135 Pound Weight Loss

When Debbie Evans stepped into the UAMS Weight Loss and Metabolic Control Clinic for the second time, she was grateful to have another chance. She had tried the program once and was not successful. She returned more than a year later to try again because she knew that the program worked. She didn’t anticipate the life changes that stepping back into the program would bring her. And she couldn’t see that she would not meet her weight loss goal but would exceed it.

“I spent 12 and a half months on this program and somewhere along the way – I can’t even tell you when it happened – my attitude changed. I went from ‘living to eat’ to ‘eating to live.’”

At her first meeting after returning to the program, Debbie had a memorable conversation with Betsy Day, manager of the Weight Loss and Metabolic Control Clinic. Betsy talked to Debbie and told her how glad UAMS was to have her back in the program. Debbie thanked Betsy for the opportunity to come back, and Betsy quickly reassured Debbie that patients are always welcome to come back. “Betsy said that I didn’t fail, but they had failed me,” Debbie said. “She told me that they treat each patient individually and want to see everyone succeed.” Debbie then realized just how much the staff was behind her and was there to support her through this process.

Debbie acknowledges that taking the first step of going to classes can be quite intimidating. “You walk in and sit down with people you don’t know. You hate to admit that you need to be there. You don’t want to be there, but you know that you need to be here. It takes a few weeks to warm up,” she said.

Within a few weeks, Debbie found encouragement and support in those strangers. “As we shared our goals in class, you have the chance to adopt some of their ideas,” she said. At one class, one of her classmates said that her goal was to have a healthy relationship with food. Debbie found that to be a profound statement and used it as a goal of her own.
 
Debbie and her classmates also talked and supported each other between classes. They often shared recipes and tips and were also there to provide support to each other. One afternoon she was tempted to get fast food, and she was able to talk to a classmate who encouraged her to stick to her diet. “We passed around our phone numbers, and even now four or five of us keep in touch after we completed the program almost two years ago,” she said.

Debbie not only found encouragement but was able to give encouragement to others in her class. Class members exchange e-mail addresses and send words of encouragement at least once that week.

Debbie’s life has been changed as a result of this program at UAMS. She lost 135 pounds on the program, which is more than what her goal was when she started the program. “I spent 12 and a half months on this program and somewhere along the way – I can’t even tell you when it happened – my attitude changed. I went from ‘living to eat’ to ‘eating to live.’”

Changing her lifestyle and habits were the key to Debbie’s successful weight loss. Two of the aspects of the program that helped the most were food journaling and exercise. She started walking four miles a day with her husband; in addition to all the benefits of regular and consistent exercise, she was able to spend more time talking with her husband. “You cannot do this without support. I am very fortunate that my husband supports me,” Debbie said.

“You have to follow the rules. It’s not easy. The bad habits got me there, but you learn new habits,” she said. Debbie still follows these new habits through the help of the program. “UAMS built the program and has refined it and worked on it. It will work, but you have to work it. This program is available to anyone if they will try it and follow it. It will help make you successful.”