64 APRIL / MAY 2009 www.readthestories.com

Battlingweightgainisacommonstruggleformanywomen.Studiesshowthatnearly130millionAmericansareoverweightorobeseand78percentofAmericansdonotmeetbasicdailyactivitylevels. ThreeMinnesotawomenhavebeatenthoseoddsandtellustheirincrediblestoriesofhowtheywonthebattleagainsttheirweight. Toachievehergoalweight,TeriKratzofComfreymadeadailyappointmentforexercisethatledheronapathtoanewcareerandtheMrs.MinnesotaPageant.MindyKrugerofAlbertLeahastakenthesoundapproachoflosingasignificantamountofweightwiththetried-and-trueWeightWatchersprogramresultingintherestorationofherhealth.TanyaSmithofFairmontachievedherweightlosswiththehelpofdailyprayerandself-controltechniques. Herearetheirinspiringstories:

hat started as a mother’sdream to become moreactive with her children has

morphedintoanewcareerandabidforthetitleofMrs.Minnesota. TeriKratz’swakeupcallcamewhenherdaughterwantedtoswingwithherinthebackyard,andshewasn’tabletofitinthepre-moldedswingsetseat. “I felt so bad that I couldn’t dosomethingshewantedtodo,”saysTeri. At her highest weight, Teri foundherselfinICUafterhavingherfourthchildat242pounds.Sheremembersoftentimeshavingdifficultybreathingandstrugglingto chase after four children. Her weightcamedownto190pounds,butshecouldn’tseemtogetbeyondthatpoint. At the time, no fitness centerswere available toTeri in her hometownof Comfrey, but then she saw anannouncement stating that AnytimeFitnesswascomingtonearbySpringfield.Teri met with Anytime Fitness ownerColleenBraunandquicklybecameanewmemberoftheclub. “Ididn’tliketoexercise,”shesays.“ButImadeacommitmenttomyselftogettotheclubeverynightandtryitfor30days.” Around9p.m.eachnight,Teriwouldcompletehermommyduties for thedayandwhenherfourchildrenwereinbed,and in the safe care of her husband,she would go to the club. The 30-day

commitment soon turned to127 straightdaysofexercise,onlymissingthe128thdaytoattendaNickelbackconcert. “I got my exercise dancing thatnight,”Terilaughs. Teristartedhernewexercisecommit-mentwithadaily10-minutecardioregimenof elliptical training, slowly building herelliptical time and addingweight traininguntilsheeventuallyworkedwithatrainertomaximizeherworkout. “Atfirst,10minuteswashard,itwasreally tough. But I kept addingminuteslittlebylittle.” Shebegankeepingaworkoutlogde-tailing her exercise routine. On the back,sherecordedhermeasurementseachweek.To remain motivated, Teri recorded themeasurementsofsomeonewhowassize8andcomparedherweeklymeasurementstothoseuntilsheachievedthesize8. She also tailored what she wasputtingintoherbody. “You’re not going to lose anythingif you keep having two helpings of hotdish,” she says. “What I atewas slight-lymore thanwhat I gavemy own kidsat mealtimes. They’re good eaters, so Iwasn’t starvingmyself,which is so im-portant.Starvingyourselfandnottakingin enough calories actually counteractswhatyou’retryingtodobecauseinsteadofburningfat,youburnmuscle.” Teri began eating smaller healthiermealsandsnackseverytwohoursknow-

ing that frequent meals cause the bodyto burn more calories and metabolize ata higher rate. Teri’s new commitment tohealthyeatingtransferredtoherchildren,ages18 to4,whonowoftenconferwithheraboutwhetherfoodsarehealthychoic-esbeforeeating. In the end, Teri lost a total of 70pounds going from a tight size 18 to asize4.Evenmoreimpressive,herbodymass index went from 38 percent to alean15percent. Teri’s personal commitment andhealthyambition turned to anewcareerwhen she started Muscles in MotionAnytime – a personal training companythat she co-owns – where she teachesfitness classes including the “LookGoodNakedBootCamp.”ShealsonowmanagestheAnytimeFitnessthathelpedbringhertoalifeoffitness. “Haditnotbeenfortheconvenienceofa24-hour,7-day-a-weekclub, there’snowayIcould’vehadthissuccess,”Terireflects. “I’m grateful for the AnytimeFitness franchise. You’re not limited.Youcomeinatyourconvenience,fittingexercise intoyour life andnot theotherwayaround.MyfamilyisalsosupportiveandproudofwhatI’veaccomplished.” Terihasbeenselectedasacontestantof theMrs.Minnesota Pageant inMarchwhereshewillrepresentBrownCounty.

On the Road to Fitness... and, Mrs. Minnesota!

W

By Christine Bernier LienkeWeight Loss Victories

self • Weight Loss

www.readthestories.com APRIL / MAY 2009 65

Photo by Rick Apitz

Teri’s Tips to Weight Loss Success

• Make a commitment to exercise daily.

• Record workouts in a workout log.

• Eat something healthy every two hours.

• Adjust recipes to bring up its health value. For example, make the switch from ground beef to turkey burger or choose soymilk over regular milk.

• Enjoy special occasion or holiday meals, but work out that day, too.

BEFORE

66 APRIL / MAY 2009 www.readthestories.com

indy Kruger joined theAlbertLeaWeightWatchers®programin January 2007 upon the en-

couragement of a friend, butwas skepti-cal.After attending thefirstmeeting, shethoughteverythingsoundedgood,butwassureitwasn’tgoingtoworkforher. Mindyhadstruggledwithherweightformanyyearsanddevelopedarthritisinherknees,whichwasexacerbatedbyherweight. Working full-time as a teacher,which requiredher to standall day,hadbecomeexcruciating.Likemanyworkingmothers,Mindy’sfocushadshiftedtohercareerandherteenageson,leavinglittleleftforherself. “IjustthoughtIwouldneverlosetheweightandthatIwasdestinedtobeheavyforever,”shesays. Mindy’s determination to try theprogram persevered and she was elatedwhen she learned that she dropped10 pounds in the first week. She wasencouraged that the Weight Watchers®plan allowed her to purchase her ownfood that she could prepare for her andhersoninsteadofhavingtopurchasepre-packaged foods. Through dedication andhardwork,sheattainedanamazinglossof130poundsoverthecourseof18months. Weight Watchers® encourages aslowand steadyweight loss that canbemaintainedoverthecourseofalifetime.Mindymade small changes to her foodintakeandsawthepoundsmeltaway.Shealso began an exercise regimenwalkingabout20minutesperdaya few timesaweek,buildingtowalkingonehourdailyin the summer.Mindy continued to addto her exerciseprogram by joiningher local SNAPFitness and startedwith the ellipticalfor five minutes ata stretch that shehasnowbuilt to40minutes. AfterattendingWeight Watchers®

for one year and losing the first 100pounds, Mindy took her son to theRivieraMaya for spring break – a tripthat included “firsts” for both.Mindy’ssonflewinanairplaneforthefirsttimeanditwasthefirsttimethatMindyfeltcomfortableinaswimsuit. “MysonsaysI’mahappierperson,”shesays.“HeseesthatI’mhealthierandcan do the things I want to do withoutbeingoutofbreath.”

Overthecourseof18months,Mindywent from a size 26/28 to a size 14/16.Shenowhashersightssetonherultimategoalofsize12. “Youhavetomaketimeforyourself,”Mindysays.“Ihadtolearnthatitwasokayto focus onme. That’s hard for a lot ofmomsbecausewe’realwaysmakingsurethateveryoneelseistakencareof.Mylifeisverydifferentandmyoutlookisreallypositivenow.Ifeelsomuchbetter!”

Turning to the Tried and True

M

• Journal your food intake to help monitor calories.

• Start with a salad before eating the main meal.

• Make time for yourself with exercise.

• Reward yourself when you’ve reached a milestone.

Mindy’s Tips to Weight Loss Success

BEFORE

Photo by Katie Honnette

www.readthestories.com APRIL / MAY 2009 67

anyaSmithhasstruggledwithherweightsinceshewasinthethirdgrade.Attemptingnumerousdiets

throughoutherlifetime,shehadreachedherbreakingpoint. “IgainedalotofweightandIdidn’tlike to look atmyself and I didn’twanttogoanywhereorhavepeopleseeme,”Tanyasays.“Iwassoashamed.” When she reached upwards of 300pounds, Tanya was determined to make alifechangewhenitcametoherweight.Likemany women, Tanya’s life is hectic. Shehomeschoolsher11-year-old,servesasthechurch secretarywhere her husband is thepastor,andworksasradiopersonality“TanyaLynn”atKSUMinFairmont,Minnesota. She turned to the principles of theThe Weigh Down Diet – a faith-basedweight loss program and book thatwas published in 1997. This programpromotes that prayer and Bible reading

willfillemotionalneedsinsteadoffood.Overeating is equated to greed and thatoneshouldwaituntiltheyfeeltruehungerbefore eating – never overindulging inanyfoods. “The light bulb turned on when Iread the book,” says Tanya. “I thought,wow,Icanreallydothis!” Following the principles of the book,using prayer as a tool to control hunger,Tanyadropped100pounds.The Weigh DownphilosophiestaughtTanyatoenjoyfoodsinmoderationwithself-controltechniques. “Thisbookteachesthatallthingsaregoodinmoderation,”shesays.“Theauthorgivesyoupermissionnevertogodownthedietaisleofagrocerystoreagain.” Tanya had gone from a snug size26W toa size18.Althoughworkingonherweight loss requiresdaily focusandshe’s experienced some relapse,Tanya’sgoalistoreachsize12.

“My weakness is Oreo cookies,”Tanyasays.“NormallyIwouldeat6to7inonesitting,butnowIhaveonly2or3andeatthemslowly.” Tanyacreditstheprinciplesofenjoyingfoodsinmoderationandturningtoprayertogetthroughchallengingtimes.She’slearnedthateatingonlywhenshefeelsasenseof“truehunger”hasbeeninstrumentalinherweightlossandshestopseatingassoonasherhungerisabated. With determination and prayer,Tanyahaslearnedtocontrolherweight. “This book changed my life inmore ways than just weight loss,” shesays.“I’maworkinprogress,andbeinghuman, slip sometimes and gain someweightback.PuttingwhatIlearnedintopractice, it comes right back off. I’velost30poundsthisyearandmygoalistobeasize12bymytwentiethweddinganniversaryinAugust.”

T

Tanya’s Tips to Weight Loss Success

• Eat until satisfied, not stuffed – wait for true hunger.

• Pray when the weight loss challenge becomes a burden. Pray daily.

• Place reminders to pray throughout your home.

• Just do it! Take the first step forward.

Weight Loss was Heaven Sent

W

BEFORE

Photo by Mya Radel