Stacey lost 43 pounds

I decided about 6 years ago that I had to make a change to save my own life. I’d completed 11 years of college and had the degrees I needed, but because I’d neglected my health I was really in trouble. My doctor looked me in the face after staring at my labs and said, ‘Well, you have a lot going on. If you don’t get your act together, the next thing you’ll have is diabetes’. That was scary for me. So, I pulled my act together because I knew what dangers lay ahead. I was so tired of feeling broken down and insecure.

My eating habits were the hardest thing to change. I’m a true Southern girl , so I was used to having just about everything fried. It was really hard and at times, it still is. There were just some things that were so difficult. I couldn’t imagine having breakfast without bacon, or Friday evening without a fried fish platter. It was so hard and I thought the only way to be healthy was to just eat salads. I had it all wrong.

It took some time but I had to learn to make small substitutions a little a time along the way. My taste buds were so used to eating lots of junk food. That takes a while to break out of. I had to stop eating so much processed foods and learn how to eat clean. It didn’t happen overnight, but eventually it became a lifestyle.

I paid quite a bit of money for gyms and trainers, but to be honest it was working out at home that started to make the difference. I was going to the gym without a system. When you have no system for your workouts and no system for your meals you’re less likely to get results. I started using Beachbody workouts and meal plans. I had the assistance of someone who’d done the same program to encourage me.

I started my journey at 183 pounds. I’m about 5’3″. I’ve transitioned from being a couch potato to someone who’s athletic. Now, I run long distance (marathons), triathlons and I’ve started bodybuilding. My stage weight is about 140 pounds. I’ve been working hard to change my activity level for about 6 years. I choose one activity yearly that I think is difficult so that I can build my character from the inside out. The change in my body comes with it.

My advice to others is to find a system that works for you and know that it takes a while to lose those old habits. It may take years. There will always be temptations and there will always be choices. Surround yourself with other people who can encourage you when you’re down and push each other. It can be done for sure! Your life is worth saving.

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