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I Lost It: Rhonda Hunter

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 8, 2008

Rhonda Hunter, 36

Lutz

Height: 5-foot-4

Starting weight: 143

Current weight: 123

Why I did it: I faced a divorce after 10 years of marriage and used this transitional period to re-evaluate my life and the changes I wanted to make. I wanted to become the person I knew I was capable of being and to live the life I knew I deserved.

A major part of redefining my life was to be in the best shape possible. I wanted to be healthier and to have more energy and confidence. I couldn't control the fact that my marriage fell apart and I couldn't control the outcome of my divorce, but I could control how I took care of myself and of my health and body.

I felt that I had neglected myself for a long time, and took advantage of the extra time I now had to take care of ME. I knew I needed strength to handle my personal stresses so I made taking care of myself a priority and tried to make my life healthy in all areas. Going from a size 8 to a size 4 felt like such a great accomplishment, especially since I hadn't been that size since college.

How I did it: I used to run 5K races and wanted to do so again. But I wasn't in the right shape, so I began walking. I walked. And I walked. I walked as often as I could, at least four or five days a week. I started walking for about 45 minutes a day and gradually increased to where I now usually walk for an hour and a half. Since I walk around my neighborhood, I save on the time it would take to commute to a gym to exercise (though I do use a treadmill at the gym during inclement weather).

The walking helps not only physically, but also emotionally, as I use this alone time to reflect or to listen to uplifting music. I also later incorporated jogging into my routine and completed two 5Ks in the past year. It took about four months to lose, the weight and I've been maintaining it since then. I lost a few additional pounds by limiting processed foods in my diet and watching my portion size.

Hurdles: It was discouraging to watch some pounds creep back on during the holidays, but I wasn't too hard on myself; I just worked harder the week after "holiday cheating" to get back on track.

Going the distance: I recently found a list of goals I wrote a year ago, and one was to weigh 128 pounds. I am so grateful to not only have reached that goal but to have surpassed it. My new goal is now 120 pounds, which is not too far away. I have maintained the weight loss for more than eight months by continuing the recipe that got me there: walking and eating right!

Best advice: Find an exercise or sport that you enjoy. If you enjoy doing it, you are more likely to stick with it. Once you do that, establish a consistent routine so that this exercise becomes a priority in your schedule. And recognize that your health is so valuable, you should do your best to protect it and preserve it.

Have a weight-loss plan that works for you? Tell us about it. E-mail mshedden@tampatrib.com; go to TBO.com, keyword: Lost It; or send your story to Mary Shedden, The Tampa Tribune, 200 S. Parker St., Tampa FL 33606.

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