Guam - For 42-year Mary Ann Palomo, making the decision to lose weight was not so much to fit into a certain pair of jeans - it was literally a life or death situation. This Barrigada resident who works at the Guam Memorial Hospital's Accounting Office, had met with her doctor in February of this year and found out that she had some serious health issues.
She said, "She had informed me that I had a liver problem. She said if I didn't change my diet, exercise and lost weight, then worst case scenario would be a liver transplant. So that scared me."
Palomo was also dealt another blow when the doctor had said she had high cholesterol and high sugar levels. Palomo said there is a family history of diabetes, hypertension and heart disease and it was only a matter of time before she had developed it as well. "So I really thought about it and I was like I need to do something now or else. I really didn't want to end up taking medications for life," she said.
After the initial conversation with her doctor, she was in denial. But Palomo knew she needed to make a change and was serious about it, saying, "I had asked my friend lily for help...she is a co-owner for Synergy and she's also a fitness trainer and she encouraged me to take her classes."
She also went through the 21-Day Detox program which helped her kickstart her weight loss. Changes to her diet ensured she reached her goal - simple substitutions like brown rice instead of white or wheat bread instead of white. "I also incorporated more vegetables into my diet and less meat eating more poultry like chicken and turkey and part of it is portion control. I have some favorite foods but what I would do is just limit myself," she said.
She has lost about 15 pounds and admits it is not a big weight loss compared to others but it was a goal she had set for herself. "When I visited my doctor last month, I got re-tested and the lab work came out great and I was surprised by the results 422 my cholesterol levels went back to normal, even my sugar, plus my liver," she said.
She says those looking to lose weight should be prepared to put in hard work and make that commitment.
