Weight loss accompanies lifestyle
change
December 28, 2004
By Hayley Ringle
Dee McCaffrey has the secret to losing weight.
By eliminating white flour and refined sugar from her
diet, and walking for exercise, she lost 100 pounds
in a year. And she’s kept the weight off since.
She also developed a flourless muffin available at a
local grocery store chain, and helps others with her
knowledge.
The epiphany for the Mesa 43-yearold came on a class
hiking trip in 1992. She could not physically make it
up a hill, and she knew then she needed to change her
lifestyle. She also used to smoke, which didn’t
help, she said.
At 4 feet 10 inches tall and 210 pounds, she needed
to lose 100 pounds to get to a healthy weight.
She cut out what was making her fat in the first place
— her love for doughnuts, chocolate chip cookies
and Taco Bell. She lost 20 pounds within the first month
from her new lifestyle change.
"You have to learn how to eat for a lifetime if
you want to lose
weight and keep it off," she said. "A
lot of it is emotional and stress related. You also
need a supportive atmosphere."
Now she eats only natural and fresh foods, and stays
away from processed foods.
Her lifestyle change also included changing her job.
She has a bachelor’s degree in environmental chemistry
from San Jose State University and worked as an organic
chemist for 14 years in California and Phoenix.
Now she is a certified diet counselor who teaches others
how to change their diet and lose weight the healthy
way. With her personal experiences, she is able to help
others through their weight problems.
"I get to share with other people," she said.
"I’ve been where most people are. I know
that desperation. It’s a scary prospect to let
go of food."
She does personal nutrition and weight loss counseling
around the Valley through her company, Health from the
Heart. She’s also giving free talks on "How
to Lose Weight and Keep it Off" at six East Valley
Bashas’ stores from Jan. 4 through Jan. 9.
Her husband of three years, Michael McCaffrey, uses
his background in sales, marketing and public relations
to help with her many endeavors. Although he hasn’t
completely adopted his wife’s lifestyle, he’s
lost 30 to 40 pounds along the way.
"You realize we live in a life that does not support
low weight," said the 40-year-old. "First
you become angry, then diligent, then you make the change."
On her quest to find healthy goodtasting food, she
also developed a recipe for flourless oat bran muffins.
"Dee’s Mighty Muffins" have been available
at participating Bashas’ markets and AJ’s
Fine Foods since September.
Locally-owned Chompie’s baking company makes
the muffins using her recipe, and the muffins are distributed
in two varieties for sale at the local markets. The
four-pack muffins are available in walnut raisin and
apple
cinnamon.
The recipe was developed after several years of perfecting
just the right taste. In other words, the muffins don’t
taste like cardboard, she said.
The muffins are all natural whole grain, and have no
flour, refined sugar, artificial ingredients, preservatives,
wheat, oils, transfats or cholesterol — which
equals to no guilt. They are not low carb, but good
carb, she said.
Source:www.eastvalleytribune.com
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