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SALT LAKE CITY — If one of your New Year's resolutions involves getting healthier, understanding how others got healthier can be helpful to those who want to eat better and lose weight. The key to success, according to those who've succeeded, is having a strong accountability and support system.
Christina Taylor joined the LifeCentre Athletic Club in Sandy in September of 2013. She started working out, learning how to eat clean and healthy, and joined an online Slimdown group through the club. By the end of 2014 Taylor had lost 100 lbs. and a total of 54 inches.
"It's not my goal weight, but it's a huge milestone," Taylor said.
Taylor's journey to better health and fitness began with a desire to feel better.
"I was tired of being overweight and just waking up and my back hurting and just not feeling great."
A support system both online and at the gym gave Taylor a reason to keep going. LifeCentre Food and Fitness Coach Mindy Buxton has been helping clients like Taylor reach milestones for almost 20 years now.
"Accountability gives you support, and without that, it's really hard to achieve success," said Buxton.
Buxton also coaches and supports clients in online Slimdown groups. Mother and business owner Krista Johnson started the program in February of 2014 and ended the year almost 40 lbs. lighter.
Accountability gives you support, and without that, it's really hard to achieve success.
–Coach Mindy Buxton, LifeCentre Food and Fitness
"I'd never really exercised so it was so perfect for me, and then the support from the group too was really powerful," Johnson said.
Exercise, at least five days a week, is an important piece of the weight loss puzzle. Since Taylor started focusing on health she's also kept "moving, moving five days a week and exercising at least 30 minutes each of those days." Buxton stresses both exercise and "eating real food."
What's "real food," you ask? A trip to Buxton's kitchen is a lesson in eating right. There are fresh fruits, vegetables, lean meats and very few processed foods. Buxton uses a few simple rules to stock her fridge and her pantry: She aims for foods with six or fewer ingredients, less than 8 grams of sugar, and no high-fructose corn syrup.
Taylor, Johnson and dozens of others who have lost weight and gained better physical, mental and emotional health through Buxton's program are so grateful for their success.
"It's a miracle," Johnson said. "It really has been a miracle for me and my family and the people around me."
It's a lifestyle change that, according to Buxton, is "about when you quit eating at night, about what you're putting in your mouth, and about your stress levels." She emphasizes the importance of not stressing about how long it takes to lose the weight.
Taylor knows her journey to reclaim her health won't end when she reaches her weight loss goal. She's just glad to be in the process.
"It just feels awesome being healthy and being active and being able to do things with my family," Taylor said.
