Barbara Jean often shares her incredible weight loss story on her blog, Life in the Fifties, and social media. In 2009, at the age of 62, she decided to treat herself to a complete weight loss transformation, dropping from a size 28 to a size 2 in just over a year. Follow her amazing journey as she shares her discoveries and tips on how to achieve weight loss success.
The Turning Point
After years of being overweight, Barbara Jean suffered from arthritis and asthma. These conditions made it difficult for her to exercise, and as a result she became quite sluggish. When she eventually did decide to take a walk, it was only a short one before she was bent over again, gasping for breath.
It was at this point that she decided to make a serious change, and began searching for information on weight loss and wellness. She came across books on the subject and started reading. Barbara Jean became so absorbed in reading that she completely lost track of time. Once she’d finished reading, she’d spend hours in her bed, quietly reflecting on what she’d read. Then came the inevitable morning hours of trying to get out of bed, and soon enough she was back at it, determined to lose weight and get healthy.
It was during this time that she decided to take inspiration from the lives of those around her. While still in bed one day, she heard a noise outside her bedroom window. She looked out and saw a man walking his dog. She knew right then and there that she wanted to get a dog. She loved the idea of being able to walk and exercise with a four-legged friend by her side.
Barbara Jean quickly got out of bed and began putting her plan into action. Using the Internet, she found a local animal shelter and made an appointment to come in and meet the volunteers there. She met the sweetest couple, Ken and Anne, and was completely captivated by the soft, brown eyes of the dog they were holding, Toby. He was a small chocolate dog with a big heart, and he quickly became her favorite pet. After his health exams and vaccinations, she brought him home.
It was a week later, and Toby was itching to go outside. When Barbara Jean took him out for a walk, the sun was beaming down, warming up the air. She threw the lead on her new friend and started walking. She hadn’t taken a walk in years, and hadn’t owned a dog since she was a child, but she felt a connection to this one that seemed stronger than any friendship she’d experienced before. She realized that this is what she needed to make her better, and decided to commit to the weight loss plan the best she could. This is when she began recording her daily meals on paper, logging every gram, and keeping track of her daily water intake. She decided to cut out all the sugar, white flour, and processed foods from her diet and instead focused on eating healthily. She cut out all the foods she knew she shouldn’t eat, and began replacing them with natural foods.
The Results
Over the next few months, Toby started gaining weight. It was a real surprise to Barbara Jean, who had always been very conscious about her diet. She began to attribute this change to the sugar-free snacks and drinks she was consuming, but after a few more weeks she realized that this was simply not the case. Toby was definitely putting on weight, but it was clearly not due to what she was eating. This only spurred her on to change her approach to weight loss.
Barbara Jean began researching alternative methods of weight loss, and became a big fan of the ketogenic diet, a high-fat, low-carbohydrate diet that is known to be very effective for dogs. She began supplementing her pet’s diet with liquid ketones, which enabled her to lose a pound a week. While this may not sound like a lot, to Barbara Jean it was a massive achievement. She switched gears, and began using this method to shed off the extra pounds she’d put on after Toby’s diagnosis. In just over a year, Barbara Jean went from a size 28 to a size 2, maintaining her new weight for months before deciding to indulge in some healthy snacks.
This method is known for causing humans to feel very hungry, and it did the same for Toby. It was a difficult change for Barbara Jean to make, as she’d grown accustomed to cooking her favorite meals for her pet, and he’d begun looking forward to them. She found it difficult to deny him what he needed, and started preparing healthier options for both of them. This often meant cutting back on the amount of food she was giving him, but she decided that this was a small price to pay for good health.
The Impact
The journey to a healthier and happier Barbara Jean has had a profound impact on those around her. Ken, Anne, and Toby are all doing well, and have continued to thrive since this change in lifestyle. It’s been three years since then, and Barbara Jean still feels the passion to lose weight and become healthier. She wants to continue sharing her experience with others, encouraging them to follow their dreams and aspirations, and helping them to achieve their ideal weight.
The change in Barbara Jean’s life has been nothing short of remarkable. It’s opened up new doors for her, and allowed her to live her life to the fullest, with a newfound sense of purpose and wellbeing. While she may no longer be the person she was before her transformational year, she has become a better and stronger version of herself.