Through the Devine Nutrition/St. Xavier Weight loss class, I have met hundreds of people trying to change their lifestyles and to lose weight. I love following peoples progress not only through the 8 week class but afterwards as well. Two “students” from my winter class at St. Xavier have kept in touch, emailing me and letting me know how they are doing from time to time since the class ended in March.

Meet Dave and Nancy McMorran!

Before and After!

Dave is now down 69.6 lbs. He has shrunk from a 54R jacket to a 44R jacket, and a 42” waist to a 36” waist!
Nancy is down 39.5 lbs. She has dropped 4 pant sizes, and 5 shirt sizes!

That would be a total of 109.1 pounds lost since January of 2015!

Since something clearly “clicked” with Dave and Nancy, I invited them to my current weight loss class I am hosting in Tinley Park, to talk to the participants about what worked for them and what challenges they faced along their journey.

Here is what Nancy and Dave had to say:

Where we were…
Unhealthy breakfast… if at all
Next meal was dinner… and a giant portion.
Eating was always reactionary and need based
Snacking didn’t exist unless it was comfort food
Forget about nutrition

As a result… We had no energy, sitting in front of the TV was all we did.
No exercise
No motivation
Overall… Miserable

Then we met Kelly…

First we set goals – which were challenging but achievable – 5 lb/10 lb. We also set reach goals…. 30 lbs/35 lbs. and really reach goals 60lbs/70lbs.

Then we cleaned out the fridge/pantry
Took the time to read the labels of the items we were getting rid of to understand what we had been putting in our bodies.

Then we booked 2 hours and went to the grocery store armed with a list of some healthier options.
The trip was eye opening – we wandered the aisles noticing products that were never even on our radar previously. We found healthier alternatives for a lot of the things that we liked to eat. We planned our meals for the week. We bought lots of zip lock bags to pre-portion some of the bulk items, like popcorn and granola. We kept our meal planning simple as we both work full time and have minutes typically to prepare a meal. Planning ahead really helped.

We decided to keep breakfast simple and relatively the same every day…
Two egg whites
A little pepper
Kraft thin sharp white cheddar
Marino’s pre-cooked turkey bacon on a Sandwich Thin.
Then we started experimenting by adding fresh spinach, fresh arugula, and salsa.

For our snacks we pick from: a piece of fruit and some nuts or a small portion of cheese or a Luna or Kind bar.
For lunch we have a low-sodium turkey sandwich, tuna salad or a 0% greek yogurt with granola (sometimes even left overs from the night before).

For dinner we started looking at recipes and found lots of things to try:
Protein pasta bolognese
Pizza on a Boboli whole wheat crust with ground sirloin, mushrooms, roma tomatoes, fresh garlic, and basil.
Grilled shrimp in garlic and red pepper over brown rice
and then we started experimenting….

Now…
Our cart is full of fruits and veggies and we stick primarily to the perimeter of the store… butcher counter, dairy, and garden stand.

We have energy to spare, started walking a few miles a day, started taking pilates classes about 3 months ago, and recently started riding our bikes again!

Challenges

Differences
Knowing that everyone loses weight differently (men far more faster then women) and not becoming discouraged.

Measuring
Know your labels, know your serving size

Eating out –
Decide on the restuarant in advance… look up the menu and and determine what your best option will be! Stand your ground when someone tries to steer you off course with a delicious appetizer! WILL POWER!

Keeping to a schedule
For the first few weeks we would set an alarm to remind us to eat every 2.5 – 3 hours.
Keep Luna/Kind protein bars in your purse/car/desk, etc.

Successes
Finding a tracking tool that works for you! I use my fitness pal, Dave uses lose it. (Add Kelly as a friend on My Fitness Pal- nutritees@hotmail.com!)

Some Recipes we love

Breakfast Sandwich

Italian Turkey Burger
Costco turkey Burger
Dried italian seasoning
Kraft Mozzerella Thin
Pasterelli Pizza Sauce
Fresh Basil
Sandwich Thin

Salad on the side

Turkey Taco Salad
4 oz. Ground Turkey
2 cups field greens
6 grape tomatoes
1 table spoon 0% greek yogurt
1 table spoon taco sauce
¼ cup light mexican cheese blend

Wine…. We love wine. We believe that a meal without wine is uncivilized. This was in direct opposition to our goal. That was, until we figured out how (and when) to eat. Now we trade quantity for quality. We still have a glass a wine now and then – and we reward ourselves with a second glass if we reach our 10,000 step daily goal.

Wrap Up
I think what worked best for Dave and Nancy, they brought the concepts we discussed in class, brought them home and made a plan. If you are wanting to make a change, find a partner to help support you in your journey. It doesn’t have to be a spouse. A co-worker, friend, family member, neighbor. The support truly helps.

A big congrats to Dave and Nancy for all their hard work! They are reaping the benefits now of all their planning and it is so great to see them have so much energy and be so excited about their current lifestyle. If you want to reach out to Dave and Nancy and ask them questions, feel free to email them at mcmorranfood@gmail.com.

To find out about future Devine Nutrition weight loss classes, subscribe here to our monthly newsletter at http://www.kellydevinenutrition.com/ and follow us on Facebook!