Meet Roberta
Story by Kathleen Daelemans

Roberta before

Name: Roberta
Location: Atlanta, Georgia
Goal: To lose 100 pounds
Wanted to Address: Unhealthy diet habits and binge eating
Total Pounds Lost: 100!

Roberta read diet books like the rest of us read romance novels. She had at least a dozen on her nightstand when I met her. "I'd read the latest diet book, go out and by all the food and exercise supplies required to fulfill the program and get really excited. I tried at least a dozen of the diets but I just refused to believe that the whole 'normal world' weighed and measured everything that went into their mouths.

"After the last 'diet' I gained 120 pounds on top of what I weighed. Out of desperation, I gave up. I got totally discouraged and ended up living on nutrition bars and shakes to try and lose the weight but it wasn't working. All they did was make me hungry. The bad thing is that I'd eat a protein bar and then 20 or 30 minutes later, I'd make a meal." Turned out all the books offered was false hope.

Work with Your Doctor
Roberta's yo-yo dieting and binge eating cycle left her so frustrated she was consuming up to 10,000 calories a day. When you're consuming that many calories a day, phasing calories out is what weight loss expert, Dr. Pamela Peeke, recommends: "Instead of 8000 to 10,000 thousand calories a day, take it down to 5000 – 6000 calories and let your body adapt. By definition, you're going to lose weight at that level, especially if you're getting in some physical fitness. From there, take it down to say 3000 or so and eventually to 2000 and then perhaps to 1800. But you can't do this overnight."

Portion Control Equals Success
"Kathleen taught me about portion control. I learned that the thumb is about an ounce and the palm of the hand is about 3-4 ounces. I needed to start eating more fruits and vegetables and less refined carbohydrates. Instead of fast food or pizza dinners, now I'll have a 3 – 4 ounce portion of chicken, pork tenderloin or fish and then a giant salad and maybe another side veggie. I 'garnish' the plate with rice if I have to have it and that works for me."

Accountability Works
"I don't buy treats anymore rationalizing that 'I'll just have a little' because once I get started, I know I can't stop. Kathleen emphasized that I had to learn how to factor in high calorie foods and snacks. Now I know that indulging comes with a price tag. A 250 calorie chocolate chip cookie requires a brisk 33 minute walk to burn off. That's in addition to my regular work out!

"Understanding the consequences of my behavior has helped guide me to make better choices. The single most important thing I learned from Kathleen was 'moderation, not elimination.' Learning that I could still eat the foods I loved and enjoy the occasional small indulgence helped me to abandon my all or nothing approach to dieting, for good."

Motivation Matters
"I used to set unrealistic goals and cop out. I'd try to be perfect and then when I wasn't, I would quit and give up in frustration. I used health issues as an excuse too. But Kathleen taught me that there's no such thing as 'blowing it.' She emphasized mastering baby steps. Suddenly I knew they were the answer for me. No more copping out, crazy diets, made up excuses, impossible goals or crazy meal plans. Getting older was not going to be fun if I kept up my unhealthy habits.

"The more I aimed for progress, not perfection, the better I felt. The weight started coming off. By focusing on the number of baby steps in the right direction I could master, minor setbacks remained just that, minor setbacks. Toddlers tumble and they don't cry! Why should I?"

The Power of Support
"After I appeared on the show, Kathleen sent me an email telling me I had my own fan club. Complete strangers began sending me encouraging letters. That support really changed my life. When I needed a boost or lacked motivation, I logged on to the forums and read through the posts. Knowing I'm not the only one fighting this battle helps me to stay on track." Roberta's courage delivered a truly unexpected gift: "I learned that by sharing my story and everything I've been through, I could help others."

And that my friends are what these forums are all about! In giving we receive, in sharing we discover, with knowledge, motivation, accountability and support, we conquer.

Before
"I used to feel hopeless and out of control." When I first visited Roberta's home, I noticed she didn't have any mirrors in her house. Not even in the bathroom. That brought me back to a time in my life when I was so ashamed about my own weight that I avoided looking at my reflection in mirrors or even store windows. I didn't want to look myself in the eye because I'd have to face my failures. That's an extremely painful place to be.

"Kathleen found the mirror that used to hang over my fireplace. We put it up together. 'Now, I know you haven't done this in awhile, Roberta, but what do you see?' 'I see someone who is going to be a lot healthier soon.'

"Kathleen gave me a big hug and told me she saw an accomplished career woman, a beautiful Mom and someone with the courage and resources to succeed. She told me to that I'd feel better before I noticed weight loss. She told me to acknowledge every baby step forward I took and to reward myself often.

"She warned me to be patient. 'Don't use a lack of instant weight loss as an excuse to quit. It takes time for the mirror to register physical changes but if you pay attention, there are some immediate results worth fighting for. Every baby step forward is a confidence boost. Build on that to propel yourself forward.'"

Roberta after

After
Roberta has lost 100 pounds! "I feel like I can do anything! I have different dreams because now I have dreams again. I have more energy than when I was 25. The more I work out, the more energy I have. I don't lose my breath when I walk in hot weather and my feet and ankles don't swell up like they used to. It used to take me 40 minutes to walk a mile and a half and now it takes me 18. I can shop in 'regular clothes stores' and don't have to go to the 'fat ladies' department anymore."

Roberta recently flew across country to visit her daughters. "The sky's the limit when you're a 'normal' size person. I didn't have to walk down the aisle sideways and no one stared or pointed at me. I didn't have to worry about fitting in my seat and I didn't need a seat belt extender. I wouldn't trade the way I feel for anything in the world."

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