Interview W/ Army Wife & Mom Julie Totive Featured In This Month’s Women’s World

Recently I met  a wonderful lady that just so happens to be an Army Wife and stationed here at Schofield Barracks in Hawaii where I live. Her name is Julie Totive and she is featured in this month’s edition of Women’s World for her successful weight loss of 53 pounds after trying a 400 Calorie Fix Diet. She is the mom of five and has been married to the military for over 13 years.

1 .Have you struggled with your weight all your life?
Yes, I have!

I have had a few good years, in early adulthood of being an appropriate weight, but, yes, it had been a constant struggle!

2. What was the “ahah” moment that made you say, I am going to do this and stick with it?
We moved to Hawaii in April and my husband deployed for the fourth time in June. Truth be told, I was tired of being a victim of circumstance.  I was tired of having no control in my life. The Army had sent my husband away again, and I had no say over it and I felt like I had no power. My great aunt came in July, and we took a trip to Maui for a day. I posed for her in front of different landmarks, and I thought my husband will just die when he sees them, but when I saw them, I almost died I looked awful.  When my kids started school at the beginning of August, I walked them to school, had my baby in the stroller, and then just kept walking.

3. How did you come about being featured in Women’s World Magazine?

I saw an ad online looking for diet testers, never thought a thing about it, filled it out and forgot about it until I got a call from Women’s World. The editor told me they had 2600 applicants and I was one of the 8 they picked. I’m guessing at the end of the trial, I had the best results and from there they did a photo shoot and interview. It was awesome!

4. What was your daily food and exercise regimen to lose the weight and you do anything differently now?
The Women’s World diet was based on the premise of eating 300- 400 calorie meals a day( a calorie fixed diet). I personally used those frozen Michelinas meals and exercised. I did that for a week and lost 12 pounds within the first time. Presently I have cut back a bit and exercise daily. I walk anywhere from 5-10 miles a day. Of course, living in Hawaii is just perfect for that!

5. How has the weight loss made you feel physically and emotionally?

Losing weight has made me feel so much more confident. I refuse to ever give up power again. My weight is something I can control, not the army, not other spouses, not my kids- it’s all on me.  I feel much more positive as well!

6. Lastly what would you say to other military wives who want to lose weight but with deployments and kids struggle to make the time, how can they incorporate exercise and healthier eating into this challenging lifestyle?

Well, unfortunately, I cannot tell you that there is a secret or a trick to losing weight. It’s all diet and exercise.  What helps me the most is to make exercise a part of my daily routine. I don’t like running, I am not a gym person, but when i get out there with my baby, the rest of the world goes away- I can put on my ear buds to my cell phone and talk to family and friends back home with little interruption, or i can zone out and just push it and walk. It helps clear my mind and it the little “me” time, I can have which makes me a much better mother in the end!

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Army Wife 101

Krystel is the mom of two and an Army Wife. In addition to Army Wife 101 she is the Co-Founder of SoFluential.com a digital media agency that connects brands with the military market. She has appeared on MSNBC ,FOX LA and formerly was a weekly contributor to HLN's "Raising America". She has written for various outlets including Sheknows and Lifetime and is a big fan of cupcakes and french fries.

Krystel is the mom of two and an Army Wife. In addition to Army Wife 101 she is the Co-Founder of SoFluential.com a digital media agency that connects brands with the military market. She has appeared on MSNBC ,FOX LA and formerly was a weekly contributor to HLN's "Raising America". She has written for various outlets including Sheknows and Lifetime and is a big fan of cupcakes and french fries.