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Featured walk star
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
Laura's story
Laura lost 75 lbs. in 24 months.
- Start Lbs
- 215
- End Lbs
- 140
More inspirational walk stars
Laura's story
Dear Leslie,
I just wanted to tell you just how much I adore your sweet spirit and common sense when it comes to exercise, healthy living, and weight loss. I lost my dad a few years ago to cancer and because I was so heartbroken put on 80 pounds due to my grief. At first I tried other plans like Power 90 but they were just so hard for a girl overweight that I would end up with migraines and literally sick after attempting them. So many of these infomericals and "health nuts" make it seem like killing yourself is the only way to lose and you prove that's simple not true! I joined weight watchers and I faithfully do your videos and get my steps in daily and I've lost 15 pounds so far! It comes off a little at a time but I am taking care of myself and doing it the safe, gentle, and LASTING way. So I just wanted to thank you for postively influencing my life! I don't feel hopeless anymore when it comes to being healthy and taking the weight off, I am so grateful to you.
Sincerely,
Laura Ackley
Laura's story
Laura lost 15 lbs. in 6 months.
- Start Lbs
- 212
- End Lbs
- 197
Olivia's story
I struggled with my weight my whole life. I lost a lot of weight twice and gained it back due to having my kids. I believe you have to hit rock bottom to change everything you know. 04/13/09 I saw this picture and was HORRIFED I join weight watchers I weighed in at 370lbs. I lost 20 quickly and then bounced for 6 weeks later I hit rock bottom. I stopped LYING to myself making better choices choosing fruit over 100 calorie packs. I saw it as that what I ate to get fat just a smaller size. I then started walking 1 hour a day. Before I knew it I was doing a 5k everyday. The weight melted off... Realizing you have to make the lifestyle change, focusing on portion control and making those good choices forever and being active. Aug 2010 I was down 135lbs... Since I have hit one of the pleatues and maintained with in 10 pounds. I'm active by doing a weight training/cardio program everyday and I do 3 miles... Walk away the pounds gives me my walk if its cold, hot, raining or snowing... My journey is on going as I keep trying to break out of the plateau and get under 200 pounds for the first time in my life. With eating right, getting my workout and my walk in and a little help from God I will finally get there. Thank you to the WAH team for wanting me to tell my story. It means the world. If one person that is as big as I was changes their life It makes all the ups and downs worth it. If you can walk you can control what you put in your mouth and walk you can lose weight!
Olivia's story
Olivia lost 135 lbs. in 25 months.
- Start Lbs
- 370
- End Lbs
- 235
Kelly's story
Dear Leslie,
I am so thankful for you! You have changed my life. I have been overweight my whole life and in November, 2010 I decided that had to change. I didn't know where to go, but I had heard about your DVDs from my mother in law. The first one I bought had up to 4 miles on it and I remember struggling that first day with the one mile! I did them almost daily and the pounds were literally melting off. I have lost 30 pounds with your help! I am almost half way to my goal weight. I just wanted to let you know how grateful I am for you. I have tried different programs and DVDs in the past, but was never able to keep up. I love walking now! I recommend your program to everyone who asks me how I have lost the weight and several have even gone on to buy your DVDs! Thank you Leslie!
Kelly's story
Kelly lost 30 lbs. in 9 months.
- Start Lbs
- 220
- End Lbs
- 190
Angel J. Robinson's story
On April 4th of this year, I started a diet/exercise program because I was tired of being the way that I was. It took a long time to love who I was on the inside and outside. And even though I loved myself, I wasn't healthy and I got tired of just feeling so heavy. Surgery was an option but I am only 25 years old and the complications that I would have to face would have been too much. I am in school full time with a part time job and I didn't need anymore stress on my life. So, I did some soul searching and decided that no matter how hard it gets, I have to do this. I began a program with a doctor and was told to exercise; I freaked out! I don't do well with a gym full of people. I was looking on television and saw Exercise TV. I watched a minute or two of some of those programs and just watching them wore me out! But then I saw the Walking series with Leslie Sansone and fell in love! I felt amazing! I became all about burning some calories and breaking a sweat! For the first time in a long time, I was excited about my new life and I looked forward to every exercise. I was focused and with eating right and walking at home, I have lost a little over 30 pounds in 2 months! It isn't easy but I just keep praying for strength and I keep watching your videos and you have truly been a blessing in my life. Thanks for everything and, I will always keep on walking! God Bless!
Angel Robinson
Augusta, Georgia
Angel J. Robinson's story
Angel J. Robinson lost 31.5 lbs. in 2 months months.
- Start Lbs
- 281.5 lbs
- End Lbs
- 250 lbs
Sharon Myler's story
My story started a year and a half ago. After many times trying weight watchers and other things, I couldn't seem to get it together. I'm 53 years old and have high blood pressure (normal now), but as my doctor had told me...I wasn't getting any younger, and with diabetes in my family I was on the road to this. For me, this was a final wake up call. So when weight watchers had an at work program, I decided to give it another shot. There were 7 people here from my office who joined at the same time so we all had each others back for support. When I stood on the scales I couldn't believe what I saw...271 pounds...I cringed because I never thought or wanted to believe I was that heavy. So from that point on I took my weight loss in small steps....25 pound increments so it wouldn't seem so much. As time went by, I gradually reached these 25 pound increments and was so proud. That was back in October 2009 and in April 2011 I finally reached my goal 155 pounds....116 pounds lighter. All through this time I faithfully used Leslie's dvd's. They are fantastic!! When I didn't want to go to the gym for others to see me, she was always there. I could go at my own pace and eventually I worked up to what I think is the best of them. I do the dvd's 5 times a week and I would be so lost without them. I have many of her dvd's and switch them up. My hat goes off to Leslie, her dvd's and weight watchers. I wouldn't be where I am today without either of them.
Sharon Myler's story
Sharon Myler lost 116 lbs. in 18 months.
- Start Lbs
- 271
- End Lbs
- 155