A woman who was once morbidly obese has revealed how a diabetes diagnosis motivated her to transform her life. Lori Yates, 48, from Lakewood, Washington, used to weigh 307lbs on her 5ft 3in frame, consuming a daily diet of pizza, chips, cookies, and around two litres of soda. However, after being diagnosed with diabetes in 2009, she decided to hit the gym and has since lost 130lbs, becoming a fitness enthusiast.
Ms Yates described herself as an 'emotional eater' since college, often eating enough for three or four people. She worked in high-stress jobs and found food easier than exercise. Gradually, she became depressed and had suicidal thoughts. Simple tasks like getting in and out of cars became difficult, and walking left her breathless with leg cramps.
During a routine check-up in 2009, her doctor warned that diabetes could lead to vascular disease, heart attack, and stroke. Determined to reverse the diagnosis, Ms Yates joined a gym on May 11, 2009, and began working out with a personal trainer three times a week, plus 20-30 minutes of cardio. Her trainer, Alexandra Seal, who had also been overweight, helped her stay on track.
In 14 months, Ms Yates lost 125lbs, and in September 2010, she was named the National Anytime Fitness Member Success Story Winner. She now competes in Olympic weightlifting, CrossFit, 5K and 8K runs, stair races, mud runs, and bike races. In 2012, she completed 14 sports competitions. Her diabetes is no longer present, and her target weight is 157-165lbs.
Ms Yates credits her success to monitoring food intake, taking progress photos, and her personal motto: 'No Turning Back.' She says, 'I never thought there would be a day that I would truly, truly love myself, love my body, love where I'm at in my life.' Despite occasional setbacks, she returns to basics with food logs and trainer sessions.
