Reader Success Story: Small Steps to Big Results

We get so many inspiring emails from readers, and today we’re sharing another reader success story with you! Read on for Jaki Sinclair’s inspiring experience. Now the creator of Slim Down U, Jaki has lost 120 pounds and is committed to encouraging people to make healthy habits one step at a time. And feel free to share your weight-loss story, too!

I’ve been overweight since childhood. I was on my first diet in grade school, and that was the beginning of my lifelong struggle with weight. I wasted so much time following all of the fad/crash diets, trying diet pills and always looking for that magical product to make me thin and happy.

I was at the point of resigning myself to being overweight and unhappy for the rest of my life. On my last diet, I had lost 101 pounds and gained it all back quickly. I felt like a failure. I was beating myself up on the inside with my negative thinking and self-talk. I was already having a hard time getting around physically. I hurt all of the time and was out breath just walking though the house. As I watched the scale inch closer to 250 I knew this was not the life I wanted for myself any longer.

I knew how to lose weight. I had been losing weight my entire life. I decided to take a bit from everything I had learned over the years and make a plan that would be a new healthy way of living—one that I would be willing to stick with for the rest of my life. I got out my old diet journals to see what things had worked in the past and which things I could stick with for a lifetime. I began reading and taking classes again to learn more about living a more positive life, eating healthy foods, choosing the right portion sizes and enjoying exercise. I learned, and am still learning, a lot of healthy ideas and tips to guide me on my new journey.

I decided from the start to make this as stress-free as possible. Like many overweight people, I am a stress and emotional eater. I decided there would be no deprivation or off-limit foods. I wasn’t going to punish myself any longer. When you are overweight or have been overweight most of your life, as I had been, you already feel like crap and have spent enough time being beat up and punished by yourself and the “well-meaning” unsolicited comments you often receive.

Jaki tooling around on her bike with her oh-so-cute pup! Being active isn’t a chore for her, but a new way of life!

My plan was to add healthy things in each day. I had to start with changing my thinking because I realized that to lose the weight and keep it off, I was going to have to change my relationship with not only food but also with myself. I started telling myself I believed in myself and believed I deserved to lose weight and to be healthy and happy. I told myself this every single day!

I started walking. Just for five to 10 minutes a few times a week. I worked my way up to walking most days, and my time increased. I love my walks now! For the first time in almost 30 years, I have a bicycle. I have a cute little basket on the back to bring my pup along, and we have fun adventures on our bike. I never thought I’d be writing or talking about my bicycle adventures—and here I am writing to y’all about it. I can’t describe to you how awesome that feels!

Then I started adding in healthier foods. Lots of fruits and vegetables, whole grains and lean meats. I found that as I continued with the positive self talk, it was affecting me in all areas of my life. I wanted to make healthier food choices. It didn’t happen overnight. There were still times I didn’t make the best choices. Part of life is that there are bumps in the road, but those bumps aren’t slowing me down any longer. I’m hurdling over most of them these days, and I believe you can, too.

Weight-loss was slow in the beginning, but I didn’t let that stop me because my goal was to have a healthier life, inside and out and not just to lose weight. As the months went on and I continued with my positive self talk, walking and eating healthy foods, the weight started coming off faster than it had in the beginning. Eventually I had lost 120 pounds.

I’ve been maintaining the loss by sticking with my new lifestyle and feel like I have my life back.

I want to encourage anyone who wants to have a healthier life to not give up!  Believe in yourself and believe you can accomplish all of your goals! —Jaki Sinclair

Jaki is surely living the FBG Life inside and out, and we couldn’t be more proud of her for her accomplishments. Way to go, girl! How can you use Jaki’s experience to make your life a little healthier and happier?—Jenn