Meet our
Hot Mamas Of The Month
June 2009
MEET SANDY....
Sandy, what made you decide to join the Hot Mamas?
I had my own story (excuses) why I was fat. Obesity was in my family, I had given birth three times, stress, lack of willpower, no time to exercise, take-out was just easier than cooking, my dad passing away. The list goes on and on.
I was at work one day at MCS and one of the teachers said that Noel was starting up this weight loss program called the HOT MAMAS. Wanna join? I wanted to run the other way, but I really was at the end of my rope with my weight. I was at 283 and had hit a size 24 at the stores. For those of you that shop in the WOMENS section, you know that is as high as the sizes go. In the back of my mind I knew if I got any bigger I would have to special order my clothing...NO WAY. So I jumped on board.
At your first kick-off meeting, what was going through your mind as we were talking about the Hot Mamas?
So there I am sitting at my kick off meeting and I find out that everyone in that room was going to know what I weighed. I thought I would DIE. I wanted to just leave and drive straight to Dairy Queen. But I didn't. As soon as I did it, I kind of felt a huge weight had been lifted. I decided that I had to be accountable for every single pound and I realized that I wasn't alone anymore. When I got home that night I laid in bed crying for a good hour. My husband couldn't understand what was wrong. He thought I should be excited for this new journey. But I was terrified...Terrified to fail AGAIN. How many times had I already tried to lose weight and failed miserably. I hated myself and knew that if I failed again, what little shred of self respect I had left would be gone forever.
What were your personal goals when you started your first 14 week session?
So my goal was not to fail. I decided that first week that if I was going to do this, I had to change my life as far as exercise was concerned. So I started looking at exercise like I look at brushing my teeth. I would never neglect my teeth, but I had been neglecting my body. So I got on the treadmill that first day and have not missed a day of exercise since. It is NOT AN OPTION. That first day I did 5 minutes and thought I would have a heart attack. But I kept going and pushing myself a little every day. I think it was around week 10 that I did an hour and a half without stopping. I cried during most of it… I was so proud of myself at how far I had come. I met my goal that session. I lost 28 lbs. I didn't win, but I lost more weight than anyone else. Second session I lost 27 lbs., didn't win again, but lost more than anyone again. My new goal is to get under 200 lbs, get out of the women’s section at the stores, and to win one of these darn sessions....
Since you have started with the Hot Mamas, we have watched you change before our very eyes each week. How many pounds have you lost in total? And tell us…how did you do it?!
These 55 lbs. are gone because I count my points, always fit exercise in my day, I allow myself something sinful once a week, and I lean on my fellow HOT MAMAS. I still struggle with eating and have come to the conclusion that I always will. But when you are having a bad day and you post to your MAMAS, the feedback is unbelievable. I remember around Christmas time I was having a bad day, ate about 15 pieces of peanut butter fudge. I got right on the message board and poured my heart out about what a failure I was. Instantly there were like 10 messages telling me not to give up. So many of my Mamas believed in me, how could I not believe in myself? Tomorrow was a new day!!! The old me would have just given up that day, but now I was able to let my slip-up go and start fresh.
What advice would you give women who are just starting out on their weight loss journey with the Hot Mamas?
If I could give any advice, it would be to get as many people on your side as you can. The support that I have at home and the support from my Hot Mamas is what got me through this. I sure couldn't do this alone. When I started this I sat my husband and my three daughters down and told them that we were going down this road together. We don't call it a diet. We all made a commitment to be a healthier family. We walk together and we are always talking about making healthy choices. We are learning together that there is no food off limits. It's all about portion control. Cookies are ok as long as you have one or two, not the entire package. We have small cones at Dairy Queen instead of blizzards. They get fruit and water with their happy meals instead of fries and a shake.
Do you find the Hot Mamas message board helpful in your weight loss journey?
The MESSAGE BOARD is a huge help no matter what you are going through. If you are having a bad day, get on and let people help get you through it. You are not alone in this. It has gotten me through more bad days than I can count.
Sandy, if you could name one word to describe yourself before you became a Hot Mama, what would it be?
A word to describe myself before (Hot Mamas) would probably be lonely. Even though I have an amazing, loving, supporting family, I felt lonely in this body I didn't recognize anymore. I didn't like myself. I didn't like who I had become. I was ALWAYS tired. It was exhausting trying to drag all this weight around and keep up with three children.
What word would best describe you now?
I would now describe myself as confident…confident in who I am right now and confident that I WILL be a happier, healthier me. The only thing that was standing in my way was me…the me that didn't believe I was worth it.
MEET HOLLY.....
Holly, you have created a pretty special bond with many of your fellow Hot Mamas, but what/who brought you to the Hot Mamas originally?
Corrie (my Facilitator), of course!! I had heard Amy (another Facilitator/member) talk about it a few times, but I never even thought about joining…I was fat and I knew that, but I was not in a place where I was ready to make a change in my life.
At your first kick-off meeting, what was going through your head as we spoke about the Hot Mamas and what you were signing up for?
I was thinking about how moved I was to hear other women talk about their struggle with their own weight. And it was life changing for me to hear Laurel in particular. Looking at her I thought she was one of those “skinny girls” that I wanted to hate because I thought they never had to think about their weight. I truly understand now that no matter what someone else may think of you, you may be struggling.
Did you have any personal goals in mind when you started your first 14 week session?
I think that I wanted to lose 25 pounds in the first session, and if I did that I was going to be happy. I lost 34.8 in my first session, and I felt amazing. I never thought that I would weigh less that 200 pounds ever again in my life. It was a big night for me when I hit that goal!
Holly, you have literally become a new woman over this past year! How many pounds have you lost in total?
69 official pounds!!!!
How do you feel now that you’ve entered a new phase of your life, reaching your lifelong goal, and have joined the Hot Mamas Maintenance Program?
My new goal, and probably the one that I think will be the hardest, is not putting the weight back on. I am 3 weeks into maintenance and I am very nervous…I have had a rough week or so and it makes me think that I am slipping back into my old habits. But I KNOW that I will not let myself do this again.
As women we have all tried everything out there to lose weight and keep it off. What has worked for you in order to lose 69 lbs.?
I started by very strictly counting points and incorporating exercise. Over the past few months I have not been counting points closely and I have still been able to lose weight.
Have you gone to Hot Mama sponsored events in the past? If so, what did you think?
I have gone to them before…not as many as I would like to. I always learn something new with Hot Mamas no matter what I am doing! I really do enjoy getting together with everyone. It is always a good reminder for me of why I am doing this. I love the support that comes with this, and I know that without that I would not be where I am today.
Name one word to describe yourself before you became a Hot Mama.
Fat
Name one word to describe yourself now.
Healthier…(happier!) I needed two!
Do you have any "words of wisdom" you would like to share with Hot Mamas just starting out on their weight loss journey?
I have so many things that I want to say….don’t give up is a big one. There are going to be days that totally suck and you don’t want to think about food or exercise anymore. But giving up is not an option. I have been on a weight loss journey for almost a year now, and I can honestly say that I am a new woman in so many ways. It is so important to make time for yourself as a woman…not a mother…not a wife…just as a woman, an individual person. I never have done that before in my life. I realized how important it is to value yourself and your needs…even though sometimes that is so hard to do. We are all worth it, and I know that I feel like a better wife, mother, and woman since I became a Hot Mama. I am healthier and hotter than I have probably been in my life, and I could not have done this without such an amazing group. I am truly honored to be a part of this!!
Sandy Before
Sandy After Losing 55 pounds!
Holly after losing 69 pounds and making it to her lifelong goal weight!
