Diet Success: Jaki Sinclair Lost 125 Pounds

Diet Success

December 19, 2011 at 6:31 pm
by Irina Gonzalez

Jaki Sinclair Before & After

Highest weight: 247 pounds
Current weight: 122 pounds

A lifetime of trying many diets and succeeding at losing weight only to gain it back left Jaki frustrated. She realized that she had to change how she thought about herself in order to become a lifelong diet success.

“I changed my attitude and the negative internal dialogue I had been having with myself,” she said, “and I started believing in myself again.”

Starting with the motto “Move a Little More, Eat a Little Less,” she made small changes like changing to diet soda and walking around the yard. Soon, she began to see results and kept making consistently healthier choices as she worked to lose the weight. She shares how she lost 125 pounds over the course of 1 1/2 years.

How long did it take you to lose the weight?
It took me about  1 1/2 years to lose the weight.

What made you decide to finally keep it off?
I was so tired of losing large amounts of weight to only gain it back.  I have done that several time and wanted to make a permanent change for better health before I turned 50.  I did it with a few years to spare!   I finally realized that I needed to get my thinking right to lose the weight and keep it off.  It is definitely a process that starts on the inside first.  I changed my attitude and changed my life!

What was a typical day of food for you while you were losing weight?
For me, this journey was not about deprivation, so I allow myself all foods, but in reasonable serving sizes.  Breakfast is usually yogurt, granola and fruit, lunch might be a tuna sandwich with carrots and celery and dinner would be a large salad with dark green leafy vegetables and grilled chicken.  Snacks throughout the day are usually fruit, vegetables or nuts.  I always keep a lot of ready to eat veggies on hand for a quick snack.  I do allow myself a cookie if I want a cookie. Or I have 1 serving of chips if that is something I want.  The difference is that I don’t eat the entire bag anymore nor do I have that kind of food daily because I don’t crave it anymore.

How often do you cook and what is your favorite meal to make?
We eat most meals at home now, but I make pretty simple things, so there isn’t a lot of cooking involved.  My favorite meal is always a huge salad with a little bit of everything thrown in, fruit, nuts, spinach and chicken or tuna.

What is your go-to healthy snack?
So many to choose from! Almonds and string cheese.

What kind of exercise did you do?
I walk or  I turn on some favorite music and just dance around.  I also am so excited that for the first time in 30 years I have a bicycle!

What was your favorite activity or part of losing weight?
Being able to run after our pup, take her for walks at the park and be able to get down on the floor and play with her.  I can move again!

What was the hardest part of losing weight?
That hardest part was getting myself to that place mentally where I really believe in myself and liked myself enough to make healthier choices in my life.

Have your family/friends been supportive? How has everyone reacted?
My family and friends have been wonderfully supportive. I’ve had family members and neighbors that haven’t seen me since the weight not recognize me.  That’s fun!

What’s your #1 tip on motivation for others?
Don’t give ever give up!  There are time you will mess up, but we all do because we are human.  Forgive yourself and move on.

What is the biggest thing you have gained since dropping the weight?
My life back!  What could be more awesome than that!

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