Sherrie Dampeer, aged 58, started her weight loss journey as a byproduct of wanting to cut costs and save money—a happy accident that got her from a size 26W to a size 14. What sparked it? Sherrie experienced a change in her employment income and location, allowing her to work closer to home. Instead of spending money on transportation, she decided to walk to work daily. What she didn’t know was that this would be the beginning of an entirely new journey.
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Her Backstory
While Sherrie would describe herself as “overweight” growing up, she never felt moved to make changes to her lifestyle. She had been warned by doctors over and over again about the potential impacts that excess weight can have on her health and her body but put it off as something she would work on, eventually. In the years that followed,
Sherrie became a caregiver to her late mother and was able to see firsthand how poor health habits led to the loss of mobility and independence. This planted a seed in Sherrie’s psyche.
At the start of the pandemic, Sherrie was scared straight. She had heard through news broadcasting that the COVID-19 virus was especially life-threatening to those who had comorbidities and or were overweight. “I was scared to die [due to COVID-19]”, Sherrie shared. “That’s what helped the most.”
With her weight finally threatening her overall health and independence, she knew she had to kick things into full gear.
It was finally time to make changes and live as able-bodied as possible for as long as possible. Sherrie used this additional fuel and continued her walks to work. Slowly, she noticed her weight changing as a byproduct and used this as the perfect motivation to push on.”
At the start of her budget-friendly walks to work, Sherrie gained the attention of a neighbor who began to join her for walks. Sherrie was glad to be an example to others and gladly started the tradition of morning walks. “My neighbor, who worked in the same building as me, became an accountability partner. She would see me walking, and eventually, we would get together to do neighborhood walks before work and on the weekends.”
As the walks continued, goals grew, and the new goal became 10,000 steps daily. The pair took walks that stretched farther until they extended across neighborhoods and bridges across New York City.
Sherrie’s Tips, Tricks, and Motivating Moves
“I’m not perfect, but I try my best.” To support her weight loss, Sherrie became more mindful about what she ate and made small changes where she could. These small changes include portion control and swapping certain foods for healthier or low-calorie alternatives. For example, Sherrie says she enjoys coffee but is more vigilant about how much creamer she uses because she understands how sugar can play a role in weight loss/gain.
Meal prepping also helped Sherrie stay on track with her portions and the foods she was eating. Having home-bought meals meant she didn’t have to order takeout, which can be filled with many processed ingredients we don’t need.
Regarding motivation, Sherrie says she has used the traction from her neighbors, church members, co-workers, friends, and fitness groups to keep her going. “I’m known as the walking lady,” she remarks. Additionally, many members who knew Sherrie was on a weight-loss journey would generously offer their new or gently used clothes in sizes that aligned with her goals.
She also uses her doctor’s appointments as checkpoints for her progress because she knows they’ll check for blood pressure, blood sugar levels, and other health markers.
With no children of her own, Sherriee affirms, “I want to be able to live independently as long as I can.” While Sherrie is also adamant that this journey was never about the scale, she does have a general goal of maintaining a weight below 200 lbs.
Looking Ahead
Sherrie intends to continue to use walking to maintain her overall well-being and weight loss and meet her daily goal of 10K steps. When necessary, she incorporates gym and at-home workouts into her routine. She is one of many health and wellness ambassadors at her job and encourages her office-mates to step away from their desks for short walks as often as possible throughout the day. She is also a member of the Obesity Action Coalition, which empowers and encourages people living with obesity on their journeys to better health.
It was never about the scale; it was always about the quality of life. I believe I have to be an active participant in my healing.
When asked if she had any long-term goals, she proudly stated, “I want to be able to take care of myself and continue to be an example.
