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Natasha N. : Success Story
 
Natasha lost weight before becoming pregnant, only to gain it back (plus more) when she had her child. She felt like the additional weight was keeping her from being as active as she wanted to be. Natasha wanted to be able to play with her kids, but she was having problems even keeping up. She also had serious acid reflux and knew it was aggravated by the soda and greasy foods she consumed.
Natasha had some poor nutrition habits—drinking a lot of regular soda and snacking on sweets at night. Even now she still struggles with these habits, but has tried to find healthier ways to deal with them. She usually snacks on fruit, and if she wants other sweets, she allows herself to have them if they fit into her calorie range for the day. Natasha also switched to diet, instead of regular soda.
Natasha started exercising by doing videos and using hand weights at home. Eventually she decided to join a gym, where she does cardio five days a week and strength trains every other day. She has noticed a big change in her fitness level. When Natasha started, her heart rate climbed quickly and she couldn't exercise for very long before she became tired. Now she has to work much harder to get her heart rate up, which is a sign of her improved physical fitness.
Natasha used the food tracker and fitness tracker on a regular basis. It helped her see exactly what she was putting into her body. She also liked having a set of guidelines to follow—calorie and nutrient ranges, weekly calories burned goal, etc.
Natasha also used the tools and information in the Resource Centers, reading articles everyday. She posted messages on the Message Boards to get answers to her questions and when she was in need of support.
In addition to her weight loss, Natasha went from a tight size 16 to a very comfortable size 6. She has more confidence, which was a big achievement for her. Natasha's family loves the changes she’s made, and she is always complemented and congratulated on her progress. She says that’s what keeps her going.
Natasha's advice to new members is to stick with it, because your effort will pay off in the end. She experienced plateaus just like most people do, and changing her exercise routine helped get the weight loss started again.
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| Weight Before: |
177 lbs. |
| Weight After: |
135 lbs. |
Are you interested in being featured for your success? Tell your story on your SparkPage and other members can vote for you to become a " SparkPeople Motivator!"
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SparkPeople's 500-Calorie Thanksgiving Feast
