Skip's Journey

This program changed my life.

I struggled with weight for years, but the two or three years before I started the program, things became progressively worse. I had heartburn all the time, I was out of shape and became winded doing simple jobs. My back ached and I felt generally lethargic. In 2012 alone, I put on nearly 20 pounds. Stress from work, a lack of exercise and terrible eating habits combined with a slowing metabolism made for serious weight gain.

Then I started a new job where my new boss had lost a lot of weight. He told me he’d been through Journeys.

We talked about the program, and I found the classroom aspects, where you learn how and why you eat, very interesting. He encouraged me to contact Nancy and begin the program.

Structure and accountability was what I needed and that was what this program offered. I set a goal weight of 200 pounds, never really believing it was possible. It had been nearly 25 years since I had seen that weight. My wife decided to try Journeys as well, which turned out to be the best part of the program.

The first meeting and workout is something I will always remember. Afterwards, I hurt all over and was so tired I could barely walk. The restricted diet was very hard to adjust to. I suffered cravings the first few weeks but once we started tracking our hunger pains things leveled out and I learned to never let myself get to the point where I was too hungry. I also learned how to plan for the day and pack my lunch accordingly. I started walking three times a day and getting 16,000 - 20,000 steps.

The biggest surprise to me was the amount of weight that started coming off immediately.

I averaged a loss of 3.3 pounds per week. It built my confidence to push harder. My wife threw out all the ‘bad’ food in the house. She and I helped, coached and kicked one another in the booty when we needed support.  She’s the little voice on my shoulder when I’m thinking about eating something I shouldn’t.

The other participants in the class really support you and it’s fascinating to see everyone change as the class goes on. I met my first goal in 12 weeks and my overall goal in 15. I ended up losing another 10 pounds before leveling off for a total loss of 70 pounds. Several people I know well don’t recognize me.

I’ve lowered my total cholesterol 66 points and my LDL cholesterol 63 points. My blood pressure is down, my back issues and heart burn are gone, and my body fat is down to 17.6 percent.

I have more energy, more stamina and feel better.

I still workout on Tuesdays and Thursdays because I like to be pushed to succeed. I recently went through a class where a new group was starting and made it through the workout tired but feeling good. It really allowed me to see how far I’ve come.

I’ve also learned the journey never ends. I still fight urges to eat things I shouldn’t, and I still have to kick myself out of bed in the morning to walk or go work out when I really just want to go home and watch TV. But thanks to Journeys I have the tools to handle adversity. That’s what it takes.