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'Be Patient With Yourself And Your Goals'

Photos courtesy of JULIET SOSCIA COLLINS

After suffering through fatigue and losing self-confidence, Juliet Soscia Collins knew it was time for a change.

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 12, 2008

Juliet Soscia Collins, 36, Tampa

Height: 5-foot-5

Starting weight: 202 pounds

Current weight: 140 pounds

Why I did it: Almost two years ago, I weighed more than 200 pounds and could barely walk a mile without huffing and puffing. I weighed more than all the men in my family, including my brother, a former high school and college linebacker. My health suffered: I had reflux and high cholesterol at 35, with no prior medical history. I was a board-certified pediatrician and physician nutrition specialist in pediatric obesity, so I knew the health risks of being overweight.

I have lost and gained 30 pounds about five times during my life. This time, my weight escalated after two pregnancies 18 months apart. When I hit 200 pounds, I confided in my family and friends about my unhappiness with my appearance and weight. They supported me and said kind words: "But you just had a baby." I chuckled, because my "baby" was almost a year old.

My weight affected many aspects of my life and my self-confidence. I was so much more fatigued than what is associated with raising a 3-year-old and a 1-year-old. I began to hide more and more from social situations. I always loved group fitness classes, but when I would attend at 200 pounds, I felt so out of shape and heavier than others.

How I did it: For six months, I tried several different methods to lose weight, but none worked because I could not commit to the given program. I visited physicians for counsel. I studied and tried to follow many diets from books. I tried individualized exercise studio diets. Nothing worked. Each time, I would quit after a week or two.

My lifelong passion for group fitness (aerobics) was a huge part of my success. Activity was never a struggle. In fact, when I couldn't go to my favorite exercise classes, it would make me sad. Eating was the kicker. I knew I had to apply the same success skills from other areas of my life to losing weight.

One skill was hard work. I started out afraid I couldn't get through five minutes of walking lunges. My instructors encouraged me through every repetition and every class, and their compliments about my weight loss kept me going. As I slowly reached my goal, I was inspired to start teaching group fitness. Recently, I got my national certification in group fitness, and I teach cardio and strength training at the Bob Sierra Family YMCA and the YMCA Express in Tampa.

Other qualities I had were diligence, patience and perseverance. Friends told me about Weight Watchers. I attended weekly meetings for about 1 1/2 years. I was diligent about keeping accurate food records, patient with plateaus and hurdles, and persevered to the finish line. Weight Watchers encouraged me to think first, eat wisely, move more and attend weekly meetings. I lost 60 pounds in 20 months.

Hurdles: Losing 60 pounds was not easy. Some weeks I would follow my eating plan perfectly, exercise very hard, and either gain weight or maintain. Science told me I should have lost, but I did not. I have had about three separate plateaus where my weight would not budge for about a month. I would step back, examine my diet records, and do more inventories on all my eating and activity. This just kept me focused. I did not necessarily have to change anything. In time, my plateau would break and I would start losing again.

What helped most was celebrating positive changes in my eating and exercise behaviors, as well as pounds lost. In meetings, even if I had not lost weight, I would raise my hand and celebrate the exercise or food choices I made.

Going the distance: I did a six-week maintenance program with Weight Watchers and now am a lifetime member. I maintain by tracking what I eat, making good food choices and exercising portion control. I exercise most days. I teach cardio and strength/core training classes a couple of times a week. I also love to work out in the pool, run and walk. I take opportunities to get outside at the park, in the pool and in the yard with my two children, who are now 4 and 2.

Best advice: Be patient with yourself and your goals, no matter how much weight you have to lose. If you could be even 10 pounds lighter after 52 weeks, wouldn't that be great? Also, what works for your family and friends may not work for you, and that is OK. Weight loss is so individual and depends on many factors.

Keyword: Lost It, to tell us about a weight-loss plan that works for you. Or send your story to mshedden@tampatrib.com or Mary Shedden, The Tampa Tribune, 200 S. Parker St., Tampa FL 33606.

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