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The
Roller Coaster Diet Worked For Me!
by
Laura Salmon
Just
over three years ago, I found myself way overweight, and
refusing to use the word obese. But I was in fact, clinically
obese. I knew I needed to lose weight, but I also needed
some motivation to get me going and I needed to learn how
to stick to a diet. No diet I'd ever tried had ever worked
for long.
During this time, my husband and I took an overnight trip
to one of my favorite places in the world: Cedar Point.
My mission: to ride roller coasters. I was able to ride
most of the rides but not without a staff park member having
to push down on the restraints to get me buckled in properly.
It was humiliating. They were gracious enough to do so,
considering that I really should have been asked to get
off a few of the rides. At that point, I started a halfhearted
attempt to lose the weight.
My
Rock Bottom
Fast forward 8 months to May 2002. After watching Cedar
Point build a brand new roller coaster over the entire winter
& spring, I was anticipating being able to ride it on
the first day of the season. I'd never given any thought
to the humiliation from the previous summer, other than
I was not as big as I was the year before. Boy was I wrong.
I got stopped before I even got into the line for the new
ride. I was asked to try the test seat, which is put at
the beginning of the line to allow people to try before
getting into line. I thought, no problem.
But there was a problem, a very big problem. Me. I couldn't
come close to getting the restraint closed. I was shocked,
angry, and even more humiliated than the season before.
I walked over to the Ferris Wheel, and just sat on it in
shock and anger. I was angry at myself for getting to this
point. By the time I got off the Ferris Wheel, I had new
resolve. I made the decision that I was going to ride the
new roller coaster ride before the end of the season.
Good-bye
50 Pounds, Hello Roller Coaster!
By the week's end, I had a nutritionist as my "coach."
I needed the accountability in order to succeed. I chose
swimming as my form of exercise, because I didn't want to
sweat. I knew that exercise was going to make or break my
ability to ride that coaster. It took me until the end of
August 2002, but I finally fit into the seats without anyone
pressing down on the restraints to squish me in. Through
diet, regular exercise and lots of determination, I lost
50 pounds! Success!
Though I'd achieved my goal, I realized that I needed some
sort of motivation to keep going. Being able to ride the
following season wasn't enough. Later that I day, I saw
a roller coaster lover's dream: construction equipment and
a lot of yellow roller coaster track! Another new
coaster was being built! Being able to ride the new coaster
on opening day of the following season was my new target
goal. I had incredible resolve to eat right and stick to
my exercise plan. I watched that ride being built for the
entire winter over the internet. I was determined not
to be asked to leave the line ever again.
Opening
Day at the Theme Park, Spring 2003
Could I actually ride this ride? Oh, the anticipation...
and the worry. But I did it. I got to ride the new roller
coaster on opening day along with all of the other roller
coaster lovers who flocked to the park that day.
80
Pounds Gone For Good!
To date, I've lost about 80 pounds, give or take a few and
I've kept it off! I never thought I'd say that I enjoy working
out and that I like to exercise. Since I started losing
weight, I've branched out into other exercises: aerobics,
weight lifting, walking, bicycling, hiking, and competitive
volleyball.
There have been lots of ups and downs in my journey over
the last few years. Buying new clothes has been a joy and
a frustration. I still can't believe that I can fit into
regular size clothing. I like to shop, to a degree, but
get so frustrated at the need to continually add to my wardrobe
as I "undergrow" my clothing.
The
Beauty In Change
Even more, I like watching the changes in my body. Who knew
I had collar bones, biceps, and ankle bones? I didn't even
know what my face structure really looked like, because
it was so round.
I refuse to give up my new life and my new body. This summer,
I accomplished a 20 mile bike ride. I did a 10 mile walk.
I'm going to ride my bike as a marathon escort this fall.
And roller coaster myself silly all season long! I never
want to lose the ability to do something I love so much.
I don't ever want to feel that humiliated or embarrassed
again. I'm going to see if I can't break the 100 pound mark
before next May. There's a new ride coming to Cedar Point
next year and I can't wait!
If you'd like to submit your weight loss success story,
click
here.
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