Weight Loss Success in People Magazine
The Pitt-Jolie twins were on the cover but if you went inside People Magazine you’d have found Donna Schwartz Mills, 52 of Southern California. People Magazine featured her weight loss success story. Donna lost 56 pounds with the help of Nintendo Wii Boxing AND the Ninetendo DS. Donna blogs at SoCal Mom. Donna consented to an in-depth interview with DTBMULF after we fully disclosed that we want to lose weight AND be near Brad Pitt.
How did you put weight on.. over a long period of time? For us pregnancy did it. Seeing as some of our kids are teenagers this excuse isn’t working anymore. Why did you gain?
Yes. The weight came on gradually over several years – and then a whole bunch stayed on with my pregnancy. (From a weight gain standpoint, having a child at 40 is not a great idea). I keep telling people it took me only 12 years to lose the baby weight.
What was your worst diet habit?
Refusing to diet. Deciding I was middle aged and that this is the way I was going to be and life is too short to diet. I got really good at not seeing myself in the mirror, so on those rare occasions that someone managed to take a photo of me, I was always shocked at how I looked. But as long as I didn’t look, I was OK.
Once I got it in my head that I was fat and getting fatter every year and wanted to lose weight – my worst habit was night feeding. I didn’t eat that much during the day, but after dinner, while watching TV – that’s when I would really go to town.
Oh yes, that and not keeping track of the number of caramel macchiatos I’d drink during the day. Because it doesn’t count if it’s you know, liquid. (Editor’s note: Keep reading after the jump. She talks about Pitt AND Clooney!)
Did you get to meet Brad Pitt? (Please just answer yes. We plan to live vicariously through you from being a size 2 to sharing a magazine with Brad Pitt.)
No, I’ve never met Brad Pitt. But I live in Los Angeles, and I did once have an encounter with George Clooney. http://www.socalmom.net/travelblog/2005/04/socal_friday_ge.html
Explained how Wii Boxing helped you kick start your fitness.
You have to understand that I did NOT WANT to exercise, but I was spending a fortune at a weight loss clinic (more details on that later) and the program involved daily exercise. This was just about a year ago, and I was not keen on walking in 100 degree smoggy weather. So I decided I’d play with the Wii to AVOID you know, REAL exercise.
But after about a week of that, I realized that Wii boxing wasn’t enough and so I very reluctantly joined a health club and hired a personal trainer to force me into it. I gradually started to like it, which came as a shock to me when I realized it had happened.
I ended up going back to the Wii during those weeks when getting to the gym proved difficult.
The Wii’s purpose was to get me up and moving and once I realized it wasn’t going to kill me, I was able to go the next step. And it really is a lot of fun! (Especially the Wii Fit. If that had been out a year ago when I started, I might not have joined the gym and spent the money on the trainer… although even the Fit can’t replace the torture – er, I mean workout you get from a good trainer.)
To be honest (and this is something I told the People reporter, but no one seems to believe me) – the game system that REALLY helped me with my weight loss was my little Nintendo DS, because if I was playing games at night while watching TV, and by 11:00 I would realize that with both my hands and my mind occupied, I hadn’t gotten up at all to grab anything out of the fridge during commercial breaks. The DS broke me of my night feeding habit.
Part Two Runs on Saturday Where Donna talks about what she ate and gives us some advice.
every time i open a People magazine, i feel like i’m doing the intellectual equivalent of going to the bathroom on my own brain.
furiousballs last blog post..Wiffle
I just got the WII fit as well and I have only used it a couple times but let me tell you it kicks your ass all in the privacy of your own home!! Well you inspired me to make this a 3 – 4 day a week routine!!
I just can’t spend that much money on video games… I’ll surely just find a way to play sitting down. I’m wily like that.
Nicoles last blog post..Fat Blog- Day 226
furiousball – please don’t hurt yourself, I like your brain the way it is
Cathy – I want a full report on the Wii Fit. And I love that we inspired something other than..meh… I don’t like the color peach.
Nicole – The Wii we have my kid saved up for and bought. And I fully support just sitting down. I’m a just sit downer from way back.
Kikis last blog post..Weight Loss Success in People Magazine
All these stories are making me want a Wii Fit sooooo bad. I just struggle with parting with that much money. Maybe for Christmas . . .
Burgh Babys last blog post..She’s Got Wheels and She Knows How to Use Them
Very interesting article, I am surprised about the Wii
part.
PS I at first thought you were point to Jolie’s tata’s
Laurels last blog post..Twitter, LinkedIn, Stumble Upon, Facebook and more…
We have a Wii system already, so I’m interested in hearing what people who have used the Wii Fit think about it. Is it something you use for about 3 days and then you’re bored with it, or is it something you can actually do and it’s a little bit fun?
Shelleys last blog post..Does It Clean The House?
I have had the Wii fit now for over a week and I did an hour of the step aerobics and advanced step and it kicked my butt!!! I still have calf pains lol. It really does work and it’s nice not having to try and motivate yourself to go to the gym…it’s all in the comfort of your own home. I’d recommend it to anyone!!! =)
I can recommend the Wii fit, it’s a great way to shape up and no one can see hao daft you look. Unless of course you stood in the window when the postman comes, but that another story.
With so many diets why are we so fat? There is some good information, but it is being overshadowed by a lot of junk. There is a reason why we fat (fat factors). Most people don’t realize what they are doing to sabatoge their weight loss goals.
Del-Metri Williams, MBA NC CTLC
Weight Management Coach
http://www.smartweightloss4u.com
Del-Metri Williamss last blog post..Fat Factor #5 Chronic Stress
I really like using Nintendo Wii Fit. Co’z it keeps me on track for my work out.
Diana Ruperts last blog post..Does LA Weight Loss Really Work
Like the idea of using a Nintendo Wii for exercising, so instead of being accused of wasting time playing games,I could actually say I was exercising!!
Joking aside though I could never get away with that.
For a more practical way of dieting check out my website.
http://www.squidoo.com/fat-stripper
i might have to try this out check my blog out!
Great blog! Nice layout, lots useful information.
I want to buy wii too. Those tennis games look fun.
Hi, how are you? I have been dieting for 2 months and I have great success. From my personal experience, any diet works as long as you have perseverance and faith in yourself
Great read. Very informative article. It’s nice to see that the I net doesn’t just get spammed.
Here a great site for weight reduction:
http://fastfreeweightloss.blogspot.com/
The perfect way to loose weight and monitor your progress is to use a calorie counter on a daily basis while you diet.
Energy In/Energy Out
Food Intake: 1,200 Per Day
One Pound equals 3,500 Calories
To loose one pound per day, You need to burn your food intake plus your one pound of fat
1,200 (intake) + 3,500 (Outtake) = 4,700 Calories Burn
You must burn at least 4,700 Calories everyday to loose one pound at least. It is very easy to go up and beyond 4,700 calories each day.
Best way to do this is to track your progress on a calorie counter monitor watch. If you do it by the numbers you can loose the weight. It is just a matter of changing the way you think about weight loss.
http://www.weight-lossdiet.net
Hi, After reading this article, I am very impressed that there was no mention to any type of fad or pill induced diets. One should seek out option to attain a realistic weight goal via healthy and respondsible programs. Len http://www.weightlossandhealth1.com
Len Jays last blog post..Quick Weight Loss Diets
I usually don?t post in Blogs but your blog forced me to, amazing work.. beautiful ?