Alex and Stephanie are quickly approaching the completion of the 20 week Foundation period and have lost 60 pounds and 37 pounds respectively and are at their goal weights! For the past 3-5 years they have been trying all kinds of other programs where the usual concerns for any 'diet' came into play. They said that getting bored of the limited choices for food, being hungry, and not seeing fast results were all reasons why none of the other programs worked for them.
They were encouraged to join HNT by the success of other participants that they knew and worked with on a daily basis. They wanted to get healthy in order to feel better, keep up with their growing 6 year old twins (without being exhausted) and be a good example to their kids by showing them how to lead a healthy lifestyle.
After joining the program, it wasn't long before Alex and Stephanie were being motivated in their own journeys by successes in weight loss and health. They liked the fact that hunger was not an issue despite the much lower calorie meal plan that they were following. Eating the meal replacements and fruits and vegetables made them feel great and satisfied. In addition to the meal plan, they enjoyed attending class and sharing with others who were struggling with the same situations as they were. "Its much easier to related to someone else who struggled at that family pitch-in picnic and hear their solutions that worked, " said Stephanie.
Now that they have met their goal weights and are beginning to maintain, they are eating less meal replacements and more grocery store foods with success-thanks to the weekly meetings. Before, Stephanie remembers keeping calories low, but not knowing what to eat which meant having a few high calorie and not nutritious foods and stopping based on the calories. This, she describes, left her hungry and cranky until eventually she would give up and eat whatever. Now that she has more direction and guidance about what to eat, she is feeling great about the choices she makes.
HNT has impacted them both greatly:
Alex says that HNT "has totally changed his life". He now has a different perspective on society, his personal environment, how he eats and what he eats. Shortly after joining the program, he began working out for the first time in his life. He loves the way he looks and feels, but most importantly he loves the way he is impacting the lives of those he loves by making healthy choices.
Stephanie "feels awesome, is not as tired as she used to be, can handle stress better now, is wearing a much smaller size and is receiving lots of compliments". She likes having a positive influence on those around her. She brags about changing the last tailgate she attended from a breakfast full of biscuits and gravy to egg beater omelets and turkey bacon and the snacks to fresh veggies and humus rather than cheese cubes and sausage sticks. She said, "no one minded" and "folks even commented on the fact that they didn't miss those fattier foods". She is excited that her kids now beg for apples and plums rather than ding-dongs and candy as their afternoon snacks. They also ask for lettuce wraps on their hamburgers instead of the bun, but not because she told them to, but because they saw her eating one, tried it, and liked it. She enjoys finding active activities for the whole family instead of sitting around and watching movies all the time.
Before HNT- April 2010
Now...November 2010
Nearly 100 pounds lighter between them both!
Way to go keep up the hard work,
