From Health Scare
At a doctor's appointment in January 1997, Linda Key, then 38, wasn't surprised to weigh in at 330 pounds. A married mother of two grown sons from Oklahoma City, Linda had always struggled with her weight. And after her first marriage ended in the early '90s, she had steadily gained weight, eventually more than 150 pounds.But Linda was surprised to hear that her legs had poor circulation, and the condition could be pre-diabetic. "The doctor told me if I didn't lose weight, I'd likely develop diabetes and could lose both my legs by the time I was 60," recalls Linda.
About 18.2 million people in the U.S. have diabetes, estimates the American Diabetic Association (ADA), and about one-third, or 5.2 million, don't know it. Prevalence of the disease has increased nearly 50 percent in the past decade; the rise is directly linked to the 60 percent increase in obesity over the same period, says the ADA.
"The problem of obesity is so staggering, so out of control, that we have to do something," says Walter Willett, a professor of nutrition at the Harvard School of Public Health, and an advisor on the Reader's Digest Family Index.
Like so many patients who know they are seriously overweight, Linda left her doctor's office that day in a state of denial. "I just didn't believe I would get diabetes," she says. "I couldn't accept it would happen to me." When she decided to have stomach-stapling surgery a few months later, it was mostly concerns over her appearance rather than diabetes that prompted her to have the drastic weight-loss procedure.
But her surgery, which was once more popular than today's gastric bypass, failed, as it does in about 20 percent of cases. And instead of the slim figure Linda had dreamed of, she remained at more than 300 pounds.
In September 2002, she experienced wrenching chest pains. "I was certain I was having a heart attack," says Linda, who weighed 314 at that point. Terrified, she went to the doctor, where she learned the symptoms were bad heartburn. Her doctor told her, however, that she absolutely had to lose weight or the heart attack could very well be real next time.
"This time -- I suppose it was the pain -- the message got through to me," says Linda. "I realized I was extremely obese, middle-aged and could drop dead at any minute." Back in her car, she cried and cried. "It finally sunk in that being overweight was killing me. What was I going to do?"
At home, Linda decided to get her mind off her fears by checking her e-mail. Online, she saw an ad for an Internet weight-loss service. On impulse, she clicked on it. "Before I knew it, I was connected to other dieters who wanted to help me," says Linda. "One thing I learned right away was that a quick fix wasn't the answer. If I was going to lose the weight and keep it off, I needed a way to eat that I could live with forever." For that reason, she chose a basic 1,900-calorie-per-day plan in which no foods were forbidden.
Highly motivated, Linda began to read food labels carefully and cut her portion size drastically. She dropped 16 pounds in the first month. But then she was hit with another health scare. Her husband, GW, who works in the IT department of the Oklahoma State Auditor's office, had been suffering horrible headaches and swollen ankles. He was 80 pounds overweight. But despite having a father who had died of diabetes just a year earlier, as well as a mother and sister who had the disease, GW was still surprised when his doctor diagnosed him with it.
Learning Lessons the Hard Way
"I never expected it would happen to me -- at least not at 42," GW says. He also had high blood pressure and cholesterol. He was put on medication for all three conditions, told to lose weight, and given a list of approved foods. None of his favorites, such as potato chips or spaghetti, were listed along with the fruits and veggies. "I'm a pretty macho guy," says GW. "But the thought of having to change my eating habits so completely brought tears to my eyes."Linda came to his aid, however, and starting that day began to cook food they can both still enjoy. "Gone are the goulash, meat loaf and other high-calorie dinners we used to eat," she says. In their place are chicken, fish and salads that Linda takes care to season well: "Just because a dish is healthy doesn't mean it has to be bland."
When Linda opens the refrigerator door these days, mustard, hot sauce and other low-calorie, flavor-packed condiments stand where the mayonnaise and cream sauces once did. Poultry and lean pork sausage have replaced most of the ground beef, which Linda used to buy 20 pounds at a time. "Now, if I use ground beef at all, it's in much smaller quantities," she says, "and I rinse it off after browning it to get rid of most of the fat."
Dessert is still on the menu -- but not the pies, crisps and cookies that Linda used to bake. Now, she dresses up angel food cake, which is low in sugar and contains no fat, with a variety of sugar-free toppings. "Even people who aren't on diets love it." She's also found a way to deal with the problem of eating out. After discovering that some of her local eateries post nutritional information for menu items on their websites, she began planning what to order ahead of time.
And the couple has stopped eating the fast-food suppers they once had on average three times a week. "We used to supersize everything," Linda admits. Now fast food is a rare lunchtime indulgence.
Not having to give up any particular food is one of the strategies that's helped her stay on her diet this time around. "But I've learned that a proper serving is really a Happy Meal," she says. Isn't she embarrassed ordering the kiddie size? "Nope. I love collecting all the toys!"
To Linda's sons from a previous marriage, Seth, 18, and Ben, 20, however, fast food is still a staple. Ben, who lives at home, generally loves his mom's cooking. "But if dinner's too healthy tasting, I'll run down the street to McDonald's," he says. Linda has also agreed to keep his favorite foods -- mini bagel pizzas, cookies and candy -- on hand for him, which can be tempting for both Linda and GW.
Weight-loss experts agree it's all too easy to be undermined by nondieters in the house -- unless you have a plan. Linda keeps all of Ben's fattening foods in the fridge's fruit bin or in a closed jar hidden behind some utensils on the counter.
"It helps to have them out of sight," she says. Certain super-tempters, such as chips, are banned completely. Linda also makes sure she's always well stocked with treats that she and GW can eat, such as low-fat, low-carb frozen fudge bars and ice cream sandwiches, which they love. "That way, we know there's always something satisfying for us to eat too."
For now, an extremely physical job with UPS keeps Ben slim, and he's not worried about future weight gain -- or any health problems that might come with it. "I think I'm still very young for that," he says. "I've got my biological dad's slim build and plenty of years of being active ahead of me." His brother, he says, has the same attitude.
Has Linda tried to teach her boys healthier eating habits? "Of course," she says. "But they don't listen. Ben smokes too. He just doesn't think anything can hurt his health at this point. I hope he doesn't have to learn his lesson the way we did."
"I Almost Fainted From Happiness."
Linda and GW also joined local health clubs. "Do you know how scary it is for a 314-pounder to show her face -- and the rest of her body -- at a gym?" asks Linda. GW started taking indoor bicycling classes three times a week. Meanwhile, Linda began walking very slowly ("and puffing very hard") on the treadmill, and hired a personal trainer to help her learn to lift weights.To her amazement, she discovered she loves weight training. Soon she started arriving at the gym at 5:30 five mornings a week to do an hour of weightlifting and cardiovascular exercise before work. "The weight kept coming off and I started feeling strong and healthy again," says Linda. "That was really motivating." It also didn't hurt when, six weeks into her program, a cute 21-year-old at the gym let her know he thought she was looking great. Recalls Linda, "I almost fainted from happiness."
Almost a year and a half later, Linda has lost 80 pounds at a steady rate of about 1½ pounds a week. At 234, she is on her way to her 150 goal. Her body is muscular, her blood pressure is normal, and her heartburn and circulation problems are long gone.
GW hasn't lost weight, because his body is still adjusting to his diabetes medication. But his blood sugar has dropped so much that he's been able to cut down on the medication and should not need insulin injections if he continues to control the diabetes. His blood pressure and cholesterol are also normal. "My doctor is thrilled with my progress," GW says. "Sure, I miss potato chips -- a lot! But my health is way more important."
Getting into better shape has allowed the couple to take up a sport they've become passionate about: biking. They built up their endurance slowly with weekend and after-work rides. Then, last August, Linda and GW entered the Hotter'N Hell Hundred, a bicycling event in Wichita Falls, Texas. Linda biked an average of 15.1 m.p.h. in 90-degree heat and completed her 62-mile ride with GW in just over four hours.
"We're always the biggest people out there, and just getting on our bikes takes guts," says GW. "But if Linda can do it, so can I. I love watching her climb the hills and see the surprised expressions on the other bikers as she passes them. It's hysterical."
Linda monitors her activity and food intake religiously with a detailed daily log. Her motto: "If you bite it, write it." She uses a free website called FitDay.com, which tabulates the number of calories eaten and burned.
There have been plenty of times when Linda and GW have gone off their diets, of course. But rather than let one bad day disintegrate into a self-defeating binge, they get back on track the next morning. The specter of diabetes is always there for motivation.
"I have a diabetic friend who had a swollen foot that concerned her," says Linda. "When she went to the doctor, it turned out her foot was broken." She had so much nerve damage from the diabetes that she hadn't even felt it. "That could easily have been me or GW. We're not going to let that happen."
Linda and GW have hopes for an even slimmer and healthier future. Linda wants to write a book to share her tips and experiences.
But the most important thing is that she and GW have regained their health. "Doing this together has created a wonderful bond between us," says Linda. "And now I know we'll both be around long enough to enjoy it."
Online Weight Loss
Internet diet plans offer menus, recipes, calorie counters and support groups. A few to look into:
eDiets.com. Matches people with one of fifteen diet plans.
ChangeOneDiet.com. The only diet developed by Reader's Digest, the program focuses on making one small change a week for long-term, dramatic results.
WeightWatchers.com. The online version of the classic.