Debbie walked off 132 lbs

Debbie’s D simple strategies defeat ‘zombie cells’ secretly blocking bloc fat loss—so you can lose up to 14 lbs this week*

“A little lit swollen, but not bad,” Debbie Schrader said to herself, testing her newly newl replaced knee as she got out of the car. She headed for her office. It was a chilly Ohio day, yet halfway across the parking lot, she began to perspire and grow short of breath. She sighed. The truth was, she was already regaining rega weight she’d lost before her surgery. My knee is better, but at 300 pounds, p I’ll still have trouble getting around, she thought. I’m not even 60 yet and I feel a decade or two older. For the millionth time, the exact same s words echoed through her mind: You have to do something

Debbie worked a desk job, but it still left her exhausted most days. At home, she’d collapse on her couch with pizza, cheesy bread and ice cream. She knew she should eat bett better, eat less, move more; it had worked when she was younger. But her cravings had be become intense, and she no longer had the energy en or motivation to f ight them. She’d accepted she was meant to be heavy.

Yet… I want to get out and have fun, Debbie reminded herself. I don’t want to be trapped by my body. A recent trip to the Grand Canyon had been tough, with many trails too challenging and restaurant booths too small. And even when she’d gotten her weight down a bit, she huffed and puffed just walking around the block. She didn’t want to huff and puff through life.

Days passed, and Debbie couldn’t seem to break the cycle of tiredness and not-so-healthy choices. Who knows how long it would’ve gone on if she hadn’t opened an email and found that her company was offering the same free wellness program that helped her slim down ahead of her knee procedure. I might as well try again, she thought.

Starting fresh

When Debbie and her co-workers had their f irst meeting, they went over the basics. It was a workplace version of Weight Watchers, where every food had a point value, and she was allotted 38 points a day. Lean protein, produce, beans and other foods great for weight loss and overall health had zero points or very few points. So I can have big portions if I want them, she noted.

When the group leader talked about how lots of protein and f iber-rich fruit and veggies help prevent cravings, Debbie paid special attention. If I have fewer cravings to fight, I’ ll have a better chance to stay on track, she thought. After a grocery run for things like yogurt, fruit, f iber bars, lean steak and salad f ixings, Debbie jumped in.

“How’s it going?” asked Karen, who worked in customer service and was doing the program too. They were a few days in. “I’m a little hungry,” Debbie replied. “But my body is adjusting.” Turned out, her body was also melting f lab. By week’s end, she’d lost

7 pounds—a pound a day!

Small steps, a surprise twist

As Debbie continued to f ill up on protein and produce, little did she know she was loading up on nutrients proven to kill “zombie cells.” Cutting-edge research shows these cells accumulate inside us as we age, making us feel a bit like zombies, causing us to age rapidly and pack on stubborn pounds (learn more in the box at right). Antioxidants from Debbie’s favorite salads, veggie casseroles and light berry desserts are powerful weapons against these cells, and experts say they help make weight loss feel effortless.

That’s exactly what Debbie experienced. Her hunger and cravings shrank and she began to yearn for healthier options. Her energy was suddenly way up. And since her knee was feeling better, she started using one of the most powerful zombie-cell killers of all: walking. “I’m going slow—half a mile in 30 minutes,” she shared with her best pal Lisa, who lived in Alabama. “But it feels good and seems to help.” Debbie challenged herself to go farther and faster each day, using a Fitbit to keep track. In 12 weeks, she shed 30 pounds. “Seeing the scale go down is really motivating,” Debbie told Lisa. “And I love walking outside!” Debbie began f inding fun routes and inviting local friends Amy and Laurie along. According to the Fitbit, her walking speed tripled. The momentum spilled over into the rest of her life; she experimented with more and more healthy foods. Everything clicked as pounds kept melting. All told, Debbie has lost 132 pounds. “I was on a pretty scary course for a lot of my life. Now I take no medications and have no health issues. I feel better than ever at 59.” Experts say it’s proof her zombie cells have been tamed. “Everyone’s journey is different,” says Debbie, who now travels to walk in races in places like Mount Rushmore and Yosemite. “Set your mind to f inding what makes you feel good, then get out and do it. For me, walking was my game changer.”