Finding a Balance "With a common-sense approach to food, I satisfy my hunger and don't feel deprived." I was a chubby kid who grew into an overweight adult . I was constantly teased for being heavier than the other kids, leaving me feeling shy and self-conscious . I tried several diets , but none worked, and I ended up gaining weight. Another factor contributing to my weight gain was my love for cooking, especially rich, high-fat desserts , which I enjoyed preparing and, of course, eating. When I finished high school at age 18, I weighed 215 pounds. Lacking the self-confidence to go to a new, faraway school, I decided to stay close to home instead of going away to college. I continued with my unhealthful eating habits and felt more miserable as the weight came on, but I did nothing about it except buy larger plus-size clothes. My turning point came 10 years later at a friend’s New Year’s Eve party when I was at my all-time highest weight of 330 pounds. I caught my reflection in a mirror and the truth hit me: I was overweight and unhealthy, and unless I did something about it now, I would only get bigger and unhappier. After leaving the party, I thought about my past weight-loss efforts and realized they didn’t work because they required me to give up foods I loved. Then I would constantly think about food and binge , abandoning the diet altogether. If I took a common-sense approach and ate smaller portions of all foods, I would be able to satisfy my hunger and not feel deprived. My biggest challenge was finding a way to fit my passion for cooking into my healthier lifestyle . At first, I tried to stay away from the kitchen to prevent myself from thinking about food. The result: Food was all I thought about.There had to be some way to combine cooking with healthful eating. I found the solution after reading several low-fat cookbooks. With some trial and error , I could modify my favorite foods and make them low in fat, yet delicious. The pounds started coming off, and when I started exercising (usually cardio and weight training five times a week), they seemed to melt away. I didn’t feel deprived , and I felt free to give my body the care and attention it deserved . I lost 165 pounds over the next two years. I had many ups and downs —including plateaus — but I was determined to stay on track. Another challenge to me was not to beat myself up if I ate something that was unhealthy and to take it as a sign to abandon my healthful habits. Instead, I vowed to start again and always keep my goal in mind. Thanks to losing weight and becoming fit I am in tune with my body and myself. My dream is to help othersrealize the ease and benefits of low-fat cooking and eating. I’ve created and published a book of low-fat recipes and run workshops and seminars on healthful eating. Now that I know what I can achieve when I set my mind to it, my dreams are no longer out of reach. I have finally found myself. Workout Schedule Running, stair climbing, step aerobics or kickboxing : 60 minutes / 5 times a week Weight training: 30 minutes / 3 times a week Maintenance Tips 1. Make exercise a priority. After you work out, you’ll be more inclined to eat healthfully. 2. You don’t have to miss out on enjoying your favorite foods to lose weight. Just enjoy them in smaller portions. 3. Don’t beat yourself up if you slip . Get back to your regular exercise and eating program as soon as you can and forgive yourself. Have you recently made fitness a priority?