Keep Moving!!

When she hit 575 pounds, Tammey Burns tried to commit suicide. The attempt didn’t work, leaving the Missouri woman with no other choice but to finally lose the hundreds of pounds of fat that had robbed her of her life.

It took seven years and a journey deep within herself, but today the newest member of the Joy Fit Club weighs in at a trim 165 pounds.

Burns showed off her new figure and shared her story with Joy Fit Club founder Joy Bauer and TODAY’s Matt Lauer Monday in New York. To illustrate how much fat she lost, huge buckets filled with 410 pounds of lard were piled on risers on the stage. Next to them stood three TODAY interns — two women and one man who together weigh as much as Burns did before she lost all that weight.

A life of limits
“Food was my drug of choice,” the 50-year-old woman told Lauer and Bauer. It took the failed suicide attempt to force her to discover that.

At the time, the list of things Burns couldn’t do was endless. She couldn’t visit friends for fear she’d break any furniture she sat on. Couldn’t get in a car. Couldn’t go to the movies. Couldn’t attend to her own hygiene without help.

She couldn’t pick her foot up high enough to climb even one low step, couldn’t take more than two or three steps without gasping for breath. Just standing for more than a couple of minutes caused severe pain in her hips and back.

Even sleeping lying down was a near impossibility.

Burns was going through five liters of oxygen a day. She had hypertension, restrictive lung disease, sleep apnea, respiratory insufficiency, obesity hypoventilation syndrome, venous stasis insufficiency, diabetes. The right side of her enlarged heart was failing.

For years, Burns had tried every fad diet without success. But, she said, the secret to finally taking control of her body and her life came down to “working from within — from the inside out.”

She started by water-walking in the center’s therapy pool, and worked her way up to an exercise bike. Then Young challenged her to walk four days a week.

“My perspective on life is positive and healthy,” Burns wrote. “God is taking me on an amazing journey to give hope to others.

“I am preparing for my certifications as a personal trainer and wellness coach,” she added. “I am training to be competitive in race-walking events. I cannot imagine returning to my formal dismal state, because life is an amazing adventure ... if you let it be.”

“I don’t even know you, and I’m proud of you,” Lauer said with emotion. He asked Burns what advice she has for others who have despaired of ever losing massive amounts of weight.

“Quit the fad diets,” Burns replied. “Make it a healthy lifestyle change. Work on your emotional issues, and combine exercise with a healthy lifestyle change.

“And focus on your goals — not the struggle,” she concluded.

I know it sucks to not lose and even worse to gain but it happens.  Just a minor set back on this journey.  I realized today that we haven't talked about your diet.  I don't know what you are doing if you are counting cals or just cutting out sugar or what.  I'm focused 100% on calories and staying around 1200 a day which I think you know by now.  I also stick to my three basic meals a day.  I do not snack.  This has been easy for me and I don't know if it is just because I'm so determined this time or what but not snacking won't work for everyone.  And obviously I'm working out six days a week now.  Just trying to give you something to think about.  You probably already have an idea of why you gained this past week but if not maybe this will help you!  Next week will be better!

Yay Yay Tomorrow is your birthday!  I'm so freakin excited.  So what we do is totally up to you but I'm really thinking we should go out, even if it is only for like an hour.  This could be our reward for doing so well so far.  I figure Zumba ends at 6:30 home by 7 ready by 7:45 ish eating by 8 shopping by 9 at the club by 10 or 10:30 we could be home by 11:30 or 12...  I was shooting for being home by 12.  I didn't figure that would be too too late.  Can't wait whatever we do it is going to be fun!!!

Thanks so much for the support and encouragement!  You can read my blog and figure out that I so met my mini goal and beyond!  I cannot believe it.  I screamed when I got on the scale lol.  That is awesome that you lost this week!  After all of this Zumba we are about to be doing you will definitely see the numbers go down!  Can't wait until this evening!

I keep checking for a new blog from you....  I hope if you aren't blogging you are still taking the time to read a few on here because that is where I get some true inspiration from.  I really believe being active on this site will help you get through your next slump...because you know it is coming!  Stay focused and I cannot wait for dinner Thursday!

I don't know if it posted my freakin comment on your slump blog and it was long!  Ugh!  A summary of what I said is don't give up, don't reward yourself with bad food, and you will get through your slump!  You can do it!

So I guess I kinda cheated by putting a fake person as my picture, but I think those things are so cool!  A girl on here finally gave me the link for them.  It's http://www.mvm.com/en/brandme.php?endpoint=join if you want to put up before and after pics!  Have a good weekend!

Stay strong this weekend!  Just think about stepping on that scale Monday morning.  I'm going to try to get a pic up tonight :) I like yours and you don't look bad at all.  A lot can be hidden underneath clothes so a bathing suit pic is the way to go!