In November 1997 Elena Polshakov was 5'2", wore a size 24W and weighed in at 212 pounds. It had only been a few short months since she had immigrated to the United States from the Ukraine with her husband and young daughter, but she had already gained over 20 pounds. She recalls taking an English class and one of the women who befriended her blew her mind when she told her she looked like she was 45 years old, she actually was only 27. To hear that she appeared nearly 20 years older than her actual age was a heartbreaking and life changing experience for Elena.
Taking stock, she realized she was having trouble breathing, was severely depressed and must make a change. She was miserable. After the encouragement of a girlfriend she tried Slim Fast and it worked (well, sort of...). Elena dropped to a size 0, and lost over 100 pounds in only 7 months. She recalls being obsessive, eating only 1 piece of broccoli and drinking her shakes, literally working out for several hours a day, 7 days a week.
While she was thrilled to no longer be heavy, she also realized she was quickly becoming Anorexic. She had several fainting incidents and felt a rabid obsession that scared her. She recalls that people would complement her newly slim figure, but she knew deep down that she was not at a size that was healthy for her. She wasn't sure what was worse, being too fat or too thin--there must be a balance?!
She stepped back and worked to develop a healthier relationship with food, exercise and most importantly her body. Today Elena is in a much happier, healthier place. She has a successful career as a professional cosmetologist in New York City, and has a positive self-image that she passes on to her many clients. She wears a size 8 and weighs roughly 140 lbs. Ideally she would like to take off 10-15 lbs but is only willing to do so in a way that fits into a healthy lifestyle. Elena no longer feels like a 'fat' person and doesn't struggle with food, she believes she eats like 'a normal person'. In terms of exercise, she is a regular walker and does so simply for the enjoyment.
After struggling for years to be thin, only to find herself on the brink of an eating disorder, Elena is very happy to report she has found balance is a truly a happier, healthier person. She and her husband are planning a little trip next week to celebrate their 19th wedding anniversary. She already has her bathing suit picked out and can't wait to hit the beach and have FUN! Congratulation to Elena for looking AND feeling fabulous!
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