Weight was never an issue for me in my childhood or teenage years. It was never something I had to think about, never something that was a part of my life. As many people do, I started struggling with weight gain in college, but I didn’t do much about it at the time. In the following years, my weight fluctuated.
At age 34, I became pregnant with my son. I was overweight and had very low self-esteem. Spending my days eating pizza and ice cream, I found myself nine months later pushing 270 pounds, on a 5-feet-4 frame. Although giving birth to my beautiful son, James, was one of the best things that had ever happened to me, I still felt miserable afterward. I had always known that my weight gain stemmed from my not being happy in certain aspects of my life. When my weight settled at around 215 pounds, I realized that I needed to be happy and believe in myself for me and for my son.
I discovered Jillian Michaels when I started watching The Biggest Loser, and I was hooked. Jillian’s words hit me — hard. I was determined to become the “biggest loser” in my own home, and nothing was going to stop me. It might have taken a reality show to wake me up, but Jillian inspired me to believe in myself and believe that I could change my life and gain control of my future.
I knew that holidays were a hard time for me, both emotionally and physically. I knew how easy it had always been for me to fall off any “diet wagons” in the past, and I didn’t want it to be the same this time around. I signed up for Jillian’s online program after completing the self-assessment and immediately went out and purchased two of her books, Winning by Losing and Making the Cut.
I just returned from a cruise, where I was able to actually eat and drink what I wanted without gaining any weight. Portion control and exercise were the keys to my success on that trip! I am still 5 feet 4, but I now weigh 134 pounds and wear a size 4!
There are so many things that I love about the new me. Right now, I think what I love most is the fact that I have this new level of confidence that I haven’t had in more than 15 years — confidence to move forward, to reset goals and priorities, and to gain control over my life. It’s an amazing feeling to know that I can achieve any goal as long as I do the work necessary to achieve it, and as long as I believe in myself. I love knowing that I can now be the best me (and the best mommy) I can be!
Activities now: Before losing weight and getting healthy, I didn’t participate in any activities. I was overweight and embarrassed to go anywhere other than family functions. I felt as if I had become a hermit! When my son started walking at age 1, I couldn’t keep up with him! I was unable to run around and play with him the way I wanted, because I was always too tired. Now we play soccer and chase each other around outside, and with my new energy level, I never get tired before he does!
Best compliment: I was at a family party when a friend whom I hadn't seen in more than six months said, “Wow! I can’t stop looking at you! You look amazing, like a different person!”
Advice for others: I’m so proud of myself and how far I’ve come. Jillian’s online program (as well as her radio show) gave me the push I needed to keep going whenever things got rocky, and I developed some healthy strategies that helped me along my way:
Incentive clothes: I had an Armani suit that hadn't fit in more than five years, and I was determined to get into it. Not only does that suit now fit but I actually had to take it in because it was way too big!
Staying focused and positive, waking up every day and saying, “I can do it!” — and believing it!
Staying hydrated! I have been very successful by making my beverage of choice water, cutting out alcohol, and reducing the amount of coffee I drink to one cup in the morning and one at night.
Keeping count! It’s important to count your calories and keep track of what you’re eating. Invest in a heart rate monitor for when you work out and you’ll be able to monitor how many calories you’re burning.
Music: I assembled a selection of songs that I use to keep me going when I work out, as well as a selection I can listen to when I’m having a hard day.
At age 34, I became pregnant with my son. I was overweight and had very low self-esteem. Spending my days eating pizza and ice cream, I found myself nine months later pushing 270 pounds, on a 5-feet-4 frame. Although giving birth to my beautiful son, James, was one of the best things that had ever happened to me, I still felt miserable afterward. I had always known that my weight gain stemmed from my not being happy in certain aspects of my life. When my weight settled at around 215 pounds, I realized that I needed to be happy and believe in myself for me and for my son.
I discovered Jillian Michaels when I started watching The Biggest Loser, and I was hooked. Jillian’s words hit me — hard. I was determined to become the “biggest loser” in my own home, and nothing was going to stop me. It might have taken a reality show to wake me up, but Jillian inspired me to believe in myself and believe that I could change my life and gain control of my future.
I knew that holidays were a hard time for me, both emotionally and physically. I knew how easy it had always been for me to fall off any “diet wagons” in the past, and I didn’t want it to be the same this time around. I signed up for Jillian’s online program after completing the self-assessment and immediately went out and purchased two of her books, Winning by Losing and Making the Cut.
I just returned from a cruise, where I was able to actually eat and drink what I wanted without gaining any weight. Portion control and exercise were the keys to my success on that trip! I am still 5 feet 4, but I now weigh 134 pounds and wear a size 4!
There are so many things that I love about the new me. Right now, I think what I love most is the fact that I have this new level of confidence that I haven’t had in more than 15 years — confidence to move forward, to reset goals and priorities, and to gain control over my life. It’s an amazing feeling to know that I can achieve any goal as long as I do the work necessary to achieve it, and as long as I believe in myself. I love knowing that I can now be the best me (and the best mommy) I can be!
Activities now: Before losing weight and getting healthy, I didn’t participate in any activities. I was overweight and embarrassed to go anywhere other than family functions. I felt as if I had become a hermit! When my son started walking at age 1, I couldn’t keep up with him! I was unable to run around and play with him the way I wanted, because I was always too tired. Now we play soccer and chase each other around outside, and with my new energy level, I never get tired before he does!
Best compliment: I was at a family party when a friend whom I hadn't seen in more than six months said, “Wow! I can’t stop looking at you! You look amazing, like a different person!”
Advice for others: I’m so proud of myself and how far I’ve come. Jillian’s online program (as well as her radio show) gave me the push I needed to keep going whenever things got rocky, and I developed some healthy strategies that helped me along my way:
Incentive clothes: I had an Armani suit that hadn't fit in more than five years, and I was determined to get into it. Not only does that suit now fit but I actually had to take it in because it was way too big!
Staying focused and positive, waking up every day and saying, “I can do it!” — and believing it!
Staying hydrated! I have been very successful by making my beverage of choice water, cutting out alcohol, and reducing the amount of coffee I drink to one cup in the morning and one at night.
Keeping count! It’s important to count your calories and keep track of what you’re eating. Invest in a heart rate monitor for when you work out and you’ll be able to monitor how many calories you’re burning.
Music: I assembled a selection of songs that I use to keep me going when I work out, as well as a selection I can listen to when I’m having a hard day.
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