Flab To Fab Gives Local Woman Recognition

She is half as big as she used to be, now a Tahlequah woman is getting national recognition for it.  Her story of "Flab To Fab" is in this weeks People Magazine.  The News On 6's Dan Bewley reports the copy of People hit newsstands Friday.  On page 110 you can read all about Aly Aviles and how she went from a size 18 to size 4.

"My hips hurt, my knees hurt, my back hurt. I felt very old and worn out," said Aly Aviles.

A year and a half ago Aviles topped the scales at 253 pounds. A blue denim was one of her favorite shirts.

"It says extra-large but it's a man's extra large," said Aviles.

One picture taken at her granddaughter's birthday party changed her life.

"I just saw an extremely obese person and it just really, really made me sad to see that I looked like that," said Aviles.

Nineteen months later the 52-year-old had lost 125 pounds which is half her previous weight.

So how did she do it?  Aviles says it's really quite simple.  She would work out six days a week at Curves, drink a gallon and a half of water every day, and no special diets, she just ate less food.

"I call it a goof-proof system," said Aviles.  "It was simple enough for me once I had my mind set and if you get that mindset you cannot fail."

Now her story has gone nationwide with a feature in People magazine, sharing the same pages as Fergie and Nicole Kidman.

"I was in the middle of Wal-Mart when People magazine called me and told me they had chosen me to be in their issue. I was absolutely shocked, I was shrieking in Wal-Mart," said Aviles.

Still amazed the eye's of the world will see her transformation, Aviles says it's just more fuel to keep her feeling fit.

"I will not go back to this size again. I love being a size four," said Aviles.

As for advice to others trying to lose weight, Aviles says don't look at the big picture, just take it one day at a time and surround yourself with people who will give you lots of support and encouragement.