If you want to lose weight, you’re certainly not alone
After Marijane Imburgia of Washington retired two years ago, she began to focus more on the need to lose weight and get healthy – the creaking in her knees and the few extra pounds she had put on from sitting behind a desk for years had taken a toll.
So, Imburgia began the process by working out on her own, with limited success. It wasn’t until she made her first visit to the Wilfred Cameron Wellness Center in September that the weight began to fall off with the help of a new mindset and a structured exercise plan.
As 2014 begins, Imburgia is down 45 pounds since September, but her journey has just begun: Her resolution for the new year is to lose at least 50 more pounds and to continue to live her new and improved lifestyle.
When Imburgia, 65, makes up her mind to do something, she holds herself to the challenge. She stopped smoking, cold turkey, 29 years ago and has not had a cigarette since.
“I got tired of the smell of the cigarettes and tired of my need for the cigarettes,” said Imburgia. “I decided it was just time. And after I got over the anger and bitterness over quitting, it was nice to know that I was no longer tied to that addiction and it was freeing. I don’t miss smoking at all.”
And she doesn’t miss her old eating habits and lack of physical activity either, even though she had to ease herself into a completely new way of thinking when she began this journey in the fall.
“One thing I always tried to avoid was making lists and notes to keep track of things – especially what I ate every day,” said Imburgia. “But that is exactly what the nutritionist at the center suggested. So, at first I felt resistant, but once I began to do it and continued to exercise on my own after the trainer showed me how to use the equipment, it all began to fall into place and I started to see results.”
Since Imburgia’s insurance plan paid for her to attend at series of courses through the Eat Well for Life program at the wellness center, she attended both sessions and learned more about eating healthy, keeping a food journal and tracking your daily caloric intake.
Imburgia has continued to drop about 2 to 2.5 pounds per week by doing at least 40 minutes of aerobic exercise at the center combined with strength training several times per week combined with a healthy eating plan and the continuation of a food journal.
“I now eat in moderation and continue to journal what I eat to make myself accountable,” said Imburgia, adding that the courses taught her the important of cutting out sugar and sweets, cutting back on breads and carbs and the importance of healthy protein, fruits and vegetables, and drinking plenty of water.
“My advice to those who want to lose weight is to accept change and to give in to the things you have resisted, as I did with the journaling,” said Imburgia. “Start slowly and work your way up to it. If you miss a week or have a bad day, don’t give up. Go right back to it and pick up where you left off.”