Determined LaPlace lady drops 160 pounds to find a great life again

By ROBIN SHANNON

Staff Reporter

LAPLACE – When Phyllis Alexander-Duhe sat down to watch footage from her daughter’s wedding, she saw something she didn’t like – herself.

Duhe, a single mother of three, and trainer at Curves LaPlace, had struggled with her weight since her husband left her 23 years ago. At the time of the wedding in 2002, she was 295 pounds, and suffering numerous major health problems.

&#8220I suffered with high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and a heart murmur,” said Duhe. &#8220When I saw what I looked like at my daughter’s wedding, I cried. That was the turning point to get this weight off.”

Being a single mother, Duhe explained that she lives for her kids. She said she wanted to live on to watch her grandchildren grow up, and this is what motivated her to do everything in her power to get this weight off.

Duhe said surgery was a consideration, but decided against it because of the risks involved.

&#8220With my previous health problems, I didn’t want to risk anything going wrong,” said Duhe. &#8220Doctors told me of the dangers involved, and recommended I do what I could on my own.”

Duhe did exactly that. About five years ago, Duhe altered her eating habits and began to walk the jogging track at a park near her home. Her initial goal was to make it once around the track, but even that was tough.

&#8220I didn’t get very far before I collapsed and fell to the ground,” said Duhe. &#8220People walked by to see if I needed help, it was so embarrassing.”

Duhe said this first setback didn’t keep her down. She began to approach the track one piece at a time, and after a few weeks, she was making it completely around the track with ease. After about a year and a half of walking every morning, Duhe had worked her way up to five laps around the track, a distance of about five miles. Her discipline and change in diet allowed her to drop 100 pounds, all on her own, but this wasn’t the end.

&#8220I lost the weight, and I felt good about myself again, but I still had some flab,” said Duhe. &#8220It wasn’t enough to lose the weight, I wanted to tone my muscles and look more lean.”

Duhe decided to continue her weight loss with Curves LaPlace, where she began a resistance strength training routine.

&#8220Phyllis came in and started on a plan to work 30 minutes a day, three times a week,” said Debbie Trosclair, owner and operator of the LaPlace branch. &#8220The machines she worked on used her own weight as resistance. It is hard work, but worth it in the end.”

After three years of working the machines, Duhe lost 58 more pounds. She worked her weight down from 295 to 135 all by herself. Her blood pressure and cholesterol returned to normal levels, and her heart murmur disappeared.

&#8220I look healthy, I feel healthy, and my self esteem is sky high,” said Duhe. &#8220You can really do this if you put your mind to it, and you want it bad enough.”

Trosclair said Duhe has been at her current weight for almost two years, and is still amazed at how good she looks.

&#8220There are people who lose weight, but they don’t look like her,” said Trosclair. &#8220They are not defined like Phyllis. It is a real testament to her commitment.”

Duhe said the first time she realized the drastic change was when her son had come to visit from Atlanta.

&#8220When we went to pick him up at the station, he walked right passed me, didn’t even recognize me” said Duhe. &#8220He was amazed that he was able to get his arms completely around me.”

Duhe said her story is being considered by People magazine and the Oprah Winfrey Show. She has also been featured in Diane Magazine, a Curves publication.

&#8220It’s not everyday you hear of someone dropping from a size 26 to a size 4,” said Duhe. &#8220I hope I can inspire others to make changes to stay healthy.”