She lost 187 lbs at age 49!
Morbidly obese and “immune” to diets, Shirley Mast had resigned herself to an early death. Then her doctor turned her on to a simple plan that changed everything . . . Y
our test results show it was a panic attack, not a heart attack—but I still have serious concerns,” said Shirley Mast’s doctor. The Pennsylvania nurse tensed, flashing back to the terrifying moment in her living room as her chest began to throb, and she struggled to breathe. “The truth is, getting your weight down is the single best way to improve every aspect of your wellbeing,” the doctor said. Shirley dropped her eyes. She already had soaring blood pressure, asthma, prediabetes and joint pain so severe she’d soon need a wheelchair. Now panic attacks? The 387 pounds she carried was even destroying her peace of mind. “Shirley, there’s a program I want you to consider,” the doctor said. “I’m not insisting, but I truly think it can transform your health. Check it out and come back in two weeks to discuss our next steps, okay?”
Shirley glanced up. “Sure,” she said, fighting back tears . . .
Surprising weeks . . .
As Shirley drove home, she tried to focus on all the joy in her life—her cherished family, friends, work. She also had a deep faith that gave her the grace to accept what she couldn’t change—including her health. Raised on huge portions and endless snacks, she’d been heavy since childhood, and diets had failed her over and over. Now nearing her 50th birthday, her weight gain had actually accelerated. There was no hope. Her morbid obesity would kill her. Why waste time on another doomed diet? I’ll devote my energy to making memories with my husband and my boys, she thought. Their oldest was 22, the youngest 16. As so often happened, her mind drifted to grandchildren she would never meet; it was her single greatest regret. Shirley was making scrapbooks so they could know her through the albums she left behind. Later that night, Shirley glanced at the pamphlets her doctor had given her. The gist: For about $12 a day, you got five mini meals— each with lots of protein, moderate carbs and a little fat. You also prepared a full dinner with lean protein and veggies. And a “coach” guided and encouraged you along the way. The company was called Optavia. For some reason, Shirley dreaded telling her physician she wouldn’t try. Maybe I’ll indulge him for two weeks, she thought. I’ll get bigger, and that’ll settle it. Eventually, she made a call and was connected with a coach named Barry. He helped her order ready-made mini meals— pancakes, bars, soup, pasta. He’d used the program himself and seemed knowledgeable. “Lots of protein and fiber give this plan a high ‘ fullness index.’ It controls hunger really well,” he said, which reassured the nurse in Shirley. When her mini meals arrived, she was stunned to find a fraction of her normal portions left her satisfied and shedding up to two pounds a day. By day four, she felt . . . vibrant. She couldn’t get over her energy and high spirits. “I wake up in the middle of night and get too excited about the future to go back to sleep,” she told Barry. “I think I’m going to have a life I never dreamed possible!”
Dancing with joy
Shirley stuck with the simple program and continued to get impressive results. She shed 29 pounds in 28 days. In four months, she was
down 88 pounds— and under 300 pounds. She was able to walk longer and farther. “I wasn’t just lighter, I was stronger, with more muscle tone and more stamina. My body had never responded like this—not even when I was decades younger,” she recalls. Did she ever yearn for old comfort foods? “Sometimes,” she admits. “I’d talk to my coach or get support on Optavia.com. That got me through tough times.” And though she’d still occasionally indulge in birthday cake or a favorite treat, “I didn’t like the effect it had on me—the sluggishness and bloating. I became less and less interested in unhealthy options.” In 19 months, Shirley traded her size 6X dresses for size 14s. “I know some people at my age find that their metabolisms fight against them. That didn’t happen to me. My body has been working with me from the beginning!” Shirley is now 57 and maintaining a 187-pound loss. Not only did she swing-dance at her oldest son’s wedding, she was there to welcome baby Rainee, her first grandchild. “My new goal is to keep getting stronger so I can dance at Rainee’s wedding, too!”
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