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'It's About Getting Your Metabolism Working For You'

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 18, 2007

Marie Gilmore, 32, Lithia

Height: 5-foot-8

Starting weight: 265

Current weight: 165

Why I did it: Basically I was a mom to two children and had a business and husband and house and family. Everything was really good in my life, but there was this one thing I couldn't handle and get control of that made me feel less than successful: my weight.

It was something I've always battled since I was a young teenager. I tried everything, and I just got to a certain point where I needed to do something for myself. Something so I would have more energy, have more fun with the kids and husband.

I wasn't comfortable with myself, and I wore the largest plus size carried in stores — a 3X. Where do you go when you're the largest plus size in a store? I said, "I'm not going to let myself get to that point. It's time to make a change."

How I did it: My trainer Rob Zulkoski of RobZFitness and I started in July 2005.

After one month of working out with Rob, I knew he was the real deal. He knew the processes of strength training, muscle gain, fat loss and speeding up the metabolism to where he was going to be a success. I wanted to stay in the program with him until I lost 65 pounds.

He had me in a strength-training workout three times per week, and he prescribed cardio on my days off. I usually do the elliptical and the treadmill. He encouraged me to get on the treadmill three times a week. Working out with Rob taught me what my heart rate levels were and to wear a heart rate monitor. I know what that feeling is like when I'm in the right zone.

He started slowly, and each time we talked about a weight-loss nutritional plan. The plan was not difficult for me to follow. It was high-protein, low-carb, low-fat, and I was eating six times a day. Right away I thought this doesn't sound too bad.

Working with Rob educated me that I was in a sugar-burning state and had been for many years. I would get highs and lows every day. He said, "We've got to turn you into a fat-burner." I had to eat proteins and fats in the right calculations to fuel and feed my body throughout the whole day.

It's about getting your metabolism working for you instead of against you. I still eat six times a day, which is great because I'm always looking toward the next meal. It's funny because people will see me and I'm always eating, but I'm eating the right things.

I think I'll be following this plan for the rest of my life. I've never really felt better or more energized. I never get sick. I'm just doing really well. I envision this is the life I'll follow forever.

I'm still seeing Rob three times a week, and I plan to continue. I need that accountability.

Hurdles: I would say I hit plateaus, but I could always attribute them to being off the eating plan. If I ever went on a holiday or vacation and indulged too much in holiday baked goods, I would notice a difference. But it was never anything that didn't easily come back off. I would get right back on the plan with Rob, and bang, it would come off.

Going the distance: I set my new goal to lose 15 pounds and get to 150. I used to be a size 26-28, and now I'm a 10-12. It's exciting for me because I can go shopping at cute stores that I could never shop in before. It's emotional when you can't fit into normal size clothes.

I've had to replace my wardrobe about four different times. My favorite day was when I took all my plus-size clothes to Goodwill.

My family has been very supportive, and my 6-year-old son, he's hilarious. He knows the difference between what a carb is and a protein is. I just started to teach him good eating habits.

I have neighbors and friends that I've made workout dates with, which has kept me accountable for showing up. That's really kept me from not wanting to do it.

I've run two 5Ks, and I've committed to running two more.

Best advice: Don't be afraid to tell people that you want to start a program to lose weight and get healthy. I had to tell my family, friends, co-workers, everyone. Now people don't put bad things in front of me, or they consider me if they're bringing snacks to the office. They'll bring something healthy.

Make a schedule for yourself and make a commitment to yourself that you're going to do one activity for 10 minutes this week. The next week, do two. Write out your goals and do it.

I think there's a huge epidemic in America. Weight issues are causing medical problems, children are more overweight, and it's something we need to be more conscientious of and make a difference. We're not focused on the health and wellness of our families because we're so preoccupied with other things in our lives, but I think we need to make it a priority.

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