Weight Loss Success

How did I get here?

Gaining weight isn’t something that happens overnight. Life moves fast, and one day you look in the mirror and realize your body has changed without you even noticing. For me, the weight gain was tied to a combination of career frustrations and relationship struggles. Over the course of several years, I gained 50 pounds, due to habits I developed and stuck with: eating fast food multiple times a day, working out sporadically (if at all), and overeating until I felt physically uncomfortable.

I tried every quick-fix weight loss product, jumped into trendy workouts, but nothing stuck. After every failed attempt, I would fall back into the same old habits, which only left me feeling more frustrated. Eventually, I decided to hire a personal trainer, hoping this time would be different. I showed up for my sessions twice a week, worked hard, and left feeling strong and accomplished. Then, as my reward, I would treat myself to a burger and fries. Spoiler alert: I didn’t reach my weight loss goals. In fact, I felt even more frustrated by my contradictory actions.

The Catalyst

As someone who had once been passionate about fitness and nutrition, I knew better, but life had changed, and my new lifestyle became obvious to those around me. It wasn’t until one Thanksgiving, my dad confronted me about my weight gain. He sat on my bed and, with genuine concern, asked what was going on in my life and how he could support me. I heard his concern, but wasn’t ready to truly make the changes I knew I needed.

Baby Steps

It wasn’t until I was shopping for my first day at a new job that I realized it was time to stop pretending everything was fine. I made a decision that would change my life. I give up the foods I thought I couldn’t live without—pizza and French fries. I wasn’t giving them up forever, but I committed to a 90-day break to reset my habits. To my surprise, I lost 10 pounds in those three months, despite not changing anything else in my diet. Curious about what else I could achieve, I focused on eating real whole foods - lean meats, fruits, and vegetables. In less than a year, I lost another 40 pounds. This success sparked a desire to share my story and help others facing the same struggles.

Renewed Passion

I was fortunate to share my weight loss success with readers of Shape, Everyday Health, Bodybuilding.com, and Diabetic Living Magazine. The response was overwhelming and gave me the confidence to take the next step in my career: becoming a fitness professional. I earned my personal training certification, as well as specializations in fitness nutrition, behavior change and weight management.

What began as a personal journey has grown into something bigger. Today, I’m not just another success story—I’m a woman on a mission to help others reclaim their health and transform their lives.