Lisa Powers Wins 2012 Elite Ambition Challenge!

How I Did It

One year ago, I was squeezing into size-16 jeans, wearing 1X-plus size shirts, and getting winded while tying my shoes. I was disgusted that I let myself reach that point. I desperately needed to salvage my image as a positive role model and Health and PE teacher. I couldn't start another school year fat. I wasn't always obese.

However, horrible foot problems, a chronic virus treated with multiple rounds of steroids, and tons of self-pity made me sedentary and left me 55 pounds heavier. I wallowed in self-pity for more than a year. I had a few false starts to a healthier life, but I was in such a negative mindset that I failed before I had a chance to feel some success.

In August 2011, I decided to end the pity party. Three weeks later, I partially ruptured my Achilles tendon. I still went to the gym with the huge boot on and did what I could for legs. I was self-conscious of being fat, but I was hoping the boot distracted from that. Eight weeks later, the boot came off, but I still had 4-6 months of rehab and recovery.

My trainer, Steve Poynter, had a small challenge within his team and I participated. I needed something to keep me accountable. I stayed true to my meal plans and workouts, and my body started changing.

Besides the ruptured Achilles, I strained my back, tore some intercostals muscles, re-tore them 12 weeks later—only worse—and dealt with an inflamed shoulder and biceps tendon. The difference in these last eight months to the year before is I didn't care what obstacles were placed in front of me.

I rested when needed and pushed forward when I could. The pain of all those injuries was nothing compared to the pain I would have felt if I remained obese.

Lisa: Thank you! I'm so excited! I needed something to focus on. I made some amazing changes in the months prior and was happy about my progress, but I wasn't content. There was just this unspeakable drive within me propelling me forward. I still had unfinished business.

I sat and bawled in the photography studio as the lady was burning my pictures onto a disc. I was so proud of myself. I was so happy to go from 205 pounds to 160 pounds in size-10 jeans. I actually liked myself again. I never aimed to be skinnier; I just didn't want to be obese.

At the end of my transformation, I was sitting at 135 pounds, 19.5 percent body fat, and wearing a size four! It was a surreal moment. I was overcome with emotion and cried each time I looked at my after pictures.

Progress pictures and clothes were a huge motivator for me. I loved seeing the difference in the pictures because I usually couldn't see day-to-day change.

I surrounded myself with positive, like-minded people. I shared my goals and successes only with people I knew would be supportive. Once I gained more confidence, I started sharing more no matter who asked because I was better equipped to handle any reaction.

Zig Ziglar said, "Motivation is like bathing. I recommend it daily." I have positive posters all around my house. I read positive affirmations every morning and evening.

I decided to work through discipline, not emotion. My emotions change often.

At week six, I teetered on the edge of quitting. I was moments away. I had been pushing for many months and was losing sight of why I was doing it. I had already lost more than 50 pounds. What else did I have to prove? I hated every moment at the gym, but I still went out of discipline.

My first four meals of the day were solid because of the disciplined habit I created. However, after teaching all day and working out, I binged four nights in a row. I was losing it.

Negativity consumed me for almost two weeks. I hated everything. I hated my workouts. I even hated my hair. I was internalizing so much anger. I don't know where it came from, and I didn't know how to deal with it.

My trainer told me to take all of week eight off. I thought that was insane, and pretty much the stupidest thing he could have said. He assured me that as long I stayed on my meal plan, I would still be successful. I figured he had led me to discover success this far, so why would I stop listening to him? With 28 days left, I took seven days off.

The hardest part was the mental aspect of change. I dropped 10-12 pounds each month. My weight loss slowed, but I was still progressing.
I had to change my mindset and remind myself that slow progress is still progress.

A lot of people are going to read this and think, "Nah, I couldn't do this. Not me." Tell them why they're dead wrong. When I started this whole transformation, I didn't know if I could do it. The future was so far, and my heart was so frail.

I put a lot of faith into my trainer. I just kept telling myself that if I stuck to the plan, I would be successful. At that point in my life, success was my only option. I didn't know if I could take another failure.

As I started seeing success, I started to believe in myself and began putting more faith into myself.

Participating in this challenge showed me a glimpse of my potential. I'm nine weeks out from a figure competition. There's also a powerlifting event and a hill climb competition that same day. I'm doing it all! I've never done anything like this. I'm so scared, but so excited.

Lisa's Fitness Regimen

I eat whole foods and stay away from processed foods. Simple, but effective!

Lisa's Training Regimen

Work through discipline, not emotion. Go hard. Suck it up.

I like to train one body part each day. I like HIIT for cardio for 20-25 minutes most days of the week. I love to jump rope! I rarely specifically train abs.

Lisa's Supplementation Plan

KISS: Keep it simple, stupid!