I gained 15 pounds after my first two years on the job as a pharmacist at Baylor Medical Plaza from 2007 to 2008. I began looking like my pudgy grandmother did and I was very frustrated. I had been thin my entire life. Obesity runs in my family, so this really scared me. I had to make big changes.
I began tracking my food intake on FitDay.com and figured out nutritionally where I needed to increase my protein and decrease my grains. By 2010 I lost 15 pounds. I have kept that weight off. I also began rollerblading 3 times per week.
I also used the tools in Thrive to increase my activity to 160 minutes per week-4 days of rollerblading. This is a challenge when working, but I wake up an additional hour early to get the workout in or make supper an hour later.
That added workout per week helped me take off the additional 5 pounds. Now I weigh what I did in high school.
I bring my spinach/fruit smoothie to work with me every day for lunch as well as a salad with tuna/chicken/turkey and nuts to snack on. This keeps me from getting hungry and then eating muffins and cookies that the BUMC cafeteria tempts me with. I do get looked at strangely by my coworkers but they seem to respect my healthy choices and workout ethic.
From: Mary Johnson, BHCS
This post original appeared on Thrive for Wellness - the wellness program for Baylor employees and their spouses