Photos: Courtesy of Loru Yates
::Results
the doctor that I wasn’t going to take medications. He told me I could hold off if I lost weight and changed my eating habits. I decided I would do it—I would not be diabetic.
LoriYates
Age: 46
Hometown: Lakewood, Wash.
Weight Before: 306 lb Weight Now: 205 lb (and still
losing!) as of March, 2010
Lori’sMessage: “I want everyone to know that diet, exercise, account- ability and a good support system are all that’s needed to lose weight,get fit and stay healthy.”
NoTurning Back
Depressed and diagnosed with diabetes, Lori Yates joined a health club and changed her life for good!
BY LORI YATES
I had been morbidly obese for many years and struggled with continually gaining weight. I felt horrible about myself. I hated looking in themirror and seeing my face with three chins. Each time I went to the doctor’s office, I dreaded getting weighed. I was depressed. It got so bad that I contemplated suicide. Being morbidly obese causes serious problems. I knew I should do something
but felt really overwhelmed. I asked my doctor about diet pills, but he told me that they don’t work. I somehow felt justified that because I couldn’t get diet pills, there was nothing I could do to get started on losing weight. My weight ballooned to 306 lb. I was on a diet of fast food and soft drinks. I’d eat
at home by myself and devour a large pizza or eat a dozen cupcakes in one sitting, and then do the same thing again the next day and the next day. Then around the time of my birthday, I got the news from my doctor: a diagnosis of diabetes mellitus. This is not happening, I thought. I was scared and angry. I told
40 IHRSA |
www.healthclubs.com
FINDING A GYMFAMILY
A brand-new Anytime Fitness gymhad opened less than a block from the hospital where I work as a clinical social worker. I talked with the gym owner, Mindy Lewis, and told her I needed to lose weight and was ready to do some- thing about it. Mindy recommended Alexandra Seal as a personal trainer. Alex did an initial assessment and right
off the top worked withme to get a nutri- tion plan up and going. Then we started the workouts. I remember the first ones. My body hurt, but it didn’t hurt nearly as much asmy bruised ego. I tried to do a push-up and sit-up. I rememberedmy younger days when I could kick those out, but when I tried to get off the ground, the reality hit me: I couldn’t get off the floor. Tears rolled downmy face. But I told
myself, I am not quitting.
I didn’t quit. I kept working with Alex,
and eventually started doing Crossfit training with her. I had started my program inMay, ‘09, weighing 306 lb. OnMarch 8, I weighed 205 lb. I have lost 100 lb and feel fantastic!
I do not have diabetes, my depression and anxiety arewell under control, and I amenjoying life. I am still training with Alex. I work
out six days a week, and at least four of those days are two-a-day workouts. I do Crossfit twice a week. I ran my first 3.5 miles nonstop. I compete against my trainer doing 100 sit-ups for time, and I can hold my own against her! I am solely responsible for my health
and have taken 100% responsibility for eating healthy and exercising. I am thankful that I have gone through this experience. And as I celebrate my 100-lb weight loss with my friends and gym family, aswell asmy own family, I know that there’s no turning back, and that’s just all there is to it.
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