Houston Success Story

HOUSTON

By Sally Jozwiak

My husband Mark and I weren’t necessarily blessed with skinny genes. Like most others, we’ve dieted successfully and gained weight just as successfully. We’ve even both had our moments of thinness. Maybe even experienced a time or two when someone said we were getting “too crazy” with how thin we were getting, but when you come from families with “big” people, anything under 200 pounds could be defined as “too” thin.

My dad is 6’4”, while my mom is 5’8”. At 5’7”, I’m the “shrimp” in my family. Being from Italian and German heritage, I like my food and always have. I’m also hungry all the time.

Mark can go all day without eating, but he’ll typically enjoy a large meal at dinnertime. After 30 years in the Houston Fire Department, he’s a good cook and hearty eater. Put this altogether and you have the perfect storm of weight problems.

When I met Mark in the fall of 2003, I weighed nearly 245 pounds. After dating for two months, I was energized to lose weight and signed up to participate in a program at Quick Weight Loss Center. Over the course of four months, I dropped 42 pounds and successfully maintained the weight until January 2007 when Mark wanted to try NutriSystem to drop some weight. Our cholesterol, blood pressure and sugar readings were creeping up and our doctors suggested that we each drop at least 10 pounds.

NutriSystem was definitely the right ticket for us. We learned portion control and the importance of vegetables. By staying committed together, we finished three months on the program with great success. I lost and still maintain a 30-pound weight loss and Mark lost and maintains a 35-pound weight loss. My blood pressure, cholesterol and sugar are all normal, managed solely by diet and exercise. Mark’s blood pressure is normal for the first time in a few years. The most fun of all this is that we’ve inspired several others at our respective workplaces to try NutriSystem.

Today, we continue to coach and monitor each other so that we don’t struggle with yo-yoing weight. We still watch our portions and often share a meal when we eat out. Mark is nearing retirement from HFD and we both want to enjoy the rest of our lives and maintain a healthy attitude.

Our Weight Loss Tips:

•Lose weight with a buddy.

•If you need accountability, join a program where you are weighed each week.

•Set realistic goals.

•Take a walk after a meal.

•Drink lots of water.

Sally Jozwiak

Houston

Age: 47

Transformation

Weight: 245 lbs. to 173 lbs.

Dress Size: 22 to 12

Mark Jozwiak

Houston

Age: 51

Transformation

Weight: 269 lbs. to 234 lbs.

Waist Size: 46 to 42 inches

Sally’s Workout

Monday, Wednesday and Friday: 30 minutes of early morning cardio.

Tuesday and Thursday: 10 minutes of early morning cardio, 20 minutes of weight work or abs.

Saturday: 3-5 miles of running

Sunday: 3-5 miles of running

Plus, occasional Pilates and indoor cycling classes.

Mark’s Workout

Any given day: 20-30 minutes on the treadmill or outdoor walking

Diet for Mark and Sally

Breakfast: 1/2-cup of cereal with ¼ cup of Fiber One and skim milk or 1-cup of oatmeal with cinnamon and blueberries or ¾-cup of egg whites with onions and peppers.

Mid-morning: 1 piece of fruit or Morningstar Farms veggie sausage patty

Lunch: 4-6 ounces of chicken or fish, salad with low-fat dressing or oil and vinegar, 1 piece of fruit

Mid Afternoon: Morningstar Farms black bean veggie burger or veggie hot dog. No bread for Sally.

Evening: 4-6 ounces of chicken, fish or turkey, vegetables


HOUSTON

By Sally Jozwiak My husband Mark and I weren’t necessarily blessed with skinny genes. Like most others, we’ve dieted successfully and gained weight just as successfully. We’ve even both had our moments of thinness. Maybe even experienced a time or two when someone said we were getting “too crazy” with how thin we were getting, but when you come from families with “big” people, anything under 200 pounds could be defined as “too” thin. My dad is 6’4”, while my mom is 5’8”. At 5’7”, I’m the “shrimp” in my family. Being from Italian and German heritage, I like my food and always have. I’m also hungry all the time. Mark can go all day without eating, but he’ll typically enjoy a large meal at dinnertime. After 30 years in the Houston Fire Department, he’s a good cook and hearty eater. Put this altogether and you have the perfect storm of weight problems. When I met Mark in the fall of 2003, I weighed nearly 245 pounds. After dating for two months, I was energized to lose weight and signed up to participate in a program at Quick Weight Loss Center. Over the course of four months, I dropped 42 pounds and successfully maintained the weight until January 2007 when Mark wanted to try NutriSystem to drop some weight. Our cholesterol, blood pressure and sugar readings were creeping up and our doctors suggested that we each drop at least 10 pounds. NutriSystem was definitely the right ticket for us. We learned portion control and the importance of vegetables. By staying committed together, we finished three months on the program with great success. I lost and still maintain a 30-pound weight loss and Mark lost and maintains a 35-pound weight loss. My blood pressure, cholesterol and sugar are all normal, managed solely by diet and exercise. Mark’s blood pressure is normal for the first time in a few years. The most fun of all this is that we’ve inspired several others at our respective workplaces to try NutriSystem. Today, we continue to coach and monitor each other so that we don’t struggle with yo-yoing weight. We still watch our portions and often share a meal when we eat out. Mark is nearing retirement from HFD and we both want to enjoy the rest of our lives and maintain a healthy attitude. Our Weight Loss Tips: •Lose weight with a buddy. •If you need accountability, join a program where you are weighed each week. •Set realistic goals. •Take a walk after a meal. •Drink lots of water. Sally Jozwiak Houston Age: 47 Transformation Weight: 245 lbs. to 173 lbs. Dress Size: 22 to 12 Mark Jozwiak Houston Age: 51 Transformation Weight: 269 lbs. to 234 lbs. Waist Size: 46 to 42 inches Sally’s Workout Monday, Wednesday and Friday: 30 minutes of early morning cardio. Tuesday and Thursday: 10 minutes of early morning cardio, 20 minutes of weight work or abs. Saturday: 3-5 miles of running Sunday: 3-5 miles of running Plus, occasional Pilates and indoor cycling classes. Mark’s Workout Any given day: 20-30 minutes on the treadmill or outdoor walking Diet for Mark and Sally Breakfast: 1/2-cup of cereal with ¼ cup of Fiber One and skim milk or 1-cup of oatmeal with cinnamon and blueberries or ¾-cup of egg whites with onions and peppers. Mid-morning: 1 piece of fruit or Morningstar Farms veggie sausage patty Lunch: 4-6 ounces of chicken or fish, salad with low-fat dressing or oil and vinegar, 1 piece of fruit Mid Afternoon: Morningstar Farms black bean veggie burger or veggie hot dog. No bread for Sally. Evening: 4-6 ounces of chicken, fish or turkey, vegetables