This Grandmother Lost 200 Pounds in 23 Months by Walking Just 2 Blocks a Day
For many of us, the relationship with food is complex and deeply emotional. Easter Papadopoulos, a 59-year-old grandmother of twins from Vancouver, transformed her life by losing 200 pounds in just 23 months. Starting at 350 pounds in August 2022, she could barely walk across a room. Today, she's an active grandmother who enjoys 5-mile walks and has discovered that sustainable weight loss starts from within.
"Food is just a symptom of what's going on inside us," she explains. Through mindful eating, exercise, and emotional wellness, Easter didn't just lose weight—she rebuilt her entire relationship with food and herself. Here's how she did it and how you can, too.
The First Bite: When Emotional Eating Begins
"I remember the first time food was introduced to me as something to make me feel better. I was with a friend, we were 11 years old," Easter recalls in her post. "She said to me, 'Hey, why don't we make ourselves an extra bowl of ice cream and eat it as we're pretending to get ready to serve the adults?' That's the first time I ever had a really unhealthy thought about food because it made food a sneaky pleasure."
The Hidden Habits: Developing Disordered Eating Patterns
Easter's relationship with food became increasingly complex. "My binges got to be pretty nasty," she shares. "I started doing things like starve myself for three days because I consumed 4,000 calories the day before, or take laxatives or stick my finger down my throat."
Understanding Meal Timing: Expert Insights
Body Network's resident RDN, The Diet Diva Tara Collingwood, agrees that such behaviors could be unhealthy: "When you skip meals, you get ravenously hungry. When you are really hungry, you make bad choices for the next time you eat, you eat too quickly, and you end up eating too much."
The Weight Gain Spiral: Life's Impact on Health
"I maintained my weight between 150 and 160 always," Easter remembers. "But then my closest friend, who I'd had since I was 10 years old, passed, and my weight just zoomed to 350. That is a lot of freaking weight."
The Medical Reality: Health Consequences
"My joints were screaming every night," Easter shares. "My heart developed a very, very serious condition. And maybe if you lose weight, it'll get better."
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The Turning Point: A Daughter's Love
The pivotal moment came through her twin granddaughters. "My daughter came to me and said, 'Mom, they're never going to know you. They're never going to know their nana… because you're not taking care of your health.' That changed my life."
Setting Realistic Goals: The Expert's View
Collingwood emphasizes the importance of gradual progress: "If you have a lot to lose, 2 pounds per week might be realistic for you. If you only have a little to lose, even a half pound per week can add up after a month or two."
The First Steps: Beginning the Journey
"I walked two blocks. Before I was done, there was a bus stop, thank God," Easter recalls. "I sat down, and I caught my breath because I was panting like I'd gone five miles. But I did it the next day and the next day."
Building Strength: The Importance of Exercise
Collingwood emphasizes the role of strength training: "Lifting weights will help you maintain muscle mass when you are losing weight instead of losing it. Aim to lift weights at least three times per week."
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The Nutrition Foundation: Balanced Eating
"My food plan was so simple that it's ridiculous," Easter shares. "I just cut sugar, minimized flour, lots of vegetables, portion sizes, one portion, not three, no binging."
Collingwood adds, "Well-rounded meals keep you satisfied for longer and also provide you with the nutrients you need. If you cut out entire food groups, you are asking for nutritional deficiencies and potentially other health risks."
The Protein Factor: Meeting Daily Needs
Collingwood advises: "Most people will benefit from at least 20 grams of protein per meal (women) and 30 grams per meal (men). If that isn't enough for the day, then make up more at snack time."
The Emotional Journey: Beyond Food
"I learned that you can deal with your emotions in ways other than turning to food," Easter explains. "I started purposefully journaling about my feelings. I learned to stop, listen to that inner voice, and release my feelings through prayer or meditation."
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The New Normal: Maintaining Success
"Easter 2.0 has boundaries with people. Easter 2.0 doesn't even think about having sweets," she reflects. "And it's not because I'm telling myself not to. It's just naturally not the response I have anymore."
The Message of Hope: Your Journey Awaits
"If you say, 'I could never do what she did,' you're lying to yourself," Easter insists. "I'm 59, past menopause, have no thyroid, hormones on overdrive, and autoimmune diseases. I had every excuse not to exercise. But when you have a reason, you'll be able to do it."
Her journey from 350 pounds to 155 pounds took 23 months, proving that with determination and the right support, sustainable weight loss is possible. As Easter says, "You don't need me to tell you what to eat—you already know. Find your reason, and you can do this too." And if you enjoyed this article, take advantage of these 15 Quick Ways to Lose Body Fat Percentage in a Week.
