Tell us a little bit about yourself!:
I’m 51 and working on myself. I work 10-hour days in the operating room and take call every couple of weeks. My kiddo is a grown adult with two amazing boys. My husband and I do not live near family, but we live in the country on 10 acres. It’s a peaceful, wonderful area.
What did your life look like before Stronger U?:
Before Stronger U, I tried multiple diets and would lose weight but suffered because I would either feel like I was starving or didn’t get to eat all the things I wanted. Then after a month, I would give up and gain it all back. I wasn’t very active, and I felt okay but I knew I wasn’t healthy because I had asthma flair-ups and difficulty breathing with walking up a flight of stairs. I didn’t realize how big I had gotten until my husband took a picture of me fishing, and I was shocked and felt depressed. Then I Joined SU.
What does your life look like now?:
I now have a healthy relationship with food and my scale. I work out four days a week, doing 2 miles on the treadmill and lifting weights. During my journey with SU, I learned we can eat anything and still lose weight. I stopped drinking alcohol because it makes the biggest impact on my success as far as losing weight goes. I no longer feel depressed, my husband looks at me with desire again and I have a ton of energy. My quality of life has greatly improved, and I can now run up that flight of stairs without difficulty breathing.
Why do you think Stronger U worked so well for you compared to other programs or diets?:
Stronger U has worked so well because I eat anything I want. I am not being pushed to eat a bunch of veggies that don’t keep me satisfied. I have created habits of weighing my food and tracking everything I eat. Stick with the process because I promise you will lose weight.
What was something you regularly ate while on Stronger U that people wouldn’t expect you to eat on a diet?:
Cake, chocolate, candy bars, etc., were shocking to people around me, and I would hear comments such as “Aren’t you on a diet?” “how do you lose weight eating junk food?” Oh, my favorite is when I whipped my scale out of my lunch box because I picked up a bag of chips or some candy at work, and people would comment, “Boy, you’re pretty serious about your diet.”
How much weight did you lose with Stronger U?:
30
How many inches did you lose off your waist?:
7
Did you have any favorite non-scale victories to share?:
My clothes are all baggy, and I fit into my old slim clothes again.
I stopped drinking and feel great.
I work out and lift weights which makes me feel strong.
Has Stronger U positively impacted you professionally?:
As a nurse, it is always positive to look fit and be able to perform my job with ease. Working in the operating room, I have to lift around 50 pounds at times and losing weight as well as strength training has made that easy.
Has Stronger U improved your overall health? If so, how?:
My overall health has improved, and I no longer need to use my inhalers.
If someone is thinking about joining Stronger U, what advice would you give them before beginning their journey?:
Just start tracking what you eat in an app like My fitness pal just to get an idea of how much you eat. Take pictures of yourself and really look at them. It will help you when you are ready to take that next step.
Is there anything else you would like to add about your journey?:
My coach is amazing because she did Stronger U and lost weight. She has kept it off and now coaches for SU. This example of losing weight and keeping it off inspired me. She is compassionate and has all the answers when I have questions or make excuses. It’s wonderful to have a person you can share your biggest struggle with and get positive feedback knowing you are not being judged. One thing she said was, “It is your journey, and I’m here to help you along the way.” This isn’t easy. It’s not overnight, but it’s small changes over time that will last.
