Standing only 5 feet tall, Kim Heinz had always been thin and petite so when she stepped on the scale and saw the number 200 looming in her not-so-distant future, she knew that she and her husband needed to get their acts together. Now, Kim is 60 pounds lighter, her tall hubby is 90 pounds thinner, and their three young sons have two healthy examples.
Tell me when your weight struggles began. The struggle with my weight began in my senior year of college after I met my husband. We didn’t exercise and ate at restaurants all the time. He was a bigger-built guy and I would eat the same huge portions he did.
What caused you to realize you needed to change? After I had my third son, I decided that I was tired of being fat and feeling bad about myself. Also, I didn’t want to pass on my bad habits to my children. I wanted to be a good example.
How did you lose the weight? I started my weight loss journey using a commercial weight loss program. After six months, I started counting calories on my own and using the MyFitnessPal app to continue my journey.
What diet and exercise methods did you employ? I just started eating less and counting points/calories. Eventually, my husband jumped on the healthy band wagon with me. We tried to eat more fruits and vegetables and eliminated processed foods. I’ve become a runner and I love lifting weights.
Did you have any “ah ha” moments along the way? My aha moment came while I was training for my first 5K. After running for the first time for 20 minutes without stopping, I finally realized I could accomplish anything I set my mind to! I have completed many 5K races and even a half marathon.
Biggest struggle in your journey? Letting the scale dictate my mood. It doesn’t always tell the whole picture, especially when you are adding muscle.
Biggest triumphs? Finishing a 5K and half-marathon with my husband and being a good example to my three sons ages 5, 8, 10. We’ve done several 5K races together as a family.
Current/future goals? My future goal is to hit my goal weight and compete in a power lifting meet.
Advice you’d give to other people struggling to lose weight? My best advice is to never give up, start with small changes, and don’t tell yourself you’re going on a diet. This has to be a permanent lifestyle change!
Also Read:
Zach Galifianakis’ Gets Sober, Loses Weight and Looks Better Than Ever
Tom Granville Lost 70 Pounds for the Love of His Daughter and Hockey
Kelly Therieau Lost 113 Pounds but She’s Not Focused on the Number