My name is Pamela Schlosser (@adventureswithpamcakes), and I'm 37 years old. I'm from Grand Rapids, Michigan, and I'm a baker and stay-at-home mom. By rejoining Weight Watchers, improving my relationship with food, eating a vegetarian diet, and riding my Peloton five days a week, I lost 127 pounds in less than two years.
I’ve always struggled with my weight. While I’ve tried to lose weight in the past, I’ve always been unsuccessful. I would join Weight Watchers (now called WW) and lose 20 pounds, then I’d quit. I would gain the weight back, and more.
My famous line was, “I’m going to start fresh on Monday.” Then, I would eat and drink what I wanted on the weekend and start the crash cycle over and over. At 35, I hit my heaviest weight of 268 pounds right after I had my daughter (my second baby) in July 2019. I gained 100 pounds with that pregnancy, and so I was extremely uncomfortable in my skin, and I had no energy.
After I had my daughter, I joined WW right away and was ready to get the weight off.
What I love about WW is that it’s not a crash diet. You can make healthy choices and the program helps guide you with the point system to learn portion control. I am also a vegetarian, and have been for 12 years. Being a vegetarian helps me focus on whole foods and vegetables in my diet.
Here’s what I eat in a day:
- Breakfast: Oatmeal (quick oats with flax seeds, chia seeds, walnuts, dried cranberries, blueberries, and a banana.) And black coffee.
Lunch: Tofu scramble tacos (tofu with nutritional yeast, turmeric, broccoli, green peppers, onion, jalapeños, sweet potatoes, and black beans) with two corn tortillas, avocado, and Trader Joe’s corn salsa. - Dinner: Quinoa and brown rice noodles with tempeh and broccoli. Tossed with one Tbsp. Szechuan sauce and PBfit Spicy Peanut Sauce.
- Snack: Apple dipped in peanut butter (American Dream Nut Butter is my fave!). Or a protein dip by mixing one scoop of Orgain Chocolate Peanut Butter Protein Powder with water until it’s a paste.
- Dessert: Chocolate graham crackers with strawberries and lite whipped cream.
I also drink lots of water throughout the day. I try to drink a minimum of half my body weight in ounces.
Though I jumped into exercising right away, I started slowly by setting a daily step goal.
I couldn’t work out much when pregnant because I was so nauseous all the time. Instead, my aim was simply to move my body. Then I started taking classes at the gym. For me, the classes helped me because I wouldn’t quit. I stayed until the end pushing myself. I did spin, step, weight lifting, and yoga.
Then during COVID, my gym closed.
I was at a total loss. I didn’t know how to workout from home. Should I pull out my old workout DVDs? My husband and I decided to get a Peloton bike. It was a life changer.
At the gym, I would spin three times a week. But with Peloton, I started spinning daily because it was so convenient. I fell in love with all of the classes they offered, and it motivated me so much. As a result, I’m stronger than I have ever been in my entire life. What keeps me on track with my workouts is planning them out ahead of time. I try to get on my bike five times a week. For me, Monday, Wednesday, and Friday are “arm” days. And throughout the week, I like to add other cardio, yoga, and core work.
These three changes made the biggest difference in my weight-loss results.
- I started working out consistently.
Consistency is key to success. Staying with it week after week has made me become strong. I feel great. In the past I would go to the gym sporadically and wonder why the weight wasn’t coming off. For me, I learned that I have to do it daily. - I found a plan and stuck to it.
Sticking with WW has helped me get to my goal. I’m the kind of person that if I don’t watch what I eat and exercise consistently, I will gain weight. Following WW keeps me in check. I got to my goal weight, but I still follow the plan and weigh in weekly to hold myself accountable. - I let go of food guilt.
Now, I have a better relationship with food. If I want to splurge and have ice cream, I can. Whereas In the past, I would feel guilty after eating it, I’d jump off my diet for the rest of the day or week and then vow to start fresh again on Monday. Today, I’ll eat the ice cream and move on.
I have lost 127 pounds since July 2019.
I’d like other women to know that losing weight and getting fit feels so good, and is so worth all of the hard work you put into it. As long as you stay consistent and don’t give up on yourself, it will work. When you gain weight and nothing is working, keep going and keep giving your best, because it will pay off.
My favorite things about being fit are having energy and being able to keep up with my 5 year old and almost 2 year old. I also love being able to leave the house in a pair of shorts and a tank top without thinking about it. I used to plan my outfits so strategically around what made me look thinner, and nothing ever made me feel good about myself. I always had a cardigan and long pants. It feels freeing to have confidence in myself.
