success story
‘I LOST 82 POUNDS.’
Name: Donnia Cox I live in: Hope Age: 58 Occupation: University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences clinical services manager for the Medical Oncology/Stem Cell Transplant Unit in Little Rock Starting weight: 248 Current weight: 166 My story: I had reached the point in my life where I was tired of being tired. I didn’t have enough energy to plan weekend activities with my husband, kids and grandchildren. In the previous four years, I had changed to a less active job (behind a desk), had my gall bladder removed, lost my father, and my husband had a life-changing accident that left him disabled. During that time I ate large amounts of fat-filled foods and had no physical activity. I had to make a choice — continue down the same path or find a weight-loss plan that worked for me. One of my co-workers had been successful in the UAMS weight-loss program. I decided to attend a meeting and was convinced that this would work for me. At the end of the 16-week program, I had lost 49 pounds. I felt so much better, and I knew I could continue to build on the changes I had made. My eating plan: Since the completing the program, I now eat regular foods and continue to lose weight. Fitness apps on my phone enable me to record my exercise and document the foods I eat. The apps help me keep up with calories and make adjustments as needed. My calorie intake is about 50 percent from carbohydrates, 30 percent from fat and 20 percent from protein. I plan meals ahead of time and snack on healthy food choices. I’ve also discovered that I enjoy many foods that I hadn’t tried before. My exercise plan: Most days I start with a 3-mile walk, followed with weights for about 20 minutes. When the weather allows, I walk outside rather than on a treadmill. I plan to add cycling to my activities this spring. In summer, I will add swimming. One of the new things I love is yoga. I attend classes two times a week and work on increasing my core strength, balance and flexibility. My goals for the future: I plan to continue recording my calories and exercise, and lose a few more pounds. But most importantly, my goal is to stay active. There are days when it’s harder than others, but when I think of how I felt and looked before compared to now, the bad choices I made are no longer attractive. It’s been fun purchasing new clothes. When I pull a pair of pants off the rack and think, “That’s too small,” I look at the size and smile to myself when I realize that it will fit. It’s a good feeling.