A retired U.S. Air Force veteran has revealed how she went from wearing a size 18 to a size 6 after shedding 80lbs in just one year.
Diana Philpot, 57, was a healthy weight for 30 years while serving in the Air Force, but her weight crept up to 206lbs after she retired. The veteran admitted she didn’t even notice the gradual weight gain until she saw a photo of herself at her heaviest two years ago.
‘I was just aghast. It was painful,’ she told Today of the shock of seeing how much her 5-foot-8-inch frame had changed.
Transformation: Diana Philpot, 57, went from 206lbs (L) to 126lbs (R) in just one year
Diana chalked up the weight gain to being less active and failing to pay attention to portion control and what foods she was eating.
Not only was she unhappy with her physical appearance, Diana knew she would eventually need medication for high blood pressure and cholesterol if she didn’t do something about her weight.
It took Diana nine months to shed the 10lbs her doctor recommended her to lose, but reaching her goal inspired her to continue making healthy changes to her lifestyle.
Diana started swimming laps at her local public pool, and she went on to download the weight-loss app Lose It! to track her calories and exercise.
Shocked: The U.S. Air Force veteran admitted she didn’t even notice the gradual weight gain until she saw a photo of herself at her heaviest two years ago
Throwback: Before she lost the weight, Diana was wearing a size 18 and feared she would have to be put on medication for her blood pressure and cholesterol
She also started calling her friend who was also trying to lose weight when she needed motivation to work out.
Even though they live 200 miles away from each other, they would walk at the same time and chat on the phone.
Instead of getting discouraged when her progress plateaued, Diana researched studies on weight loss to find ways to overcome the halt to her weight loss.
Over the course about a year, from September 2015 to August 2016, Diana lost a total of 80lbs, putting her at a healthy 126lbs.
Success: Diana started tracking her calories and exercise using the Lose It! app
Amazing: Over the course of a year, Diana went from a size 18 to a size 6 by watching her diet and exercising
I felt extremely proud,’ she said of her weight loss success. ‘I went from a size 18 down to a size 6.’
Diana still likes to swim laps and every day she walks three to five miles. Thanks to the Lose It! app and her daily fitness regime, she has managed to keep off the weight she lost for more than a year.
And when it comes to indulging in her favorite dessert, cheesecake, Diana just makes sure she only has one slice.
‘I adopted this mentality that it is a lifestyle change and not a diet. I will eat whatever I want to eat but look at the portion size,’ she explained.
‘I refuse to feel guilty about it.’