BEFORE MY TRANSFORMATION
I’ve struggled with my weight my entire life. It wasn’t until January 2015 that I got the wakeup call I needed. A few weeks after having my middle son, my 5-year-old son was lying on my lap, watching TV, and asked, “Mommy, is there another baby in your belly?” I told him, “No. Mommy already had your baby brother, remember?” I’ll never forget his reply: “Then why is your belly so big still?”
That was the exact moment my life changed. I wanted to be better for my children. I wanted to be a healthy and active parent, and I was going to do whatever it took to be that person.
MY GOAL
At that time, I was 240 pounds. My first goal was just to get moving and eating better. I focused on 10 percent goals (example – first goal: lose 24 pounds). My ultimate goal was to reach 150 pounds.
WHAT I DID
I joined an eight-week new year’s weight loss challenge, then joined bootcamps and started personal training. I also started ordering weekly meal prep. I also was very active in sharing my weight loss journey on Facebook. It helped hold me accountable and allowed me to connect with people who were facing the same struggles.
HOW IT WORKED
I found a passion for working out that I never knew I would have! It became a form of therapy and provided the “me time” I desperately needed as a very busy, working mom. But I was still struggling with the diet part, so I started ordering weekly meal prep. The weight started literally falling off once I got my diet right.
By November of the same year, I had reached my goal and dropped an additional 10 pounds. I was at 140 pounds and in the best shape of my life!!
THE HARDEST PART
The most difficult part for me was being around my husband and kids, who can eat whatever they want and not gain a pound. My husband was very supportive, though. We cut back on going out to eat and on the junk food in our house. Those two steps helped me tremendously.
HOW HAVE YOU MAINTAINED YOUR TRANSFORMATION?
Losing weight is hard; keeping the weight off is even harder. I continue to work out multiple days a week and order meal prep about two times per month. It also helps having such a supportive community behind me! I have more than 500 past and current meal prep clients that help hold me accountable in my private Facebook group.
HOW I FEEL ABOUT MYSELF TODAY
I feel energized, confident and overall happy. When I was overweight, I was miserable to be around and always negative because I was unhappy with myself. I love the person I am now. I’m also a better mom, too. I coach my boys in soccer. I can play outside with them any time without being winded and exhausted. They are my biggest blessings, and I’m so thankful I can be an active #boymom!
MY ADVICE TO OTHERS
Find what works for you and run with it. If it’s meal prep, macro counting, keto, paleo, calorie counting …whatever it is, just stick with it. I always tell people it took time to gain weight, and it’s going to take longer to lose it. However, the result is worth it.
If you fall off track, it’s OK. Just get back on track with your next meal. Don’t wait for the next day, the next Monday or the next month. The longer you wait, the harder it is to start again.