Like many people, Kari Roehl used to start each new year by making a resolution to lose weight. Then, she would join the ranks of many more people by breaking the resolution.
Not anymore.
Roehl, 36, has lost more than 100 pounds since April 2006, without bariatric surgery.
‘Every first of the year, I would say, ‘OK, I’m going to workout,?? says the 1990 Brandon High School graduate who has worked as the head cashier of Bueche’s Food World in Groveland Township for the past 10 years. ‘I would stick with it for six weeks, then by March, it would be, ‘Oh, I’ll work out tomorrow. I would get busy or have a cold.?
Roehl, who was Kari Tucker before getting married to husband Steve 14 years ago, says as far back as she can remember, she was overweight. As a child, she described herself as ‘chubby.?
‘Exercise and activity were not a big thing in our family,? said Roehl. ‘It was, ‘Eat whatever you want, whenever you want. I was from the clean your plate club… With four kids, mom was a practical cooker. Chicken nuggets, French fries, easy stuff.?
When she was in high school, the 5?5? brunette weighed in the 180s-190s and was a size 12 or 14. She didn’t go to prom because she didn’t want to buy a dress with her weight issue. When she was in her senior year, she tried a few fad diets, but said nothing ever worked. Still, she was never teased and had good self-esteem and confidence.
Roehl carried that confidence into her 20s and says she was comfortable with her lifestyle. Prior to her wedding in 1994, she was inspired to lose some weight and went from a size 20 to a 16. Then, in 1995, her sister Kelly, 19, died in her sleep from a congenital heart defect that was never detected. Her brother also had the defect and had a heart attack at 24.
But rather than being motivated to lose weight for her own health, Roehl turned to food.
‘Looking back, I was (getting pizza) twice a week,? she recalled. ‘Food was comforting. I was eating more after I lost my sister. I got into the upper 220s, 230s, but still I had no heart issues. The doctors never told me to lose weight, my blood pressure was OK… I carried it well.?
Then, in February 2002, a bad auto accident left Roehl with a crushed right ankle. During surgery, doctors put nine pins in her foot and a rod from her knee down. She went through rehabilitation, but gained more weight and was having trouble standing at work all day and walking. In September 2003 she had a partial bone fusion and more rehabilitation. But by 2006, she was experiencing many more health issues? back pain, knee problems, and her cholesterol numbers were high. She was only 32. Roehl took her doctor’s advice and joined Weight Watchers.
At her first meeting, on April 26, 2006, she stepped on the scale. She weighed 243 pounds and 2 ounces.
‘It was like, ‘OK, wow, you’re big,?? Roehl said. ‘I was excited, motivated and ready to change.?
She says the program doesn’t advocate dieting, but rather, a lifestyle change. While program leaders teach nutrition and how to incorporate healthier food, Roehl said she was allowed to eat what she was already eating, she just had to watch her portion sizes. They taught her about feelings, too.
‘You learn to ask, ‘Why are you eating this?? Are you sad, are you bored, are you angry??
And, of course, exercise was also a component. Although she was concerned about her physical abilities with her ankle difficulties, she started with physical therapy and swimming. By September, she lost 32 pounds. Still suffering from ankle pain, she had a complete ankle fusion that month, but it didn’t deter her. Friends and family drove her to the weekly Weight Watchers meeting and by December, she had lost 52 pounds.
‘I had great success and people were noticing,? Roehl said. ‘The first 30 pounds, people didn’t notice as much. I was riding the wave of success after people started noticing. I just kept succeeding.?
After every 20 pounds lost, Roehl rewarded herself with new exercise equipment? after the first 20, she got a recumbent bike; the next 20, a stability ball. She bought 5-pound weights, stretch bands, and exercise dvds. After losing 50 pounds, she subscribed to Fitness magazine.
Now, Roehl works out six days a week, at least 30 minutes per day and sometimes up to two hours.
‘I can honestly say I enjoy exercise now,? she said, noting that Weight Watchers incorporates activity points, so if she wants an extra treat, she exercises.
She continued her weight loss journey in 2007, losing about a pound a week, nice and slow, which is the way weight loss should be, she says. She weighed in the 180s and could see her collarbone and definition in her body. Down four sizes, she bought new clothes and borrowed others from her sister.
Roehl’s lifestyle changes include not eating on the couch anymore and eating five fruits and vegetables a day. She shops the perimeter of the grocery store first now, for produce, lean protein and dairy. She stopped buying and eating processed foods, like macaroni and cheese and boxed meals, and doesn’t drink pop anymore.
‘It’s just empty calories and sugar, which makes your body crave junk,? Roehl said. ‘I don’t miss it. Food is still my friend, but if I’m keeping my body in check, I’m satisfied. And that’s what Weight Watchers teaches, how to be satisfied.?
In July 2008, she weighed in at 141.6 pounds and marked a total weight loss of 101.6 pounds from when she started her journey. She said her weight fluctuated, but she never got discouraged and she never plateaued, just changed her exercise routine up now and then.
‘Everything fell into place,? said Roehl who now weighs 140 pounds and is a size 8. ‘I look and feel better than I did in my 20s.?
Roehl says Weight Watchers will be in her life forever. She attends weekly meetings for herself and also works as a receptionist at the Weight Watchers meeting held at 6:30 p.m., Mondays, at the Goodrich United Methodist Church.
‘I will continue with my success,? Roehl said. ‘You have to want to (lose weight). Just know that you can do it and make small changes a little at a time. You can eat the food, it’s all about portion control, moderation and exercise. The support I received was amazing and I will never forget the people who helped me get there. I am able to do things I never thought I would be able to do again because of my weight loss and total overall attitude change.?