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Stories of
Walk Stars!

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Laura's story

While I had always been relatively fit before (around 140 pounds, 5'5", 29 years old), I really let myself go with my first pregnancy (2009). I was tired, listless, and overwhelmingly hungry...the works! I didn't feel like working out nor doing anything constructive. Before I knew it, I had gained 70 pounds and was tipping the scales at 215! Oops!
It was definitely fun to have a new baby in the home, but not quite so much fun carrying around all that extra weight and I was STILL wearing maternity pants after three months. In October 2009, I decided I had to do something. On a whim, I rented a WAH video from Netflix - a Mile Each Morning.

I'd never heard of Leslie Sansone before, but walking at home sounded like a neato ticket. What better way to get exercise while my infant was sleeping? I love to walk anyway! It's easy, quick, and efficient!

I popped in the DVD for the first time and during the initial warmup, I thought, "Uh oh...this looks like something my grandma would do." But I stuck with it. After the first mile, I was huffing and puffing and cursing, "I am too old for this!" It was amazing! Moves so easy and fun, it doesn't feel like working out at all, and yet you're covered in just as much sweat as you would in any of those "other" videos that make you do acrobatics! Immediately, I was hooked.

I immediately returned my Netflix copy, bought my own, and bought a few more just for the fun of it.

I made a routine out of it. When it was my daughter's naptime, that was time for me to walkout. I'd get in a few miles as she slept, and sometimes she was just happy to sit in her rocker or carrier and just watch.

As soon as one DVD got "old," I'd buy another, and another. Daughter in tow every time!

After about a year of consistently walking at home, my daughter started to talk - that's when things started to get interesting. My little one had given up naps by this point and I had to be a little more creative in when I got in my walks with Leslie. Usually I'd plop my daughter in the corner of the living room with a bunch of toys and get going. That's another great thing about WAH...not only are the walkouts fun, easy, doable and efficient, but you can also babysit at the same time! Who says you gotta look at the TV the whole time? Just use your ears! Let me tell ya, I know from experience that you can leave the room, prepare a bottle, grab some toys, practically do everything except change a diaper while STILL staying in-step! What other workout allows you to do THAT, huh? (Incidentally I once cleaned her entire room while doing a 3-mile video. I can't think of ANY other video series or workout in the world that allows you to be able to do chores at the same time! Just stay in step, that's all it takes!)

When my daughter was about a year old, only saying things like, "Mama" and "Dada," I put in a DVD as usual and as soon as she saw Leslie's face on the screen, my daughter said, "Walk, walk, walk!!!" Oh my! I'd been walking-out in front of my daughter so much, Leslie had actually taught her how to say, "walk!"

On particularly sunny or pleasant days, I'd take my daughter for a walk around town in her stroller. Sometimes you just need that change of pace. More often than not, we're at home doing WAH videos and my daughter still tags along to the store to check out any new releases (or older ones I just haven't bought yet!)

My daughter is three years old now, and I've lost ALL of the pregnancy weight. What's even better is that she's really aware of what is going on now and WAH is just another fun thing we do together. She tells me all the time, "Mama, let's do a 'step movie!'" (that's what she calls them!) She follows along the best she can, mostly marching in place or doing side-steps. She loves doing it as much as I do!

If not WAH, she requests, "Let's go walk around town," or "let's go walk at the mall!" Walking has been a major recreation to her - something we do together and have done together nearly since she was born. She even knows how to use stretchie bands and hand weights!

It took me the first two years to lose the weight, but that's okay. Slow and steady is the best! You don't feel deprived or like you're killing yourself exercising! The weight just comes off naturally, its so easy to stay consistent with it!

And as my daughter grows up, she's there to walkout with me almost every step of the way. I always have a partner to walk with! Surely she doesn't have any weight to lose, but I am so happy to know she's growing up knowing exactly how important (and fun!) fitness really is. I'm truly humbled that I have been the role model for her.

The attached picture is a before/after. Before was Halloween '09, just as I'd begun walking with Leslie. The after is October '11 (she 2, me 31), 70 pounds lighter. I've maintained the loss for a year now, still consistently walking and eating right. I regularly see the scale go up from time to time, but a good series of walks always gets me back on track!

Any time someone asks me what my "secret" is, I always tell them WAH! The secret's out!

Lots of love! And thank you so much! Walk, walk, walk!

- Laura and Valerie Buchanan

More inspirational walk stars

Amanda Crump's story

I will be 30 in November. I am a mother of 3 wonderful children. At the first of the year I noticed that I was at my heaviest that I have ever been. I was always tired and I had no energy. I couldn't enjoy my family. In May of 2011 I had made my mind up that I was going to get this weight off. I prayed that God would give me what I need to get the weight off. My mom had a Walk Away The Pounds DVD. I brought it home and started using it. I soon went and bought my own. I have been doing Walk Away The Pounds for almost 3 months. I set my goal at 40 pounds before I go on vacation in August, and I did it! With those 40 pounds that I lost I have went from a size 20 to a size 8. I know that I will get them off. I want to say Thank you Leslie because of your DVD's I enjoy working out. I really get into my workout. I only use your DVD's. Once I get my goal met I will then set another goal. I haven't felt this good in years. My youngest son is 4 and my oldest will be 10. I am now able to enjoy playing with them and doing things outside with my husband. Thank You God Bless! Stay Strong and I know if I can do it then anyone can!

Jill Dodson's story

Praise GOD for Leslie!

Ok, here is my story! I am 38 yrs old and have been in great health other than weighing 240lbs. My father and mother have chronic illnesses and have struggled so badly throughout their retirement years. I have the best parents in the world and it's heartbreaking to watch as they struggle, but yet remain so humble and grounded. Both of my parents have heart disease, diabetes, peripheral artery disease and kidney failure between the two of them. My husband races street stock cars for a hobby and I had helped him push his car into our garage one day. Days later I had came down with strep throat and had horrid chest pain. I was prescribed Amoxicillin and sent on my way. A few days later I was so short of breath and still having chest discomfort so I went back the the ER. It hit me on the way to the ER, duh, I helped push a car and maybe I've pulled something rather than it being my heart. Doctor felt around and said, my goodness Jill, you've pulled some intercostal muscles but due to your family history, let's get you checked out. I went for a nuclear stress test/treadmill test, did great! I had a calcium scoring cat scan and had no plaque. PRAISE GOD! Last I had an EKG and an Echocardiogram and there were zero issues! PRAISE GOD AGAIN! The day I got this news was the day I started my new life! I don't want to be in my parents shoes (health wise). I've lost 60 lbs! My starting weight was 240 and I'm currently at 178lbs. I feel so incredibly blessed to have been introduced to Leslie!

Leslie has helped me beyond words. I have learned so much from her and have NEVER EVER enjoyed exercise like this! My family is so incredibly supportive and I again am so blessed! IT would be a DREAM COME TRUE to meet Leslie, after all, she is in my living room EVERYDAY for many months now! haha..The knowledge she has of the human body and how humble she is with us common folk is so inspiring and inspirational! Thank you beyond imaginable words for all of you Leslie! You are sent from Heaven! I have shrunk/sleeked up/toned and feel great! WOW!

Steve's story

I had always been slim growing up. As I entered my late 30's, the weight started showing up. At times, I would try to lose some weight, but I never committed fully to it. When I turned 45 and didn't like the way I felt or how I looked in the mirror, I knew it was time to make a life change. I am so thankful to Leslie and her walking dvds. I try to do some work at the gym each week, but I, also, walk 4-5 times a week. For someone, like me, with a bad lower back and knees, these dvds are the perfect way to stay fit. With healthy eating and exercises, I have dropped over 40 lbs. I am so glad to have found this website, and I look forward to getting to know many of you. We each have our own stories, but we can walk the journey together. Leslie's program can benefit women and MEN!

Thanks, again, Leslie and her team!

Walking my way to health,

Steve

Tabitha's story

When I was almost 29, I injured my foot and had to go the ER. While there, I learned I weighed 174lbs, which is the same weight I was both times when I was 9months pregnant. I was so depressed. My youngest daughter had just turned 7. My mom then loaned me her Walk at Home DVD. I started with one mile every morning and now I am up to between five and seven. I am now 30 years old, and weigh 135lbs. I also own my own set of DVDs. I feel great, and it's so simple that I didn't quit. I have never in my life been this healthy. Thank you Leslie and The Walk at Home Team!!

Elise's story

I started out 2011 weighing 217 pounds. I've struggled with weight all my life but became obese after the birth of my second child. I love being a mom. I have the best kids! I love them so much I chose to homeschool them. Being a homeschooler and moving often with my husband's company did not help my struggle. Finding myself in a new community, without family around to help, I used food to comfort myself. When my husband was out of town, when my kids were asleep, it was easy to stay up late into the night and feed my loneliness with food. I recently entered my forties (!) and I realized I had to do something NOW! This February I began an eating plan that is sensible, nutritious, and satisfying. I knew I had to work out, too. This is where Leslie came into my life. I purchased a dvd at Walmart. 3 Fast miles with the walk belt! I woke up every morning and did my 3 miles. I was losing 1 pound a week before adding walking, after adding the walking I sometimes upped my weight loss to 2 pounds. Once, even 3! I knew I finally found a formula that worked for me. A sane diet and a workout that made me feel capeable! The encouraging words of Leslie lifted my spirits. I would say outloud "My body will drop weight!", semi-quoting Leslie! My kids thought I was nuts! I am almost 40 pounds down so far. My "after" pic is not really an after it is a "during". I'm continuing my journey, with Leslie's and God's help, I will finish!

Stories of Walk Stars!