Val’s 100-pound weight loss journey
Courtesy Mercy Physicians, Linn County LIVING WELL Magazine
Valeri Gungor had just moved to Cedar Rapids for her dream job. She seemed to have it all––a loving family, a happy home, and now, a great career. But there was one thing in Val’s life that seemed to hold her back––her weight.
At the time of her move, she weighed 265 pounds and just didn’t feel like she had the energy her new job was demanding. On top of that, she felt sick a lot.
Val says, “Walking up a flight of stairs left me short of breath and I had to take medication for my blood pressure. I didn’t feel well and my blood sugar, cholesterol, and triglycerides were creeping higher. No wonder I had no energy. Hoist an extra 120 pounds of anything on your shoulders and see how far you want to carry it.”
Val struggled with her weight on and off since she was 9. Many of her family members were obese. Oftentimes, her family dinner table was filled with high-carb, high-fat foods. “I lived my entire life craving food. I wasn’t usually physically hungry, but I had a strong drive to eat,” says Val.
In January 2012, Val was approaching 60 and ready for a change. “I wanted to be able to play with my grandchildren and enjoy life without feeling tired and sick,” she says. That’s when she heard about Ideal Protein.
Ideal Protein is a healthy weight loss method with proven long-lasting results. Ideal Protein’s food contains highly digestible, high-biological value protein combined with amino acids, which help maintain lean muscle mass while forcing the body to turn fat reserves into energy. Val contacted MercyCare Edgewood, an accredited Ideal Protein location, and began her weight loss journey. Right away, she began losing two to seven pounds per week.
Val is continuing to lose weight on the Ideal Protein Diet. So far she has lost 100 pounds, and was even able to buy a non-plus size shirt for her 60th birthday. “I would never have believed it if someone had told me that I’d no longer crave birthday cake with butter-cream frosting and prefer to eat lettuce or broccoli instead, but it’s true.” And as for her energy? Val says she can almost keep up with her grandchildren.
