Adventist Health Bakersfield | You + Us | Winter 2018

5 at Adventist Health Bakersfield’s Weight Management Program. She’d heard good things about the program and was eager to create her own success story. Dr. Ayad ran several tests on Karen and prescribed a diet specific to her needs. She also recommended that Karen write in a journal about her progress. Now, nearly two years later, Karen has lost—and kept off—89 pounds. She credits her success to her own resolute attitude about finally taking the weight off—but also to Dr. Ayad’s unwavering support. “She is my guide and my beacon in the storm,” Karen says. “She gave me ideas and encouragement along the way. She was so happy about my weight loss.” Making it a way of life While losing 89 pounds isn’t an easy task, Karen believes her weight came off the way it did because she was determined to stick with the program. She and Dr. Ayad selected a low-carb diet that was developed at Duke University. It calls for counting carbs daily and making conscious choices about all the foods you eat. While the program includes a specific diet—which Karen says she committed to memory—the idea is to adapt your food choices around it. She kept track through journaling. “I can’t recommend this enough. When I journal, I have to write down my daily weight. I keep an eye on it every day. It makes me loss STATE OF MIND Take the first step today.‌ Get the support you need to write your own success story. Learn more at AHBakersfield.org/weight . hold myself accountable. I include everything I eat,” she says. “At times, I still crave something unhealthy but won’t eat it, because I don’t want to have to write it down!” After her weight loss, life has certainly improved, Karen says. Her energy has increased and her joints have stopped aching. Her health outlook is much brighter too. She no longer has prediabetes, and her cholesterol and blood pressure tests are back to normal. “Now, I can walk up and down steps and sit with my legs crossed or with one leg beneath “When I journal, I have to write down my daily weight. I keep an eye on it every day. It makes me hold myself accountable.” —Karen Madsen me,” she says. The avid horsewoman says she’s also much more comfortable in the saddle. “I’m sure my horse is much happier now too.” Karen says that besides journaling, she has another secret for long-term success: meal planning and food prep on Sundays. “I’ll make a huge salad, healthy dishes and all my breakfasts, and put them in containers for the week.” This way, she says, she already knows how many carbs she’ll be eating. Karen Madsen is back in the saddle again after losing 89 pounds!