When she started: Aug. 9.
Age: 56
Personal life: “I’ve been married for 25 years to my husband, Sam. My daughter is 23 and my son is 17. We also have an adopted greyhound, a mutt and two cats,” Traci Newman said. “I work at Georgia Primary Bank. I’m a senior vice president in commercial lending.”
The lifestyle change: “First, we had COVID that was very hard on me to stay home. Then I had a horrible accident; I fell out of the shower and broke my leg in two places. I couldn’t walk for six months,” Newman said. “I was in a bad place, so I gained a bunch of weight — that was all I could do was eat.” One day she had lunch with a friend who told her about Sparkle Wellness with wellness coach Jacynta Harb. “I just decided, especially given COVID, we need to be the healthiest version of ourselves that we can be,” she said. “... I want this to be a lifestyle, not just a diet.”
Change in eating habits: “Life before, I would eat anything: pizza, hamburger, french fries. I would eat what I want, then I wouldn’t eat if I ate a big lunch or something,” Newman said. “Now, I try to give my body the things it’s designed to have: fruits and vegetables, lean proteins and occasional treats.”
Traci’s list of 5 things: “Emotional eating is real... it soothes you because you can eat, it’s immediate and you feel better. Then later, you feel guilt and shame. I wrote down things I could do to distract me from emotional eating”:
1. Pray
2. Take a bath
3. Call a friend
4. Go for a walk
5. Listen to some uplifting music
Exercise routine: She walks her dog for 20 minutes every morning, walks again during her lunch break at work and does strength training regularly.
Biggest challenge: “I think the biggest challenge is just to stay consistent ... every day tracking my food, meal prepping and planning,” Newman said. “If we get in a bind and I haven’t made it to the grocery store, I make an omelet with spinach, cheese and mushrooms — it’s fast and easy.”
Traci’s top tips:
1. Start with your brain: “Your brain is so important in this whole process — have a positive mindset.”
2. Long-term lifestyle: “You have to have something that is going to work for your lifestyle long-term.”
3. Nonfood rewards: “Rewards are typically food-based. Instead, reward yourself with getting a massage, getting a new outfit or visiting a museum — whatever makes you happy besides food. Instead of defaulting to going out to eat with friends, we meet at the river now. When you walk with people, you actually have better conversations.”
4. Excitement for the journey: “Always be trying new things. I’ve tried Pilates. We tried Top Golf one night, rowing, kayaking — it brings more excitement to the journey.”
How has her life changed? “I am getting results and I didn’t do anything drastic,” Newman said. “Losing weight and keeping it off is hard, you’re fighting against things. Our society is geared to sit. You sit in your car, you sit at work and you get home and you sit in front of the TV. ... Pick your hard — it’s hard to live in a body that’s overweight and has diabetes, it’s hard to live with a body that is healthy and making good choices, and it’s hard to change.”
Seeking readers’ stories of lifestyle changes: We’re looking for stories about changing health habits. While The Atlanta Journal-Constitution does not endorse any specific programs, we include names and links for the benefit of readers who want further information. If you would like to share your story of a lifestyle change, please contact reporter Michelle C. Brooks and include your email address, phone number, and before and after photos (by mail or JPEG). You can email her directly at: ajcsuccessstories@gmail.com.
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