Weight Loss Success: Jacquelyn Taylor Made Over Her Way Of Life And Lost 70 Pounds

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Name: Jacquelyn Taylor
Age: 58
Height: 5'2"
Before Weight: 234 pounds

How I Gained It: I had back surgery in 2006 and was laid up for some time. I was limited in what I could do in terms of anything physical, so the weight just started to pile on. When I quit smoking in 2008, my weight went out of control.

Breaking Point: I was diagnosed with diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and GERD, and then fatty liver disease. I knew I had to take control and gain back my health.

How I Lost It: I started a lifestyle change (I will not call it a diet). I was very limited to the exercises I was able to do and any high-impact exercise was out of the question, so I started walking. At first, I had to stop and rest every 100 feet or so. Then I ventured a little further, but made sure the route I chose had bus benches available for me to rest at. Gradually, I made it to my goal of walking one hour a day, seven days a week. I rarely have to rest anymore!

I also started eating smarter and smaller portions. I first stopped drinking pop and using sugar, and then the next month I quit eating white foods -- no white bread, potatoes, pasta, rice or any product that used white flour. The following month I limited dairy to skim milk only and cut out sour cream, butter and cheese. I also limited processed foods; now I eat no lunch meats, sausages or hot dogs at all. I eat mainly fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains and lean meats. I make most of my meals from scratch, and I watch my portions. I do cheat at times, but it's OK, because I have changed my lifestyle. That occasional piece of cake is not upsetting to me or my lifestyle.

I am not as self-conscious today. Before, it was embarrassing for me to sit in a booth at a restaurant because I had to squeeze myself into the booth. Now, I go clothes shopping and enjoy it. Most of all, the energy and enjoyment of life is the best part of this journey.

My doctor told me I was curing myself, and has taken me off of my blood pressure and cholesterol medications, and has reduced my diabetes medicine. My goal is to totally get off of my diabetes medicine and control my diabetes with diet and exercise.

It is a work in progress; my goal is to reach 140 pounds. I am at a plateau right now, but I look forward to reaching my goal. It has not been easy, and I have learned a lot along the way, but learning how to look at what I put into my body and exercise every day is priceless.

After Weight: 166 pounds (my goal is 140)

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Comments

[SurpriseTaiChi]

01:51 PM on 04/29/2013

You look fantastic! You are very brave to change this way!

[bmitche]

04:12 PM on 04/24/2012

Very good job Jacquelyn !

[gdzilla2]

03:11 PM on 04/24/2012

You look amazing! Congrats and keep up the good work. I agree with you on the word diet..hate it. EVERYONE has a daily diet, good or bad. When someone makes a change in their diet it should be called a lifestyle change or even a diet change because that is much more accurate. Good luck for continued success.

[Janenotdoe]

01:14 PM on 04/24/2012

Fabulous!!! Hope you pat yourself on the back every single day :)

[Ross Parlette]

12:52 PM on 04/24/2012

I lost 60 lbs in about a year by cutting out sugar and starch (including sugary and starchy veggies). I did NOT cut out fat (except manufactured trans-fats). The Big Fat Lie is that fat makes you fat. It's glucose (from sugar and starch) that makes you fat.

[Omamac]

12:01 PM on 04/24/2012

Good for you! You look wonderful! Most people can lose weight if they would just cut out the sugar and white food – breads, pasta, etc.

[corvettemikeswyf]

10:06 AM on 04/24/2012

I'd be interested to know how long it took her to lose the 70 lbs.

[Stellaturner]

08:43 AM on 04/24/2012

At times we get to do some extreme acts just to lose that extra flab, but what we forget about is the other side effects that may cause due to it. Before practicing any kind of diet plan it is important to properly analyze its outcomes and then try it out.

Thanks,
www.weightloss5ws.com

[Sprinks678]

08:31 AM on 04/24/2012

Congratulations on your weight loss! You look great and I'll bet you feel so much better and have so much more energy. :)

[FSMbaby]

08:10 AM on 04/24/2012

It's amazing how many people go off of their diabetes & cholesterol medication when they get to a healthy weight. It just goes to show you that you really are what you eat.

[qsfoxx]

07:50 AM on 04/24/2012

Some people do not learn just how unhealthy obesity can be until it's too late - both for them and for Medicaid/Medicare with taxpayers picking up most of the cost.

[Sprinks678]

08:36 AM on 04/24/2012

Some people aren't fortunate enough to know how to eat properly. They grow up in a home with fried, processed foods and they think that's the norm. Processed foods that are unhealthy are usually less expensive than whole foods. For some, losing weight involves relearning food habits taught from a very young age.

[tamthebrat1978]

01:07 PM on 04/24/2012

Exactly, and when she would have been a child they ate differently, they used butter and everything, but foods were not processed than either. So therefore foods eaten may be what we would consider eating unhealthy, but our foods today, mostly everything except home grown food and meats from butchers and hunters, has some type of preservatives or additives, or growth hormones in that are not need. Plus foods also have chemicals too that shouldn't be eaten.

[dmt8162]

08:59 AM on 04/24/2012

some people dont have the money to eat well. it is expensive. some people dont have the time to exercise if they work two jobs, have children and are single parents. i dont think most people do this on purpose. some people are brought up that way and it is hard to break old habits. as someone who has no room to talk about weight loss, i need to lose 25 lbs myself, i can understand why it is such a problem

[qsfoxx]

09:17 AM on 04/24/2012

Good luck with that! I'm sure you'll feel better, look better, and live a longer, healthier life.