What brought you to One Life?

I have known Dr. Haynes and his wife Ashlee for a long time, and so I knew that One Life had started, but I was not entirely sure what it was all about. I was living in LA at the time working in Fashion PR and always dieting to look good for an event - which is basically my forever weight struggle. Do a crazy diet to lose 10 to 15 pounds and then put it right back on. I considered myself an expert at dieting. I even hired a personal trainer to lose weight before my wedding. Finally one-day Dr. Haynes asked me what I am eating and how many blocks a day I was having. I had no clue what he was talking about, and at that moment - he sent me the One Life book, and I made an appointment to come down and see him in San Diego. 

How much weight did you lose?

The first time around I lost 30 pounds. It happened really fast. I started in December right before Christmas, and I think I hit my goal the first week of April. I never thought I had 30 pounds to lose. The first week on the plan, I lost 6 pounds and continued to lose each week. My entire life I constantly struggled with trying to lose the same 20 pounds with fad diets, and then I would always put it back on. One Life was so easy, and it made me realize that I wanted to get down to 150, a weight I had not been since college. 

The week I hit my goal, I found out I was pregnant. Not experiencing maintaining my weight loss, I put on the pounds with the excitement of eating for two. After I had my son, I had about 70 pounds to lose to get back down to 150. It took me a bit longer this time, but I still got there and have maintained my goal weight for six months now. 

Have you always struggled with your weight?

I was a chubby girl when I was younger, probably all the way through high school. I come from a big family. We all like to eat, but looking back at my childhood - we were all over eating the wrong things. I did not need to be the “fat girl.” I asked my mom the summer of my 7th grade year if I could take diet pills and “go one a diet” and that is when I started my first diet - never understanding how to lose weight the right way - always the fast way and then put it back on. 

What has Dr. Haynes and One Life taught you about losing weight?

I was what they call a “healthy” fat girl. Always thinking I was eating healthy, spending hours at the gym and barely seeing results. One Life taught me it is all about the food you eat and that being healthy is different than losing weight. My Kale, nut, avocado, olive oil salads had so many calories and not enough protein to keep me full. I won’t keep any nut butters in the house anymore because if I see it, I will eat it. One Life taught me how to make great meals that fill me up and taste great that are mainly protein and veggies. It is how I love to eat now. The food volume handout was really helpful to me. I like to feel full. I like a big dinner. So eating food that will fill me up like broccoli or cauliflower are my go to sides. Oh and I do not spend hours at the gym anymore. I maintain my weight loss through my portions and walking and chasing my toddler son. I do activity for fun and not the “work” part of working out. 

What were some of your tips or tricks that helped keep you on track?

Measuring my food was so important. Especially cheese. One ounce adds up quick. It made me realize my portions that I was eating were huge. In addition, slowing down and eating sitting down. I used to wait until I was starving and then eat a days' worth of calories as I was cooking dinner. Now, I prepare and sit down with my family every night and eat slowly. I never deprived myself of treats, but I saved them until the weekend. I would drink a few blocks of wine and have some chocolate pretty much every Friday night. When I had only 10 more pounds to go, I found that moving my weigh in on a Monday would really keep me on track. My weekends were not as lose any more and the last 10 came off fast! 

How has One Life changed the perception of yourself?

Once I got down to 150 and saw how confident I was, I knew that was who I was and who I should have been all along. Working in the Fashion PR world, I never fit into “sample” size and would always be dieting or starving myself to look good for an event and then stress eating and putting it all back on. Losing this weight and maintaining it has made me feel empowered. I know how to get skinny the right way. I just wish I was this thin when I was working in the industry. 

Loving fashion and now loving the way clothes look on me has been really inspiring. I have even started my own personal styling business, which has been seriously exciting and motivating to stay slim. 

What would you say to someone thinking about joining One Life?

I would tell them that it is the best choice they can make if they want to learn how to lose weight. All diets work, but One Life is a lifestyle where you learn how to keep the weight off for life. And the best part is - they customize the plan to your life. So what worked for me might not work for you and how you eat and live, but One Life will show you how to make it work, and it will. It always will work.  

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