Sandra is making huge strides

In a recent nationwide search of weight loss successfuls, 45-year old Sandra Strange was crowned one of five winners, for having made the most dramatic improvements in her health and wellbeing. This is her tale of weight loss success.

Her name is Sandra Strange and she used to be a size 26, but is now a size 12.

Before she found the Healthy Inspirations program Sandra felt terrible. She was down in the dumps, unemployed and convinced that she would never get another job.

Sandra weighed nearly 107 kilograms and was suffering from a heredity blood pressure condition, which kept getting worse, and her doctor eventually put her on medication. Unfortunately, because Sandra's weight continued to rise, her blood pressure also kept increasing and as a result, her dosage of blood pressure medication was also upped. Sandra was told that once she began taking those medications, she would never come off them.

Sandra had been overweight since her daughter was about six months old. She is 14 years of age now. From about six months after her birth, Sandra gradually put on weight. She tried to diet on her own, and managed to lose around 10 kilograms, but it returned and instead, she grew bigger.

Sandra tried all the other weight loss programs, but Healthy Inspirations has been the most successful one she's ever found. 'Overweight ladies need to find a program that will help them lose weight in a healthy way, and for the long term, and this is exactly what the Healthy Inspirations program has done for me,' she explains.

Sandra's weight had been yo-yo-ing for years, and so her attitude towards eating and exercising were terrible. Sandra was so adverse to exercise that she used to make up excuses to avoid taking her dog for a walk. With regards to eating, when Sandra used to go food shopping, she'd buy chocolates and chips and would eat them and have to return to the shop to buy more, so her husband didn't know that she'd eaten them.

Sandra was so sick of herself, and felt that everyone else was probably sick of her too. She knew she had to go and find a job and as it happened, her neighbour was a friend of the owners of a Healthy Inspirations franchise who were looking for a new employee. Sandra's neighbour told her to go down and see them. After having a few interviews with them, Sandra was phoned and asked if she wanted the job. They told her there was one condition - that she was ready to lose weight, and when Sandra replied, 'yes I'm sick of myself' and she was told she had the job. For Sandra, it all just fell into place. It was simply meant to be.

Before Sandra went to that Healthy Inspirations centre, she had never even been to a gym. She, like most women, thought walking was enough exercise, but soon learned differently. During that first visit to the centre, Sandra felt really welcomed and has since continued creating that environment in the centre she works in today. 'I am proud that in my role as a consultant, I've been able to continue to create that same atmosphere that I felt when I first went there. I actually think that's what the difference is between a Healthy Inspirations centre and a traditional gym - you just never have that sense of 'I wouldn't be seen dead doing that' at a Healthy Inspirations centre; there's no threat of our ladies ever feeling embarrassed,' explains Sandra.

When she first commenced the program Sandra's family were extremely supportive. These days, they too have adopted the Healthy Inspirations way of thinking and living. In fact, her husband and 14-year old daughter have both joined a gym and are loving it. The program really has changed their whole family, not just Sandra. And for her, it's the best part of the program. 'Now we are a family that 'plays' together, I mean, we even go to the gym together when I want to do an extra workout in addition to those at the Healthy Inspirations centre,' she says.

When Sandra had lost 15 kilograms, she went to see her doctor, who'd been away for a while, and when he saw her he did a double take. He couldn't believe Sandra's achievement. At her next visit, Sandra had lost even more weight and her blood pressure had dropped even more. As a result, he halved the dosage of her medication. The great news is, Sandra has two more visits and her doctor has told her that if her blood pressure has decreased again, he wants to trial taking her off the medication altogether.

Unfortunately, Sandra is also a candidate for heredity diabetes. Her grandparents and mother have all been diagnosed as sufferers. The good news is, that her weight loss means she is minimising her chances of her developing it.

Sandra's body weight has currently plateaued at around 79 kilograms, but the centimetres are still coming off. She now fits into size 12 to 14 clothes because her shape has changed. Sandra has been at this current weight before, but was wearing nearly two sizes larger than she does today. 'It really is the exercise component of this program that makes such a difference,' she explains.

Of the program, Sandra says, 'The Healthy Inspirations program is great because makes you re-think what healthy eating actually is. Your pastas and starchy foods were always the ones promoted as what we should eat for optimal health, but the Healthy Inspirations program explains that it's not the rices and pastas that we should consume the most of, but instead, the proteins and vegetables. I was always one to cook fresh vegies and meat, but I used to include more of the starchy things, as well as chocolates and cakes. Since starting the program in January 2003, the only thing I've baked was a birthday cake for my mother's 70th, and it had been so long since I'd baked at all, that the entire time I was just thinking 'gee, I hope this cake turns out'. My family don't get homemade cakes or biscuits at home like they used to, but you know what? They don't miss them at all!'

Sandra's family loves the new her! 'I have so more energy and I can even beat my daughter on the rowing machine! My son is so impressed he even told me that I'd turned into a 'yummy mummy,' which makes me feel fantastic. It's great they're all so proud of me. I have to say though, the best thing about my new body is being able to go to the clothes shops and to try things on and have them fit; it's just fantastic,' she says.

The change of perspective that comes with significant weight loss is equally impressive. These days, Sandra looks at things and knows she can just go do them. 'I really feel that I can take on anything, and I'd have never felt like that before I lost weight. The added confidence you gain is absolutely unrivalled.'

Sandra says one of the most amazing results from her journey is that she hasn't actually found any part of the program difficult. 'There is absolutely nothing hard about the Healthy Inspirations program, as long as you want to make the change and you are ready to lose the weight.'

Obviously, Sandra's attitude to exercise is totally different to how it used to be. 'I made the mistake of not doing a workout for a week recently, and I'm never going to do that again. I missed it so much! My attitude to exercise now, is to just go and do it; I make the time and I go and do it. I enjoy it so much more than I ever thought I would,' explains Sandra.

Sandra believes the Healthy Inspirations program is more effective than any of the others out there, because of the unique combination of elements. She says, ''it teaches you the right way of eating, the right amount of food to eat, effective exercise and how to relax. You don't have to invest in expensive foods because it's all available in your local supermarket, the exercise machines are all onsite and easy to use, the atmosphere in the centre is reliably friendly, and that relaxation chair is absolutely fantastic!'

To someone who really wants to improve their health and lose weight, Sandra says, 'take on the Healthy Inspirations program because it works. You just have to put in the effort to get the results, but it absolutely works.'

Healthy Inspirations is a revolutionary women's only weight loss program that provides a comprehensive combination of nutritional information, exercise and relaxation, which guarantees you'll lose weight in a healthy manner, and for the long term.