A Taylor Swift concert was a turning point for Lori Jericha.
The 47-year-old mother of two was in Chicago last summer to see the pop star perform, but “needed a break while walking up the stairs from the parking lot to the stadium. ” he recalls. (My daughter) I was tired of having to wait. ”
Due to a combination of a sedentary lifestyle and poor eating habits, Jelisha steadily gained weight, tipping the scales at 210 pounds in 2023.
“I knew I needed to completely change my lifestyle,” she told TODAY.com this week.
In addition to feeling physically limited and dissatisfied with her appearance, Jelisha also suffered from high cholesterol and high blood pressure. Her weight caused acid reflux and sleep apnea, the latter requiring a CPAP machine.
At the beginning of her nursing career, Jelisha was active, but 12 years ago she started working from home for an insurance company. ”
Admittedly, Jelisha never liked working out. “I’ve tried to exercise in the past, but I hated sweating and having to go to the gym and sit and do things,” she told TODAY.com. spoke. “I don’t know how to swim, so that was an out. I don’t like weightlifting. I don’t like running, but I’ve always liked walking. Just taking time for myself. That never happened.”
Last fall, faced with an empty nest, Jelisha finally decided to take some time for herself.
The final push and rebellious step towards better health came from her husband, Tony. She said you can’t lose weight by walking. She told him to “watch.”
In less than a year, she lost 58 pounds.
“I used to just walk around my neighborhood. Now I run up to 3 miles two to six times a week. I make a playlist, put on one earbud so I can hear what’s behind me, and I’m off. ” she gushed to TODAY.com.
Her husband is now a convert to the power of walking, has joined Jelisha on several walks, and has lost 25 pounds himself.
As the Post previously reported, the daily walk It aids digestion, boosts mood, reduces the risk of heart disease, lowers blood pressure and cholesterol, and strengthens the heart.
A recent study found that walking 5,000 steps three times a week for two years can extend your life by three years and reduce your medical costs by up to 13%.
In addition to her walking training, Jelisha changed when, how, and what she eats. With the help of calorie counting app MyNetDiary, she can: Track how food affects her goals.
Her methods are scientifically backed. A study published last year in the Journal of the American Heart Association found that calorie counting is the most effective way to lose unwanted weight.
In addition to tracking her calories, Jelisha also cut out dairy products and restaurant dinners in favor of home-cooked, plant-based meals.
“It’s been a series of small changes that have worked out really well,” she boasted to TODAY.com.
Jelisha is proud of her body and excited about buying new clothes to complement it. I can shop at the same store as my daughter. ”
Still, she insists that the physical benefits of weight loss are the most rewarding. “My energy has increased. I can walk up the stairs without getting out of breath and have no trouble carrying the laundry basket.”
Her energy has increased, her cholesterol and blood pressure have decreased, and she no longer needs medication for acid reflux. Her new goal is to get off the CPAP machine.
Among her other ambitions? Complete a 1 mile jog. “I’ve never been able to accomplish that, even when I had to do it in gym class as a kid. It keeps me motivated,” she told TODAY.com told. “I think about what I’ve done, what I did today, and what I’m going to do tomorrow. And before I knew it, this was me.”
