I know I’m not the only person to experience a long-term struggle with “middle-age-spread,” so I want to share my experience in a local program I joined last year. My sister and I grew up in the hills of north Los Angeles. We walked about a mile home from school through those hills for 12 years. Our house was on the side of a steep ravine with 37 stone steps from the sidewalk to the front door, so we got plenty of steps as kids.

Our mom was a very good cook and we ate healthy meals. There was always fresh fruit and vegetables in the house and most treats were home baked or an occasional doughnut from the Helms bread truck. The only soft drinks in the house were bottles of Pepsi Cola reserved only for our Dad. The only fast food we ate was french fries and cherry cokes at Bob’s Big Boy as teenagers. We were not school athletes, but we both took dance lessons for about seven years into our teens, I was on drill team in high school, and we body surfed at the beach. I weighed 117 when I graduated from high school.

Our parents were both slender, healthy appearing people, but at 57 years old, our hard-working Dad died in 45 minutes from a massive coronary due to possible heart damage from undiagnosed rheumatic fever as a boy. Our only relative with diabetes was his obese mother, who died in her 60s of heart failure, possibly a complication of her diabetes. We lost our mom to colon cancer at 67. I felt very sad to be “orphaned” at 40 years old.

After marriage and having two children I weighed 127 into my 30s, and remember feeling fat at 135! After moving to Wyoming in 1965 my only physical exercise was horseback riding.

I worked full-time for 46 years in fairly sedentary jobs. I traveled four counties the last 16 years so ate out at least 16 days a month. I gradually put on the pounds through my 40s, and began the continuous struggle of losing weight.

After menopause it seemed impossible. I accepted losing the drive to procreate, but no one told me I would lose the drive to do anything! A pervasive, low-level depression set in. A gynecologist prescribed an anti-depressant, which I took for several years, but carbs were my favorite mood enhancer. As a lifelong carb addict, my attempts to curb consumption of baked goods and salty snacks only lasted three full days before I fell off the wagon. I tried to lower the rising number on my scales with Weight Watchers, the Mediterranean Diet, etc., etc., but I still became a very fluffy grandma!

For 16 years, I served people with long-term, significant disabilities in a human services position. I observed the personal devastation of chronic illnesses, including obesity and diabetes. I have always had fear of having a stroke.

Intellectually I have always been fully aware of the risks of obesity, but my craving for carbs, whether I was glad, mad or sad, always won. I was raised to the tune of, “Clean your plate!” and I am a pleasure eater, if the first bite tastes good, take the whole package of treats to the living room and finish it.

At my February 2022 Wellness appointment, Dr. Durney told me my Alc and Cholesterol were both elevated and I needed to address it. Fear is a great motivator, so I got serious about changing my eating habits. I read a man’s weight loss success story with the Prevent Type 2 program in the Powell Tribune and attended the introductory meeting that March 15. My hope was to be lighter and healthier by the end of the program 11 months later.

I found the program leaders Tina and Mary to be welcoming, personable, discreet, non-judgmental, encouraging and professional. I won’t ruin the surprises by telling you all the tools you will receive to help you succeed, but they are amazing!

With my Alc at 6.0%, cholesterol at 233, and an “obese” body mass index of 32.1, I joined the program at 199.2 pounds. When my muscular, 5-foot-9-inch son mentioned that he wanted to lose 10 pounds to 185, I didn’t mention that at 5-foot-6-inches I outweighed him!

The first step I took was to change my shopping habits. Being compulsive, I cannot have certain foods in my house! I’m a Lays potato chip ad on two feet! I started reading food container labels. I learned the difference between my idea of a portion and a healthy portion. I actually measured my helpings! I invested the time to log my intake and minutes of activity. I read the lessons, attended and participated in the classes.

By May 17 just nine weeks later, I had lost 13 pounds, my Alc was 5.8% and cholesterol 215. I was amazed and Dr. Durney was very pleased. By Sept. 6 I weighed 170.6 with an “Overweight BMI of 24.7; down 7.4 points. 

By Feb. 21, 2023, at the end of our class, I weighed 164.8. I am now down to 150, I dropped from a 16 to 14 clothing size, have much more energy, and no longer need asthma, blood pressure or heartburn medications.

My favorite parts of the program were the meetings, with sharing and support by the classmates and leaders. The greatest challenge to overcome has been making lifelong, serious changes like avoiding grocery aisles that I used to frequent. I am most proud of achieving a healthier lifestyle and going from four to one prescription medication. I have maintained the healthier habits by staying the course.

It has been the best $75 I have ever spent!