Fat 2 Fit: Michele Hughes: Converting Wish Power into Willpower
Michele Hughes had tried plenty of diets, but they never worked. Then she discovered regular exercise. It's a simple formula, but the results have been phenomenal.
By: Carole Carson | Source: AARP.org | 2008-12-18
Michele Hughes, 42, has a hard time feeling her age. Maybe that's because she's just now emerging as a competitive athlete and is scheduled to compete in a triathlon.
An active child, Michele played softball, tennis, and other sports, but over time she drifted away from regular exercise. Her eating habits "were pretty bad at one point," she admitted. "I ate on the run, without really thinking what I was putting in my mouth." She'd tried dieting but failed to make healthy eating a habit.
When her mother died from cancer, Michele, of Grass Valley, Calif., was especially vulnerable and comforted herself with food. Faced with having to buy larger clothes, she decided instead to live more healthfully. She felt she could best honor her mother by taking care of herself and setting an example for her family and friends. Beginning with an exercise routine at the gym, Michele eventually lost 36 pounds using a simple formula: Eating a healthy diet and exercising regularly.
Today, Michele continues to work out at the gym three days a week. On opposite days, she runs, bikes, or swims. Michele also works out with a triathlon-training buddy, and they encourage and motivate one another. Michele's sons, all teenagers, are part of her coaching staff. They keep track of her laps in the pool or ride their bikes alongside her to give her company while she runs. Following his wife's example, Michele’s husband has lost 40 pounds. Her cousin and his wife were also inspired to start eating better; they, too, are seeing results.
Her advice to parents: "It's OK to set aside a little time for yourself. To care for the ones you love, you have to take care of yourself."
Michele plans to participate in future triathlons and maybe bike races, too. When she does, she'll continue showing us how to turn wish power into willpower.
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