TNladiesMercedes

Mercedes Moebuis: Minus 23 Lbs and Counting!

Today’s healthy transformer is Mercedes Moebuis, a Maryland mother of three children. We love her positive attitude and her infectious motivation. Her hard work and determination is paying off! 

Weight lost: “I have lost 23 lbs since joining the Transformation Nation challenge in September. I have lost 45 lbs total in 2011. But my weight loss was slow going until I joined Transformation Nation! This has been such an amazing motivator for me!”

Inches lost: “I have lost almost three inches in my waist and am down three dress sizes. My waist is the area I have the toughest time with and that I work the hardest on!”

Biggest hurdle: “Time. I have a one year old at home with me all day who keeps me on my toes! So I have to plan my meals and my workout schedule so I don’t eat on the fly and make bad choices.  My gym does not have child care, so when my husband gets home I go to the gym to work out or if I can’t get to the gym that day I will work out during nap time on my treadmill at home.”

Most proud of: “Becoming more aware of what the family is eating. I am now teaching my oldest daughter what is a healthy food and what is an ‘occasional’ food. I don’t use the word diet or the word fat in my house. I teach her about healthy foods and the role nutrition has on our bodies and how we must have good ‘fuel’ to grow bigger and stronger! I also have cut back on their sugar intake and have made sure they get enough fruits and veggies every day as well as play time outside. I have a family history of obesity and was never taught proper nutrition. I WILL break the obesity cycle with my children!”

Aspect of Transformation Nation that works best: “Fitness! Exercise has changed my body and my life in so many ways. Physically and Mentally! I feel horrible now when I don’t work out.”

Surprising thing she’s discovered as a result of Transformation Nation: “I can do what I set my mind to, and I am a motivator. I have had many people ask me what I am doing to be so successful and have asked me to put a program together for them. I feel so empowered to help others and I feel that maybe this is the career choice that I want in the future. I am so proud to motivate others and to be able to help them learn to be healthier!”

How she tracks her weight loss: “I plug everything I eat into the Weight Watchers online tracker. I try to set up my entire day in the morning so that I stay on track and know what to eat. I also plan to eat something every 3 hours to keep my insulin levels steady and therefore I don’t crash and binge.”

Exercise she is doing most: “I change up my workouts constantly to try to avoid plateaus. I work out five days a week with a combination of strength training and cardio. My cardio consists of high intensity interval training on both the elliptical and treadmill and then I also will use the bike for lower impact days. I have learned a lot about weight training and I work certain muscle groups on certain days and finally have some biceps and KILLER calves!  Woo hoo! LOVING IT!”

Secrets to fighting food cravings: “Protein and fiber! I have protein at every meal and every snack. And I aim for 25 grams of fiber each day. This keeps me full and my blood sugar steady, so I do not have cravings and insulin crashes that can trigger one to binge or eat the wrong foods.”

What is driving her to keep going: “I feel AMAZING! I will be 39 in a few weeks and I want to be healthier and look better going into my 40s than I did in my 20s. I love that I can dress the way I want and feel good about myself!”

How she stays motivated on “down” days: “I created a vision board above my treadmill. It has lots of motivating sayings and pictures of women whose bodies I admire in the fitness world. I just need to look at that board or read one of my fitness magazine and I feel better!”

Her mantra: “If you believe you can’t you WON’T! If you believe you can, you WILL!”

What is driving her energy:  “I try so hard to get more sleep! It’s hard with young kids. Exercise is a big energy booster and I also drink iced green tea with lemon all day. This allows me to get in all my water with just a hint of flavor and the green tea helps my energy levels.”

New year’s resolution: “Lose 20-25 more pounds and run a 5K!”

Tell us about your weight loss journey for an opportunity to appear as a Success Story on the Sharecare blog!

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File under: Success Stories

Contributor

Taylor Dahl

Taylor Dahl is the Associate Editor and Web Producer at Sharecare. Taylor has experience in digital, print and social media for companies such as Time Inc., Atlanta Metropolitan Publishing and the United States Marine Corps. Favorite exercise: dog-walking or the elliptical. Health vice: Diet Coke. Wellness goal: lose 15 pounds on the Transformation Nation program.

View my Sharecare profile

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Comments

  1. Tara

    Wow Mercedes story is so encouraging. I am working on losing weight around my waist which it has been hard but every time I hear Mercedes talking about what she is doing it encourages me to keep working hard at it. She is doing great at focusing and following through on her goals. You go girl your doing great!!

    February 7th, 2012, 7:48 pm
  2. Judy

    I love that your teaching your children both by example and by explaining it to them. You will break the cycle of obesity so that is a gift to future generations! Keep up the amazing work!

    February 7th, 2012, 8:36 pm
  3. Sonja

    You look great – all your hard work has really paid off! Way to go!!

    February 7th, 2012, 8:54 pm
  4. Sandra

    Congratulations! You have raised my spirits and gave me some motivation! Thank You!!
    Sandra

    February 7th, 2012, 11:17 pm
  5. Jenifer

    Mercedes – What a great idea about the vision board. I am going to print out a picture of you as my motivation!! Good luck chic!

    February 8th, 2012, 11:01 am
  6. Anne

    WTG Cedes! Proud of you and all you have accomplished!

    February 8th, 2012, 11:04 am
  7. Beth

    You’re working so hard and will get to your goal easily! Can’t wait to see the final product. :)

    February 8th, 2012, 6:42 pm
  8. Lisa Heffron

    You look GREAT you’ve come a LONG way!! Keep it up :) <3

    February 8th, 2012, 7:01 pm
  9. Susan

    Mercedes is an inspiration to so many women, mothers and those who struggle with weight. Her perseverance and desire to kick the pounds to the curb for good are to be admired. She has set out to achieve a goal and has not let any of the obstacles that life has thrown at her derail her from that mission. She is a true Transformer….or as my kids would say an “autobot hero” just like Optumis Prime.

    February 8th, 2012, 9:46 pm
  10. MONA PENROSE

    I started on my own to change my behaviors and lifestyle due to bld sugar level over 600!!!! I started April 15th by lowering the carbs (not initially dramatic) to abt 500 or so carbs. I figured if I was eating 2000 plus calories, i would cut it in half and gradually lower it from there. So I was eating approx 75-90 carbs which seemed to be a perfect spot for me to be at. Introduced exercise slowly but surely–
    And lost from 216 lbs on April 15,2010 to 127lbs by March 15, 2011. So I lost 89 lbs- I have since gained abt 8 lbs but it has been another 11 months. I went back to workin out (mostly Zumba) 4-5 days a wk with intervals of walkin off and on 2 days a wk. People thought I looked too skinny at 127lbs. I am 5’5″. I liked that weight but I am fine with 135-137lbs- I wish I had been a part of your new weight lose phenomena. Its funny, people that know me and havent seen me dont recognize or think it is me. People that just meet me say they cant imagine me fat. And actually I had already lost 20 lbs and kept it off 2 yrs b4 the other 89 lbs. I weighed 236 for 18 YRS!!!! Wow, what a change!! It is even still hard to see myself this small. But the best news is : I TAKE NO MEDICATION FOR BLD PRESSURE OR DIABETES ANYMORE!!! I stay aware and conscious about what I put in my body and think abt why I may be on edge to eat something- Still always look at carbs on all pkgs.
    LIFE IS GOOD–Ive been a widow for 19 yrs (almost 20) and am now trying to find a man! I am empty nest and was only 37yrs old when my husband died-Now is the time for me to enjoy and I am doing just that!!! Love Dr Oz show–just seen a couple of his shows where topics are weight and healthy eating–love it!!!Thnx!!

    February 20th, 2012, 11:43 am
  11. Donna Filippi

    You are such an inspiration to me. Great job!

    May 4th, 2012, 9:14 pm

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