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Mom traded Mountain Dew for motivation and lost 66 pounds

The first day of this year was a pivotal date for April Loomis of Forest Lake. She made a New Year's resolution to quit her soda habit, which amounted to 10 cans of regular Mountain Dew a day. Loomis, a 32-year-old wife and mother of three, started dropping weight. (At 5-foot-3, she weighed about 200 pounds.) Now, six months later, Loomis' resolve is still going strong.

"It was my own idea. I didn't have lots of energy. I had sore hips from the extra weight. I had low self-esteem. I thought, 'This needs to change.'

"I knew it wasn't going to be easy with the caffeine addiction. I thought, 'I'm going to end up with diabetes.' It doesn't run in my family, but everything else does — high cholesterol, heart disease.

"(After giving up Mountain Dew) I had headaches for two weeks. Slowly, they got better, and then they were gone. I was starting to feel better. I started losing a little weight.

"From that point on, I watched what I ate, changed my diet. I eat lots more fruits and vegetables. I used to go out to lunch every day at work (at Ryan Plumbing). Now, I bring my lunch. I bring Lean Cuisine. It's portion control.

"At home, we cut back on red meat. I use ground turkey instead of hamburger. I grill more things than fry. We have healthier side dishes. We have salads.

"I started exercising daily, using exercise tapes. I was doing 'Tae Bo' and other aerobics videos. I was exercising in the evenings, but it got hard with kids' activities. Now, I do it in the morning. I get up at 5:30 a.m. I work out for 45 minutes. After work, I go for a walk or bike ride or do another video.

"The kids are 13, 11 and 6. They like the fruits and vegetables, but they miss their junk food. Occasionally, I let them get the stuff. I have to remember being a kid. If I make a cake, it's angel food and fruit instead of cake with frosting. They actually enjoy it.

"I'm down 66 pounds. I want to lose about 12 more pounds. I'm getting there slowly but surely.

"Of course, it crosses your mind (to quit), but you don't want to end up where you were. You have to use self-control.

"I watch my calorie intake. I watch what I eat. My cholesterol was 360. It's down to 240.

"I feel great. I have a lot more confidence and self-esteem. I can keep up with my kids better. Actually, sometimes I think they have a hard time keeping up with me.

"(A co-worker) and I quit drinking pop together. Now, we feed off each other. We ask, 'What did you do last night for exercise?' It helps to have someone doing it with you.

"It's about getting motivated. Once you do, you don't regret it. That's what I tell people. Just do it."

Have you turned the corner toward good health? If so, we want to hear your story. Please e-mail your ideas to rgfukushima@pioneerpress.com (no attachments, please), call Rhoda Fukushima at 651-228-5444, or mail them to Turning Point, c/o Rhoda Fukushima, 345 Cedar St., St. Paul, MN 55101.