GET YOUR BODY MOVING: THIS EARLY BIRD CAUGHT THE POUNDS-OFF PRIZE

Posted on Thursday, April 23rd, 2009 at 3:55 am

At age 42, LaVonnia “Bonnie” Johnson weighed 225 pounds and wore a size-22 dress. Then she started getting up earlier in the morning—and she lost 65 pounds.

Heavy all her life, Bonnie, of Washington, D.C., put on even more weight after going through a painful divorce. But her life changed in 1993 when she read an inspiring story of a woman who had left a troubled marriage and thrived. That was just what Bonnie needed to hear. “If she could do it, I can, too,” Bonnie thought.

In the beginning, she tried simple workouts—swimming, bicycling, and treadmill walking—at different times of the day, fitting it in whenever possible. And she made some progress, losing 15 pounds within 18 months.

|Then Bonnie changed jobs. Her new work schedule was so erratic that she could exercise only in the early morning. For Bonnie, that turned out to be the turning point.

At 6:00 a.m., Bonnie would arrive at her neighborhood gym and head straight for the treadmill, stairclimber, or stationary bicycle. Before long, she was experimenting with strength training. She was hooked. She couldn’t begin her day without hitting the gym. Within 2 years, she lost 65 pounds and four dress sizes.

Today, at age 49, Bonnie still starts her day with exercise. “Morning exercise has become a way of life for me,” she says. “It’s like drinking water or breathing. I need it to survive.”

WINNING ACTION

When it comes to exercise, be an early bird. Like Bonnie, make exercise the first item on your daily agenda. Starting my day on the treadmill is the only way that I know it fit in my workout. You’ll rev up your metabolism so you burn more calories over the course of the day. As a bonus, you’ll feel more centered, energized, and better able to handle stressful situations.

*83\89\8*