The new year is when many of us proudly announce grand plans to accomplish major improvements, such as going to the gym more, eating less, or other lifestyle changes.
Unfortunately, study after study confirms that most of us will fail, and we’ll fail quickly. The percentage of broken resolutions can be as high as 88 percent in a recent Baylor College of Medicine survey. Often, our vows are broken even before February rolls in.
Reasons for breaking even the most well-intended resolution vary: some realize their goals were overly ambitious and get discouraged quickly. Others simply aren’t ready for the mental and physical commitment required for lasting change.
Not Michelle René.
“I made a resolution at the beginning of 2023, and I’m still working on it,” said René, an associate broker with Windermere Coeur d’Alene Realty.
Her wish then was to lose a lot of weight, and nearly two years later, she can proudly say mission accomplished, and maybe even more to come.
In 18 months, she dropped 112 pounds from her maximum weight of 257 pounds.
“I feel like I literally lost a whole person,” René said.
This effort has made her feel better. It has lowered her blood pressure, cholesterol, body mass index and other metrics. She’s no longer approaching the pre-diabetic ‘danger zone’ her doctor warned her about.
“I even lost weight in my feet and my shoe size changed,” she said. “I didn’t know you could do that.”
Starting simple
René’s weight loss declaration kicking off 2023 wasn’t a spontaneous effort. The previous year, a divorce, concerns about family health, and gradual weight gain all motivated her.
“Over the years, it seemed like I was always gaining a few pounds here and there, and it started to add up,” she said. “It’s not like I hadn’t tried this before —usually I lost 5 pounds and put it right back on — I just could never crack the code.”
This time, she “put the blinders on” and looked at all aspects of her life, including diet and physical activity.
She researched modern weight loss methods, listened to nutrition podcasts, read countless articles, and watched videos.
“What I found is that so many conflict,” she said. “Do I eat eggs or not eat eggs? Do I eat more meat or no meat? Should I eat more or less dairy? Should I only eat vegetables and fruit?”
Ultimately, René learned enough to put a health and diet plan together. She cut out sugar and dairy. She eats mostly plant-based foods, but may sneak in some meat and fish, as well as the occasional drink.
“It’s all about being mindful,” she said.
René goes to the gym four or five days a week and walks daily. She also squeezes in weight training every few days, sometimes for as little as 10 minutes.
“But my favorite is my trampoline,” she said.
She keeps a small trampoline at her office and at home.
“I sit so much when I’m working, and when I realize I’ve been sitting for at least an hour, I get up and jump for 10 minutes,” René said. “It’s fun, especially for my mental health. There’s something physiological happening too – you get your blood flowing through your whole body and it helps your brain, too.”
She compared the process to renovating a home.
“In real estate, we call it a full gut, when you bring the home down to the studs, especially if the place has ‘good bones,’” she said. “I like to think I did a full remodel on my life, and I do have good bones.”
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An ongoing effort
René tracks daily progress on a paper spreadsheet, including what she ate, her weight, her exercise and other activities. She also sets daily and weekly goals.
“If I do everything I’m supposed to do, I call it a 100% day,” she said. “There are usually three to four 100% days each week. Some weeks there are more like two, and there’s never been seven.”
This accountability is where some weight-loss efforts fail: people may become intimidated by the scale or too busy to record their daily numbers. They may forget a day, then a week, then a month. Then it becomes easy to stop or write down incomplete data.
René said the world of real estate is always full of temptations, from snack trays at morning gatherings to client lunches to evening receptions and community events. She gives herself permission to partake sometimes as long as she remains mindful.
“I’m very social because of my profession. There’s always something going on,” she said. “I don’t want to be annoying about being around food though.”
It is becoming easier to stick to her new habits.
“Early on, I had to look at my to-do list all the time. Now it’s a lot easier to manage.”
What’s next
While René chose the route of natural weight loss and has done well, she knows everyone’s experience differs. Some may respond better to medication, surgery or medically-supervised weight loss.
“Everyone has their own journey,” she said. “I’m not saying what I’m doing is what you’re supposed to do.”
For 2025, her resolution will continue. She’s comfortable with her current weight but wouldn’t mind losing about 20 more pounds.
“I’m happy where I am — if I stop losing weight now, I’d be fine,” Rene said. “My main goal now is to build muscle to get firm and toned. I learned that muscle is the key to longevity which is important to me at this stage in my life.”
Her three grown children are happy and supportive, and she’s having fun and feels good.
“I love fashion and I have the ability to wear a lot of great clothes,” she said “Everything is different for me now and I feel like a new woman inside and out. I have done the hard work, and I feel amazing. I am dating now, which is a new experience and having such a great time.”
She also is happy to share her research with others serious about losing weight and improving their health.
“The most important thing is to make the decision to start with a plan, not just hopes and dreams,” René said. “You don’t have to be perfect, just don’t give up.” N
By: Joe Butler
As featured in the 2025 Winter/Spring edition