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Marie (Wondermom) : Success Story
 
Marie is a fifth-grade teacher and mother of three. After gaining weight, playing with her kids became a chore and picking up her son (who has cerebral palsy) also became difficult. She wanted to be a good example to her children and her students, but knew the extra weight was keeping her from doing that. Marie also experienced constant pain in her knees and back. She wanted to feel better about herself, and that's when she decided it was time for a change.
Marie started by counting her calories and exercising regularly. When she started tracking her food, she was shocked to see the number of calories she consumed on a daily basis. In general, she would eat whatever she wanted and drink too many regular sodas. Marie started by making small changes to her diet, still sticking with the foods she liked but eating a lot more of the foods that were good for her. Whenever she had the urge to snack, Marie would read, exercise or do projects that used her hands to keep her mind off of eating until the urge would pass.
Because she was out of shape, small amounts of exercise left her tired and winded. But regular exercise has increased her fitness level dramatically. Now she does yard work, plays with her children, swims, walks and much more. Whenever she experienced a weight loss plateau, adding new activities or changing her exercise routine usually helped. Now she is able to do all of the things she always wanted to, and still has energy left at the end of the day!
At first, Marie thought she wouldn't have time to read and post on the Message Boards. But once she started spending time in the Community, she learned that there were so many others who knew what she was going through. "The extra support and friendships are so valuable," said Marie.
She also used the fitness and nutrition trackers on a daily basis and read several articles in the Resource Centers. Marie encourages members to use the whole site because she found so many features to be helpful along her weight loss journey.
In addition to the weight loss, Marie says she feels much better, both physically and mentally. She can bend down without pain and regularly goes roller skating with her children and her students. She feels that in order to help others, whether your family, friends, or students, you must first take care of yourself.
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| Weight Before: |
240 lbs. |
| Weight After: |
185 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
