another fattie story. I love um..................................NOT!

[sammyjo1088]

04:18 PM on 04/04/2012

Why'd you click on the article link, then?

[Rodeogoat]

05:08 PM on 04/04/2012

To voice my opinion was all.............................

[GRL28]

03:13 PM on 01/28/2013

Why don't you tell everyone your story? Oh yeah, its probably because you still are fat. Pathetic.

[randyb1204]

02:54 PM on 04/04/2012

I started at 276 in March 2009, and now weigh 165. I am also 5'7", but a male. I did it by proper diet and walking. I have maintained for over 6 months. I used to take 11 medications a day and now take 2. I have my blood sugar down to normal. I am 62, and the doctor told me I am now more fit then most of his 40 year old patients. I am interested in clothes again, and am quite proud of my appearance. To those attempting to lose, take it slow, just like you gained it. I consistently lost 1-3 pounds a week.

[bmitche]

02:37 PM on 04/04/2012

WOW, 100 pounds. You look fantastic Barbara !

[Elvira Walker]

01:25 PM on 04/04/2012

One of the things that I notice about people who lose a lot of weight, is that they turn out to be beautiful, and shaped nice.

[canthelpit]

06:55 PM on 04/04/2012

really?? name one. most people who are fat and lose weight, put it back on, while staying ugly and fat. like the one mentioned above. she may have lost weight but she is still ugly and fat.

[kimk42280]

09:59 AM on 04/10/2012

you are one of those UGLY people...I can already tell that and I have never even met you and I am so glad I haven't. I love when jealous people post awful comments to try to make themselves feel better about their meaningless lives.

[DennisTheMenance]

01:17 PM on 04/04/2012

Yeah, Yeah, Lets Always Blame hAving Kids.. But isn't it amazing that they finally Accept reality that it Was THEM that Gained the weight from being Lazy and eating Like a Cow..
And Another Person is at Fault? Her HUSBAND.. For not Taking her out and doing walks in the Neighborhood EveryDAY! 1, then 2 , then 3 Miles Everyday after dinner..and a Low Carb Dinner!

And that;s all it takes! Do oyu really think a Woman wants to go walking on their Own? Should they for Safety Reasons? How about your Duaghters? Take them out walking husbands and Fathers! But Most Men don't want their Wives to Look like they did B4 getting Married.. They are afarid they will Have Affairs and Leave Them ! So They want them to get Fat.. and Undesireable..

[KC-CAJUN]

04:39 PM on 04/04/2012

Very enlightening post. How many children did you have and how did you keep the weight off yourself?

[artgrrl74]

05:39 PM on 04/04/2012

your 1st paragraph made me want to slap you. your 2nd paragraph has merit in that couples SHOULD act like couples and DATE one another. walking is a fantastic way to "date" your significant. true enough.