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| AGE 28 HEIGHT 5'5" WEIGHT 140 lbs BODY FAT 24% |
AGE 29 HEIGHT 5'5" WEIGHT 116 lbs BODY FAT 11% |
I've been an athlete my entire life. At age six, I starting running track and swimming. My entire family was athletic. Food was never an issue for me and sports came naturally. I continued playing sports throughout high school and received a college track scholarship.
My freshman year of college was a hard transition for me and I put on 20 pounds. That's when my up and down weight problems began. Although I was on the track team and worked out, my diet was horrible. Late-night food runs only added to my weight gain. During my sophomore year, I decided to change how I ate and started eating smaller portions and healthier foods. I was able to lose the 20 pounds I gained and kept it off for two years while I finished my track career.
After college, I taught group exercise classes, but my eating habits started getting bad again. When my husband and I met, we went out to eat often and ate ice cream nightly. The habits continued after we got married in 2009. I weighed 145 pounds at that point, which was my highest ever, and wore a size 9. I was unhappy with myself and uncomfortable in my body. I went from a size 2 to a size 9 in one year. When I got pregnant with my son in 2010, I worked really hard to make sure I ate healthy and exercised. I only put on 35 pounds during pregnancy and was able to lose it after, but I still held onto the 20 pounds I gained after college.
As a fitness instructor, I felt very insecure. How could I help motivate someone when I struggled myself? I was constantly doing cardio, but I wasn't seeing the results. My clothes didn't fit and I no longer felt like the athlete I once was.
In 2011, I moved from Atlanta, Georgia, to Charleston, South Carolina. I was a stay-at-home mom and decided to do something. I wanted to be fit and look like some of the people who inspired me. The person who inspires me most is Jamie Eason. When she came out with her 12-Week LiveFit Trainer, I decided to give it a try.
I started a Facebook page and a blog that includes recipes and workouts for people who are new to clean eating and exercise.
I started Jamie Eason's LiveFit Trainer in September 2011. I made a commitment to finish the 12-week program no matter what. In the beginning, I was afraid I would fail or give up. I tried many times to lose weight and was unsuccessful, so I wasn't sure if this program would work.
Exercising wasn't new to me, but clean eating was. I had never heard of it and didn't know what it meant. The 12-week program helped because it included meal plans and shopping lists. Within the first month, I lost five pounds. My clothes were getting loose and I was excited and motivated.
I wanted the weight to come off fast and spent many days complaining to my husband. I wanted abs and toned legs and felt like it was taking forever. He was supportive and encouraged me every day.
Music kept me motivated in the gym. I also looked to BodySpace and fitness pages on Facebook to keep me inspired. It was nice seeing others with the same goals.
Dieting was the hardest part for me. I ate junk food and candy before and gave it all up. To help with my sweet cravings, I came up with clean recipes for pancakes and muffins. These clean foods enabled me to enjoy the foods I had before, but in a healthier way. By the end of the 12 weeks, I wanted clean foods more. I no longer craved unhealthy food.
After completing Jamie Eason's LiveFit twice this year, I entered my first bikini competition and placed second. I enjoyed the experience and want to do more to help others. I'm currently studying for my personal training certification and just started a non-profit organization to help combat childhood obesity.
- Write your goals down and don't limit yourself.
- Try working out with a friend to stay motivated.
- Never give up. It may get hard, but stay focused on your goals.
- Take measurements and pictures and throw out the scale.
- Do it for you and no one else.
- Change will only come when you do something you have never done.
- Don't be afraid to lift weights.
Bodybuilding.com gave me the resources I needed to transform my body. Everything you need is on the site. I love the workouts and the articles most. I'm always looking to learn new things and expand my knowledge. When I need supplements, Bodybuilding.com is helpful and I always receive my packages fast.
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