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Transformation of the Day: Delorean lost more than 80 pounds. After years of struggling with her weight, she just wanted to feel good and look good. She also wanted to escape the effects of PCOS, pre-diabetes, joint pain and chronic fatigue. She shared with us how she found the guidance and support she needed to transform her lifestyle.
Weight loss journey started when I was a kid. I have always been the “pretty face” girl. I was the one who was cute for a “big girl“. That became even more personified as I got older. I was also a forever college student trying to get my Masters in Nursing to be a Nurse Practitioner. I finally completed my
degree 3 years ago and graduated at the highest weight I’ve ever been. I weighed 340 pounds at 5’6” and my BMI was over 50. I was Morbidly Obese! Once I saw that, I knew I couldn’t be effective in teaching anyone else how to take care of themselves if I couldn’t follow my own advice.
The nurse practitioner that I went to kept mentioning weight loss surgery or medical management (aka. drinking shakes until I get my BMI down). I would cry in her office, because I felt that for me to have to have surgery it would mean that I’d done everything I could do on my own to lose weight first… and I knew I hadn’t. I had to prove myself and everyone else wrong. I would not be big forever.
So, I started making changes. My husband and I reduced our eating out and ordering in of food DRAMATICALLY. I focused on drinking water, eating more vegetables and exercising.
I didn’t do most of those things before because I told myself I was too busy with work and school. I felt like I didn’t have time to focus on those things. However, joint pain, back problem and chronic fatigue was telling me otherwise. I had to feel better and I wanted to look good. Yes, it’s vain but I like clothes and I did not like the way I looked in them. I hated my appearance and I wanted to feel good when I stepped out of the door. That was motivation for me.
Wanting to have children was also a major motivation. My PCOS diagnosis and pre-diabetes was making it very difficult for me to conceive. I knew that once I lose a good amount of weight, it would help regulate my hormones, which in turn can help with fertility. So, I use these things to drive me EVERYDAY.
In the beginning, I started going to the gym like most people and joined group fitness classes, like Zumba. That was fun, but I was inconsistent. I would intermittently use the weight machines as well, but I was inconsistent. Then, I found U-Jam Fitness and fell in love! I love to dance and this was perfect. It was choreographed and everyone was so open, accepting and encouraging. I didn’t feel judged when I went to class so I kept going back. That led me to an entire fitness community that I had no idea existed.
I also was introduced to doing workouts from home. I started using You Tube videos which were okay, but then I found the 21 Day Fix program. It was 3 weeks of learning how to use portion control and exercise daily. The workouts were short, sweet and to the point. Thats what I needed. I don’t like to workout, so 30 minutes of exercise was all I had the attention span for. By exercising, changing my eating habits with the help of the 21 Day Fix food guide and replacing a full meal or snack with Shakeology, my body started to be a well oiled machine.
Since starting with 21 Day Fix almost 2 years ago, I have done at least 5 different Beachbody programs and I’m hooked. I truly believe by following their structured workout schedule, learning how to fuel my body and getting support from other people who are using the programs, I’ve found my formula for success. I’m now down over 80 lbs and counting.
I started the program because a fitness instructor I’d met online said she was doing the 21 Day Fix in a challenge group and that she would coach/guide me through it. That was the missing link for me. I now had support and accountability. I didn’t have that before and I’m so glad I found it. Now, because of my success, I have decided to pay it forward and I coach other people just as she did for me. Because of my new found confidence, I am also a U-Jam Fitness instructor and coach as well.
The biggest lesson I’ve learned from all of this is you can’t do it alone. It truly takes a village and I will tell anyone that. Find your cheerleaders. Find your community of like-minded people and do it together. You will be more successful in the long run that way. I hope this helps at least one person who’s been struggling and who doesn’t know where to begin. I was there and I still struggle on the daily. The difference is that now have tools that work and a community that continues to fuel me, so I know I will be okay.
Instagram: @deelogetsfit
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