After struggling with her weight for more than 20 years,
Eastern Michigan University alumna Angelique Daniels had
an e-pig-phany. She took a look at herself in the mirror
and knew she needed to "stop being a pig."
Sixty-five pounds and 10 dress sizes later, Daniels shares
the secrets of her success in her book "E-PIG-PHANY: A
Health And Fitness Spiritual Awakening — From Chitlins
to Prime Cut." Daniels explains how she lost the weight
— without dieting
and rigorous exercise — and kept it off for more than two
years.
 |
A NEW WOMAN: Angelique
Daniels, a 1993
graduate of
Eastern Michigan University,
shows
her svelte self after
having lost 65 pounds. Daniels
recently wrote how she lost the
weight and 10 dress
sizes in her
book, "E-PIG-PHANY: A Health
and Fitness
Spiritual Awakening
— From Chitlins to Prime Cut." |
"An e-pig-phany (a play on the word "epiphany") is the
exact moment when you finally decide that you are going
to do something about your weight," said
Daniels, a 1993 graduate of EMU. "Everyone has that moment.
You look in the mirror and think 'Who is that lady?'"
What makes Daniels' book different from many weight-loss
books on the market is that Daniels isn't a dietitian,
nutritionist or fitness enthusiast.
"I'm just an everyday person," said Daniels, a food-loving
restaurant manager at Olive Garden who also sells Pampered
Chief products. "I did it on my own, without going
to the gym or paying someone to help me. I truly was a
pig and I feel that, if I can do it, anyone can."
Daniels, born and raised in the Ypsilanti area, got her
start in the food industry at the Full House Restaurant
on Ecorse Road. She graduated from EMU 13 years ago with
a bachelor's degree in business administration. Since then,
she's moved to Las Vegas, Nev., where she now resides and
keeps busy with numerous business activities.
Since her schedule keeps her busy, Daniels found herself
putting off starting a weight-loss regimen.
"I always wanted to start a diet when I could commit with
no excuses," Daniels begins in her book. "I wanted to start
when I was done having children, my job, relationship and
finances were all well balanced, when the stars and the
moon were in perfect alignment and it would have to be
a Monday. Then, I would be totally focused. So, that never
happened...and I started anyway."
Continuing the pig theme throughout her book, Daniels'
first step was to "stop being a pig." She didn't cut any
foods out of her diet, only limited their amounts beginning
in 2004. She exercised portion control, eating only half
of what she would normally eat.
When it came to exercise, Daniels was looking for something
easy that wouldn't make her sweat too much. The most successful
exercise activity she had participated in previously was
an aerobics class at EMU. This was her first time seriously
exercising since then. Daniels started walking every day.
She never let herself skip a day, no matter how much she
wanted to just stay in bed.
"You have to do something," said Daniels. "Even if it's
just 20 leg lifts or jumping jacks, you have to at least
do something every day."
Daniels' confidence was boosted with every compliment
she received. Her plan was so successful, that everyone
she knew was asking her how she did it.
"They don't want to hear 'diet and exercise'; they want
to know exactly what you did," said Daniels. "I got tired
of repeating it. I wrote it down and took it to Kinkos."
One of the biggest incentives for her to write the book
was a trip with an old friend to New Orleans. The two had
once been called "The Clydesdale Sisters," after the large
horses. Daniels was excited to meet her friend and show
off her new look. But seeing her friend continue to struggle
with weight loss took all of the joy out of it.
"I realized that I didn't want to rub it in other people's
faces," said Daniels. "I wanted to use my story to connect
with other women and help them make a lifestyle change."
In her book, Daniels jokes as she explains how she
lost more than 50 pounds. She shares what foods and vitamins
promote weight loss; such as green tea, oatmeal and yogurt;
and why eating a kid's meal at McDonald's works, but the
Atkins diet doesn't.
"It's been very well received," Daniels said of her book. "I
don't really consider myself a writer, but I had to put
it out there. Losing that much weight is such a life-changing
event. It's a great feeling that I wanted to share with
everyone else."
Daniels' biggest piece of advice is to start now. People
put off trying to lose weight when they really need to
take control.
"I worked 30 hours in three days at the Olive Garden and
have two kids, a household and two home-based businesses," said
Daniels. "If you think you're too busy, you are. Start
anyway."
After seeing the success of her book, Daniels now hopes
to continue helping women achieve their weight loss goals.
Fifty-four percent of Americans are overweight, with the
largest segment being African-American women, Daniels said.
"I am on a crusade to help educate and inspire other women,
especially African American women, to take control of their
bodies," Daniels said. "I want to start a consulting firm,
teaching women how to cook in their home. If they can make
simple things that taste good, they'll have a better chance
of succeeding."
"E-PIG-PHANY" can be purchased through the publisher by
calling 1-888-232-4444, or at their Web site, http://www.trafford.com/4dcgi/robots/05-2080.html.
It also is available on Amazon.com.
