Nicole lost 148 pounds

Transformation of the day: Nicole lost 148 pounds. This mom of 3 was in an abusive relationship. She was depressed and unhappy about her life. Sometimes she just wanted to run away from it all. After reading a popular inspirational book, she had an ah-ha moment that started her on a path to freedom and weight release. Check out her story.

As a child, I never had a weight issue. My life growing up was normal and healthy. We never had a lot but yet mum always made sure we had something to eat. Not wasting food was a big deal in our family. Phrases like “Waste not, want not.” or “Eat all you food because there are children starving in Africa that don’t have what you have.”, became like indelible ink, implanted on our young minds.  Mum tried her best to ensure that we were exposed to vegetables at dinner time and my dad would purchase huge quantities of fruit each weekend for us to enjoy.

It wasn’t until after I became pregnant with my first child that I knew what it was like to wear a large size. Even after giving birth to him, my weight was not an issue. However, after giving birth to my second child, I began to spiral of control. I became so immersed in trying to be a good mom and good common-in-law wife that I began to lose sight of my health and my weight. By the time I gave birth to my third child, I had ballooned to 298 ¾ pounds.

Before realized it, I had garnered every size outfit from a size 8 to a size 22.  These years had become my darkest. Secretly, I was depressed and unhappy with my life. At times, I wanted to end it all and other times I wanted to just walk away, leaving everything and everyone behind (kids included). Many times I found myself, volunteering to work longer hours or do a double shift to avoid an unhappy, abusive home. The abuse had whittled me away to almost nothing. It still brings tears to my eyes when I think of how empty, unaccomplished and unattractive I felt. I was robotically existing. Sugar became my lover, my confidant, my friend. I would purchase cookies, little Debbie’s or bake cakes and secretly hid in my room away from prying eyes to engage in this love affair. I was not realizing that I loved food, but it didn’t love me.

Soon the enormity of the abuse and my addiction took its toll. I started praying for a break through, a change. I needed to be free of this if I wanted to be a better parent. I needed to be happy and healthy again. My first “ah-ha” moment came when a co-worker came to me and encouraged me to purchase a book called Battlefield  of the Mind by Joyce Meyer.  Almost immediately upon reading, I began to understand me, the mistakes I made and why. It was an eye-opener, a source of comfort. I became active in church, my kids school, and started thinking about my future. It was a though a light was turned on inside of me. The more I prayed, the more I focused on the positive things in my life, like my three precious children.

I’d finally freed myself from the abuse and I was on the road to recovery. However, obesity was a monster, looming in the dark. Out of desperation, I turned to quick fixes – pills, diet drinks, starvation diets and uncomfortable undergarments. Nothing yielded the results I longed to have. Weight loss was like a dark cloud. Yet I was determined to find the right formula. Deep down inside I knew there had to be a better way. One that was natural and sustainable. This thinking, led me to my second “ah-ha” moment.

There I was, weighing about 260 pounds, in a photo sitting between my mum and her sister and I did not recognize myself. How could I get this big? When did it happen? Why didn’t someone tell me? I’m twice my mother’s size, half her age and half the amount of kids.  It lit a fire in me that burned so bright that I joined the gym again and hired a trainer. I cut out all, bread, potatoes, pasta and rice from my meal plan. I worked out twice daily for at least an hour. I prepared my food at home and took it with me to work. I began drinking 2 litres of water daily. I started a regular vitamin regime. Success was on the horizon, losing the bulk of my weight in six +months. I allowed this new feeling of freedom and accomplishment to empower me but not control me.

Feeling so inspired, I quit my corporate job and became a Certified Personal Trainer and a body building competitor. Now my life is rewarding and fulfilling, as I get to assist others on their journey to freedom.

Instagram: @bodybynicktraining

www.body-by-nick.com