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Debbi Jensen

Hi. My name is Debbi Jensen. I live in the city of Troutdale and I am a teacher of special needs children for the Reynolds School District. I heard about Positive Changes through another colleague of mine. She convinced me that it was something really great, and that certainly has happened to me. I feel fabulous about calling Positive Changes. Even at the beginning I thought it was a really good program and now at the end, I am absolutely thrilled beyond belief.

There wasn't a time that I can remember when I wasn't overweight. I have lost 108 pounds since coming to Positive Changes. I wasn't real big on measuring inches. Clothing size I think is kind of a myth anyway as clothes are smaller than they used to be when I was younger. I have dropped clothes sizes and dress sizes. It took me nine months to get to the weight that I am now. The original weight loss to get to my original goal took about six months, but then I just kind of kept losing because it felt good and I wanted to feel better than where I was even then. I have tried many, many methods to lose weight in the past. The outcome is basically what brought me here because they didn't work and the Positive Changes program has proven to me that it does work.

I can't even begin to tell you the positive changes that I feel, not only toward myself, but my outlook on life. I started seeing results probably within two months. It took that long before I really saw something was happening.

My weight loss has been consistent. It has just kept coming off, I think as I have believed more and more in what I am hearing in the sessions and through my coaches and believing in myself.

I was not in control of my eating habits before I came here. If I saw it and I wanted it, I ate it. That obviously is not what I needed to do. Now you can tell that I eat totally different. I feel different about food. The changes in my eating habits are unbelievable. I don't have to worry about what I am going to plan to eat. I don't spend a lot of time on that anymore. It just kind of comes naturally which is what I definitely want to have happen my whole life–not only mine, but my family and my children.

I have seen my doctor and she is absolutely blown away. It has changed my diabetes from almost having to take medication to absolutely nothing. My blood pressure is in-credibly under control and I have come off of that medication. I definitely have increased stamina. I now enjoy keeping up with the kindergarteners at work. Before, my knees would hurt and keeping up with them was a struggle. Now they have to keep up with me. �In fact, we race all the time. We're not supposed to, but you know… It's amazing. They're fabulous and they keep me young.

My friends and family have definitely noticed. In fact, there is a woman who is one of our bus drivers. We were hugging today because it has been a long time since I have seen her and everybody said that between the two of us, we had lost 1 ½ people, and that's probably true. It was really great.

You know what, I had self-esteem but now I look at it in a different way. I have always been a positive person, but with Positive Changes it has made me more aware and conscious of people around me. I just look at people differently whether you are overweight or you're not. My outlook is far more positive than it ever was before and, like I said, I have been a positive person. There are so many changes that losing weight and feeling good about yourself brings.

My social life is pretty much the same but I enjoy sitting at home now instead of falling asleep because I was overweight and I was tired. Now when I actually fall asleep, I'm tired because I've done so much during the day. That's a good reason to fall asleep.

I can definitely justify the cost of the program. I come from Troutdale which is over an hour away. With gas the way it is and had been, my husband and I talked about it and the outcome far outweighs the cost of paying the extra money in gas that it took to get here. So yes, it is very definitely worth the cost.

I am looking forward to ... gosh, there is so much. Holidays are going to be different for me this year. Holidays will be different for the mere fact that I don't dread having to think of what to cook, all the different things that I think everybody else is going to want. They're going to eat the way I'm going to eat and you know, that's okay. I love to bake and even now that I'm eating healthier, I am still able to bake. I just simply use better and healthier ingredients. There are lots of substitutions that can be made to make any recipe healthier.

I used to be, and still am somewhat, what I call a helicopter parent–always hovering and always having to take care of everyone else. It's now time for me and that's okay. I still am somewhat of a helicopter parent, but taking care of me has to be number one in order to take care of them. Eating, holidays and everything else are just going to be revolving around selfish me, I guess.

The most incredible thing that has happened to me since coming to Positive Changes is the kids. Parents and adults are one thing, but when little kids come up to you and say it's like I'm a whole different person, it is absolutely incredible. They see a look about me that they haven't seen before. The energy that they have is now my energy and I can keep up with them which is fabulous for my age, let me tell you.

I do believe my weight loss is permanent because I strongly believe in myself now. Although I thought I did before, there is nothing like the positiveness that I have no matter where I go. I walk straighter. I talk straighter. I just have a belief that I didn't have before. I would highly recommend this program and I have to several people who have asked me how I've done it. Whether or not they come, I don't know but I hope that they do because this is one thing that is very definite. I honestly feel with the sessions I have at home and what I have inside of me, I will keep it off. It will help me through the tough times because there are going to be tough times in my life–I know that, but I have something to look forward to and that is just quiet time where I can sit down and listen to my sessions, and remember back.

I will definitely miss coming here every week–gas no, but miss their faces, miss their encouragement. Even though my program has ended, I am still coming back because I believe I can come in and visit and that's what I need to do. I can't thank Positive Changes enough. It has made me who I am today and that's a stronger person; not only mentally, but physically and spiritually. Thank you!