Success Story: Karen Smith
Discover how this RealAger fixed her metabolism and dropped 8 sizes.
Name: Karen Smith
Age: 58
Current RealAge: 49.9
Start weight: 200
Current weight: 124
Start size: 20
Current size: 4
What was really killing me: Feeling powerless over my weight. I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism at age 40 and was miserable carrying 200 pounds on a 4'10" frame. My blood pressure was also high enough that I needed to take medication.
(Is your thyroid going haywire? Check out the variety of health problems it can cause.)
My wake-up call: Running into a girlfriend who also had an underactive thyroid and hearing that she had lost 25 pounds. That inspired me to see a new doctor who reconfigured my meds and got my thyroid condition under control.
(Gaining weight for no reason? Here are some signs that it might be your thyroid.)
What I changed:
- I switched doctors and thyroid medications.
(Looking for a new doctor? Try this three-step approach to choosing wisely.) - I shifted from southern cooking to eating more natural, unprocessed foods.
- I began eating five little meals and started drinking lots of water throughout the day.
- I started walking for at least 30 to 35 minutes, 5 or 6 days a week.
(Log your daily steps with this walking tracker.) - I adopted a bedtime routine of planning out my meals and exercise routine for the next day.
(Plan out your meals with this cool diet tool.) - I use an app on my phone to keep my nutrient count updated.
How my life has changed: I feel great! I can get out of a chair without huffing and puffing. I’m a choral conductor and can now conduct for a whole hour and a half without sitting down! Plus, I no longer need to take blood pressure medication.
(Try these 12 tasty ways to lower your blood pressure.)
How RealAge helped me: By providing delicious, nutritious recipes and diet advice. I read 90% of what RealAge sends to me.
What keeps me motivated and on track: My daughter, Melissa. She recently lost 75 pounds and became my cheerleader, encouraging me to give up salt, diet sodas, and processed foods. She helped structure an exercise routine that worked for me.
What I really love about the new me: Having the energy to keep up with my 5-year-old grandchild at the park -- and knowing that my metabolism is not really broken.
(Yes, you can grow younger! Take the all-new RealAge Test to find out how.)
