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   from the issue of October 11, 2007

     
 
Stress eating, hospital visits turn Wetzel to wellness tide

 BY TROY FEDDERSON, UNIVERSITY COMMUNICATIONS

Annette Wetzel found solace in cupcakes.


NEW DIRECTION - Annette Wetzel has lost 75 pounds since January. She calls the lost pounds her,
 
NEW DIRECTION - Annette Wetzel has lost 75 pounds since January. She calls the lost pounds her, "grief weight" as she gained much of it while caring for her ailing mom. Photo by Troy Fedderson/University Communications.

 
Stressed by the declining health of her mother, the director of the Van Brunt Visitors Center and special events coordinator would go home at night and - with her father at her side - reach for a box of cream filled chocolate confections.

"We would come home after taking care of mom and eat Hostess cupcakes, sometimes an entire box in one sitting," Wetzel said. "It was a tremendously stressful time and I was not watching what I was eating. It came down to whatever was convenient, what we could grab in a hospital cafeteria or at a nearby fast-food restaurant."

Her mother died in May 2006. Wetzel's stress slowly started to ebb and she was able to assess her own situation.

"After mom's death, I found that I was the heaviest I've been in my entire life," Wetzel said. "From everything I saw in the hospitals, it really scared me."

While caring for her mother at local and national hospitals, Wetzel noticed a large percentage of patients were overweight. Hindered by the weight, many of those patients were experiencing mobility issues.

In September 2006, Wetzel fell, fracturing her elbow and spraining her ankle. Her fear of becoming one of those patients grew and after therapy, Wetzel eased into a healthier lifestyle, changing her eating patterns and entering an exercise program.

"I made the decision when I tried on my fat pants and they were too tight," Wetzel said. "I was miserable. But, I had to make a choice - either I could get fatter or it was time to get the weight off."

She began to chip away in January.

Using a journal pre-printed with positive sayings, Wetzel daily recorded what she ate alongside of her weight. She also penned how she was feeling, being sure to note a positive experience each day.

"I didn't put any pressure on myself," Wetzel said. "I set a goal of losing five pounds at a time."

To help build a workout program, Wetzel paid for three session with a personal trainer. She hits the gym at least three times a week, mixing workouts between weight lifting, resistance training and walking.

She also cut her calorie intake and has become a self-described "label reader," passing on high-sugar tallies and staying away from fried foods.

"Through my work with event planning on campus, I'm surrounded by good food all the time," Wetzel said. "But, I make a point to not deny myself. I eat a bit of everything, but I'm sure not to go overboard."

The work has paid off as Wetzel has dropped 75 pounds in the past nine months.

"Now that I've lost my 'grief weight' - that's what I call it - I have a lot more energy and that has really helped me with my job," Wetzel said. "And, I'm able to wear clothes that I never thought I'd get back into."

For Wetzel, success came in making the weight loss personal.

"You have got to want to lose the weight if you want to be successful," Wetzel said. "You've got to want to do it for the right reasons. It's for your own good health."

Wetzel is now happier about her weight. And to keep it away (and hoping to lose more pounds), Wetzel continues to work out regularly - she is also sure to stay away from cupcakes.

"I am not going to eat any more of those," Wetzel said. "I'm afraid if I eat one, it will start all over again."

Annette Wetzel found solace in cupcakes.

Stressed by the declining health of her mother, the director of the Van Brunt Visitors Center and special events coordinator would go home at night and - with her father at her side - reach for a box of cream filled chocolate confections.

"We would come home after taking care of mom and eat Hostess cupcakes, sometimes an entire box in one sitting," Wetzel said. "It was a tremendously stressful time and I was not watching what I was eating. It came down to whatever was convenient, what we could grab in a hospital cafeteria or at a nearby fast-food restaurant."

Her mother died in May 2006. Wetzel's stress slowly started to ebb and she was able to assess her own situation.

"After mom's death, I found that I was the heaviest I've been in my entire life," Wetzel said. "From everything I saw in the hospitals, it really scared me."

While caring for her mother at local and national hospitals, Wetzel noticed a large percentage of patients were overweight. Hindered by the weight, many of those patients were experiencing mobility issues.

In September 2006, Wetzel fell, fracturing her elbow and spraining her ankle. Her fear of becoming one of those patients grew and after therapy, Wetzel eased into a healthier lifestyle, changing her eating patterns and entering an exercise program.

"I made the decision when I tried on my fat pants and they were too tight," Wetzel said. "I was miserable. But, I had to make a choice - either I could get fatter or it was time to get the weight off."

She began to chip away in January.

Using a journal pre-printed with positive sayings, Wetzel daily recorded what she ate alongside of her weight. She also penned how she was feeling, being sure to note a positive experience each day.

"I didn't put any pressure on myself," Wetzel said. "I set a goal of losing five pounds at a time."

To help build a workout program, Wetzel paid for three session with a personal trainer. She hits the gym at least three times a week, mixing workouts between weight lifting, resistance training and walking.

She also cut her calorie intake and has become a self-described "label reader," passing on high-sugar tallies and staying away from fried foods.

"Through my work with event planning on campus, I'm surrounded by good food all the time," Wetzel said. "But, I make a point to not deny myself. I eat a bit of everything, but I'm sure not to go overboard."

The work has paid off as Wetzel has dropped 75 pounds in the past nine months.

"Now that I've lost my 'grief weight' - that's what I call it - I have a lot more energy and that has really helped me with my job," Wetzel said. "And, I'm able to wear clothes that I never thought I'd get back into."

For Wetzel, success came in making the weight loss personal.

"You have got to want to lose the weight if you want to be successful," Wetzel said. "You've got to want to do it for the right reasons. It's for your own good health."

Wetzel is now happier about her weight. And to keep it away (and hoping to lose more pounds), Wetzel continues to work out regularly - she is also sure to stay away from cupcakes.

"I am not going to eat any more of those," Wetzel said. "I'm afraid if I eat one, it will start all over again."



Eat Healthy


Tips to start a healthy nutrition plan

• Keep a 7 day food journal
- Include everything you eat and drink for 7 days.
- Include times, if you're hungry or not and what you're doing while you eat.
- People are more likely to make changes if they take a true inventory of what their habits are and what needs to be changed.

• Choose one or two areas that you really want to focus on.
- For example: Including 5 servings of fruits and vegetables or including 3 servings of dairy

• Continue to keep periodic food records and reassess.

• Consult a professional
- A registered dietitian is someone who has the education and experience to help you make dietary changes.


GO TO: ISSUE OF OCTOBER 11

NEWS HEADLINES FOR OCTOBER 11

Campus collaboration
Carson dedication is Oct. 12
Carson gifts power program improvements
Forum to examine ethanol
Scarlet available in pdf format
Stress eating, hospital visits turn Wetzel to wellness tide
Engineering inks deal to offer dual degree
Student Affairs to host empowerment forum

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