REAL LIFE

FAT LOSS DIARIES OF JULIE LEE

By: Maria Kang

DEAR DIARY, I looked in the mirror today and I hated what I saw: a woman who can’t seem to do anything right for anyone, especially when it comes to raising a son … I’m getting all of the blame for his problems. What am I doing wrong? And my weight is climbing but I just don’t care.– July 2006, Julie Lee

Three years ago, Julie Lee, 45, found herself in a deep depression that immobilized her ability to exercise, eat healthy and exhibit internal self confidence. Her rising weight gain symbolized not only her lack of control, but also her declining sense of self-worth when dealing with external problems. Instead of absorbing herself in self-destructive pain, she turned to reflective writings in her diary and worked through the pain. This is not just her story; this is the story of many overweight people who experience anxiety, frustration, helplessness and hope.

Dear Diary, Tonight my husband complained about how much I was eating. “Why are you eating that?” he snapped. “Do you want to be fat?” When he left the room I ate twice as much. I know it’s stupid, but I can’t help it. Why does it matter what I weigh or how I look? I’m worthless. – December 2006, J.L.

Born in Kansas, Julie grew up riding horses and hanging around her father at the racetracks. Due to her poor fast-food diet, she became overweight in junior high and weighed 150 pounds at only 5-foot-5. Twenty-three years ago she married her husband Robert and began a family. They both have a son, Michael, age 19, and a daughter, Rebecca, age 18. While her family brought her much joy, the stress of raising them as a team became overwhelming when the children reached their teenage years.

Dear Diary, I hit 255 pounds today. I feel like a whale. My feet hurt and I feel awful. If I could just die right now that would be the answer. No one needs me. Maybe if I were gone things would get better for everyone else…maybe I can eat myself to death. Obesity is a killer if I keep packing on the pounds I have a good chance of having a heart attack. I like this idea: eating to die. – October 2007, J.L. 

At her highest weight, Julie weighed 260 pounds. At that time, her psyche was weighed down by stress from her son, problems at work and mis-communication inside her marriage. She blamed herself for a lot of issues and became potentially suicidal. In addition to her family and work pressures, she was also responsible for the care of her mother as she was her mother’s only child. Helpless and at a size 24, Julie felt like she couldn’t escape the constant nervous tension that pervaded her every day.

One day, while running errands for work, she noticed a man with the shirt “personal trainer” written on the back. After introducing himself as Chris Calabrese, a personal trainer with 24 Hour Fitness, she asked him what his job entailed and became immediately intrigued by his training program and nutrition plan. Later that evening, she researched the 24 Hour Fitness Web site and made a decision to join on March 9, 2008. After her first orientation around the club, she said she made the best decision of her life and decided to purchase training sessions with Chris. 

Dear Diary, I’m not sure what happened, but it feels like I’ve been in a dark, stuffy room and someone just opened a window on a balmy, spring day … for some reason I’ve got a new attitude. I looked into the mirror this morning and asked myself: “Who is this overweight, unhappy woman?” And I realized I don’t want to look like this. Whether I’ve done a good job raising them or not, I know my children love me and I love them and I need to be here for them. I can’t kill myself and leave them with that kind of legacy. I’ve got to do something before it’s too late. And either I am too strong to give up on life or too weak to do myself in – I need to live. – March 2008, J.L.

For the first eight weeks, Julie focused on total body workouts, which included training her chest, back, shoulders and legs three times a week. In addition to her weight training, she also included various treadmill programs like in-terval, running, walking backwards and sideways for her cardio workouts. After just two weeks, she lost 15 pounds. She became motivated by her increased strength and stamina to complete two sets of 10 push-ups and walk three miles a day.

As the months progressed, so did Julie’s workouts. At weeks 9 through 14, she began isolation workouts, which included five days of weight training where she worked out any-where from 2-3 muscle groups a day. She also increased her cardio to five days a week continuing with her various treadmill workouts.

Today, Julie performs Crossfit and Isolation training four days a week. She also performs a variety of different cardio exercises including rowing, stair climbing, running and jump roping.

Dear Diary, The pounds keep coming off! I am ecstatic! I’m down to a size 18. And I’m losing something else – my depression. Now I wake up glad to be alive and looking forward to the day. I talked to my dad the other day and he noticed how much happier and more positive I am. - May 27, 2008, J.L. 

During her weight loss program, Julie wandered into the Max Muscle in Clackamas, Oregon and met another life changer, Jesse Johnson, who runs the store with Dominic Current. He educated her on specific supplements that would enhance her workouts and provide energy, recovery and nutrition. She credits much of her success to a supplementation program that sup-ports her training, her age and her thyroid issues. She a multivitamin, joint support, calcium and super antioxidant pills. She also uses the Max Muscle glutamine, Gourmet protein and Femme Lean & Balance. To help support her thyroid, she uses Quadra Cuts Advanced Thyroid support and to provide endurance, recovery and muscle support she additionally uses Xtend and Max Muscle Kre-Alkalyn.

Dear Diary, I have been crying all day long – tears of joy!! Today I weighed in at 160 pounds! I cannot believe that I have lost 90 pounds in 6 months. I have no doubts I can do it. And I feel so darn terrific. I am grateful I finally found the strength to step out of my darkness and into the grace of believing in myself and valuing myself…I can take control of myself and how I look at life.  And I know that I deserve happiness, wealth and harmony, just as everyone does.” - September 25, 2008, J.L. 

In eight months, Julie lost a total of 95 pounds and is in the best shape of her life. Going from a size 24 to a size 8, she can now go riding on her husband’s sports bike and shoot basketball with her son. She handles her stress with more ease and no longer dwells in self-destructive thoughts. “This will be the easiest way for me to tell my story …. So here it is …. From my diary, because sometimes you have to look inside yourself to find that guiding beacon that can lead you to a better place.”

Julie, you couldn’t have said it better. MS&F

Julie’s Typical Meal Plan:
Breakfast:
Kashi Go Lean Truly Vanilla Hot Cereal
1 1/2 tsp high lignan flax oil
1 scoop Gold Standard 100 percent Whey Protein - French Vanilla
Banana

Morning Snack
Gourmet Protein 1 scoop
 
Lunch
1/2 cup 1 percent cottage cheese
4 oz. blueberries
4 oz. red bell pepper
 
Afternoon Snack
Small apple
OSTRIM - beef and ostrich snack
 
Dinner
4 to 5 oz. chicken breast
4 oz. red bell pepper
4 oz. cucumber
3 oz. tomatoes
 
Evening Snack
Low-Fat yogurt