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Brigitte Cacciatore didn’t understand. why did she gain weight. “I always ate low carb, low sugar And low alcohol. I don’t smoke. I don’t drink soda. From the 2009 Chicago Marathon to running, working out has always been a staple in my life. half marathon to focus on me aerobic exercise” she told TODAY.com.
For most of her life, she can maintain her weight: “I’ve never struggled with my weight. I wasn’t one to gain much weight during pregnancy either.” But over time, her weight reached 175 pounds.
despite her healthy habitsshe faces some medical problems. she has polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), insulin resistance, Hashimoto’s diseasea condition in which the thyroid gland does not function properly.
She also underwent a bowel resection to treat chronic diverticulitis and an emergency hysterectomy to treat a large fibroid. Three years ago, she had her right ovary removed to treat a large cyst.
Looking back, Cacciatore, now 49, can see that her health issues and surgeries may have contributed to her weight gain. “After the hysterectomy and removal of my ovaries, I didn’t feel well at all. I think I had a hormonal imbalance. I kept going to the doctor and… endocrinologistI went to a gynecologist, I went to an internist, no one helped me. I kept gaining weight,” she says.
She no longer had the high energy levels she could rely on like before. she wasn’t I can sleep well. “Every day I felt like I was walking on quicksand. I felt heavy everywhere, all the time. My rings didn’t fit. My joints hurt. My body wasn’t happy with me.” she says.
These issues began to affect her mental health. I didn’t want to go out much because all my clothes wouldn’t fit. It was embarrassing. How could I have gained weight to 175 pounds? ”
She started strength training and stuck to cardio at first
Cacciatore gave up trying to lose weight. I realized that I needed to accept the changes my body undergoes as I age. But she joined because she wanted to be stronger, healthier, and more energetic. lifetime Near my home in the Chicago suburbs.
She didn’t want to work with a female trainer. I don’t want to spend my session chatting with other women instead of focusing on training. But after seeing personal trainer Juliette Rodriguez, she changed her mind. “She had a strong vibe and wasn’t going to take any BS from anyone,” Cacciatore said.
she started strength training I took sessions with Rodriguez and continued to work with my doctor to find ways to become healthier.
“It was a time to try anything. I begged my gynecologist to put me on metformin,” she says. Metformin is a diabetes medication used by some people with PCOS to help regulate blood sugar levels. “He agreed, but he also wanted me to try it.” nutrisystem”
For a month, she thought she had done everything right. She followed a diet plan, did strength training sessions twice a week with Rodriguez, and gave it her all. aerobic exercisetraining about 11 times a week. result? She has gained 7 pounds. “I felt defeated,” she says.
A clean keto diet and walking made a difference
Desperate, Cacciatore went to see another doctor who specialized in weight loss. “It wasn’t until May 25, 2022, that I finally had the courage to go to my weight loss doctor. I sat there and cried,” she says. “But I couldn’t stop until I found someone who would listen to me. Many doctors treat the human body, but not necessarily the person or how they feel.”
This doctor recommended “Clean Keto” diet — A low-carbohydrate diet centered on healthy fatsprotein, vegetables. He also wanted her to stop all the violent acts aerobic exercise and continue strength training, walk.
It was difficult for the former marathon runner to step away from cardio. “If I wasn’t sweating or working out two hours a day, I didn’t feel like I was getting a good workout,” she says. But intense aerobic exercise may have boosted her spirits. cortisol level Too much can cause inflammation and weight gain.
Dr. Rodriguez says, “Cortisol is present in our bodies for a reason, but when the body doesn’t yet regulate its hormones, like in Hashimoto’s disease or insulin resistance, cortisol increases the inflammatory response and increases the inflammatory response. These levels can remain high throughout the day. Skipping aerobic exercise may reduce the inflammatory response in your body.”
These changes worked. Cacciatore didn’t lose weight overnight, but it stopped gaining and she started to feel better. In one year, she lost 45 pounds and became stronger and healthier.
“We took pictures and compared them to the previous year. They didn’t look the same. It was a great change. Strength training changed my whole body more than running ever did,” she says. says. “And eating a low-carbohydrate, low-carbohydrate, lean protein and vegetable diet really helped me. My body doesn’t like sugar.”
She relies on her support system to stay on track in the long run
Cacciatore worked hard to lose weight and improve her health, but she didn’t do it alone. “I have a really kind husband who never judged me. He supported me and encouraged me to do whatever I needed to do to feel good about myself,” she said. I say.
She also continues to work out regularly with Rodriguez. She is my accountability coach. ” Cacciatore also connects with people at the gym. “There is a community of people who inspire each other. Seeing everyone doing their best motivates me to do my best.”
That support has helped her maintain her weight loss and improve her health, but she admits she always has to stay on track. “I know it’s going to be a lifelong journey. I’ll never be able to stop what I’m doing,” she says.
She wants to set an example for her daughters as well. I’m not saying you have to be a certain size or a certain weight. You need to look in the mirror and say, “Wow.” I feel great. ”
This article was first published today.com
