YOUR STORY... |
You're not the only one...
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Sarea Then
Weight: 297 Height: 5'7" Dress size: 22 BMI: 46.6 Body Fat: 35.4% |
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Sarea Now
Weight: 255 Dress size: 16 BMI: 40 Body Fat: 26% Sarea has been exercising her right to "bare arms" since she's fallen in love with push-ups! |
What was life like at your heaviest? It's funny because I could never really answer this question. But recently I went to a music festival and I had so much more energy to dance and walk around. This time last year at the same music festival, it was hard for me to stay energized all day, I dreaded walking around and standing on my feet. My legs and hips were in a lot of pain and it was difficult for me to sleep. I would say that I basically ignored all of the things I couldn't do and was in a state of denial. Denial would explain my life at my heaviest.
What was your turning point? About a year ago, I slept for three days. I missed work and subsequently was put on a verbal warning for my manager at the time. I didn't want to leave the house, I didn't want to go out with my friends, I felt paranoid like everyone was staring at me. I was really starting to dislike myself because of my weight. I dreaded going home and having my family see how much weight I had gained that I basically ignored them for a while. It was low point in my life. Slowing I started changing my diet, mostly eating a plant based diet and logging my foods in MyFitnessPal. I also sought therapy to work through my increasing anxiety and it was right before my 32nd birthday that I decided to get a trainer. The turning was definitely a slow process.
What is life like now? I can definitely say I feel much more positive about my life. Little things that I could never do before make me really happy. Shopping for smaller clothes, my shoes fit differently, I can fit a towel around my body, walk briskly, and try workouts that I never ever in my life thought I could do. My sleep is improving, and exercising/meal prepping has become a way for me to control my anxiety and work through my stress.
What does your future look like? I really wanna keep going, these changes make me think: what will happen if I keep going? I would love to be able to run, and maybe try to do some of the Crossfit. I am not the most athletically inclined but all of these exercises intrigue me! Now that I have lost some weight, I feel like it is totally possible for me to do more :-)
What was your turning point? About a year ago, I slept for three days. I missed work and subsequently was put on a verbal warning for my manager at the time. I didn't want to leave the house, I didn't want to go out with my friends, I felt paranoid like everyone was staring at me. I was really starting to dislike myself because of my weight. I dreaded going home and having my family see how much weight I had gained that I basically ignored them for a while. It was low point in my life. Slowing I started changing my diet, mostly eating a plant based diet and logging my foods in MyFitnessPal. I also sought therapy to work through my increasing anxiety and it was right before my 32nd birthday that I decided to get a trainer. The turning was definitely a slow process.
What is life like now? I can definitely say I feel much more positive about my life. Little things that I could never do before make me really happy. Shopping for smaller clothes, my shoes fit differently, I can fit a towel around my body, walk briskly, and try workouts that I never ever in my life thought I could do. My sleep is improving, and exercising/meal prepping has become a way for me to control my anxiety and work through my stress.
What does your future look like? I really wanna keep going, these changes make me think: what will happen if I keep going? I would love to be able to run, and maybe try to do some of the Crossfit. I am not the most athletically inclined but all of these exercises intrigue me! Now that I have lost some weight, I feel like it is totally possible for me to do more :-)
Jennifer Then
Weight : 208 Height : 5'7" Dress size : 18 BMI : 32.6 Body Fat : 36.6% |
Jennifer Now
Weight : 168 Dress Size : 10 BMI : 26.1 Body Fat : 29.8% She loves participating in 5k races and has found her inner competitor! |
What was life like at your heaviest? I always felt like I didn't have any energy and no desire or motivation to exercise. even though I knew it's what I needed physically, mentally and healthwise, it's was depressing at times. I never had a problem motivating myself to shed those extra 10-15 lbs in my 20's and 30's so that was a change I didn't see coming my way when the extra 15 turned into 40-50 lbs, I felt overwhelmed and as if it was out of my control. I love to bargain shop but found myself buying clothes 1 or 2 times bigger than what I needed so I could hide behind the clothes.
What was your turning point? Knowing that I was turning 40 in 2015 I had told myself several years ago that I didn't want to be unhealthy and overweight when I entered my 40's. I've always tried to get back on track at the beginning of each year but have never worked with a personal trainer because I could motivate myself and drop those few extra pounds but this time I recognized I couldnt do it alone, I needed the help. It happened when I went to one of Jackie's boot camps in January and thought I could handle it as I always had before and had that 'aha' moment during the 1st boot camp how far away from being healthy and fit I was and I had let those extra pounds add up. So I started 1x1 sessions right away! Seeing my weight, measurements, and BP numbers on paper during my consultation wasn't easy but it was a reality check and a wake up call. I had a good cry about and said I'm going to change this because I can.
What is your life like now? I enjoy the challenge of my workouts each week. I've learned routines that I can share with my family and have fun with challenging each other. I can get out and play with my son because I have the energy now. Gil and I encourage each other to maintain regular exercise habits and Lucas helps us both and is that little voice in my ear when I'm struggling with workouts or eating some days. I've also learned to accept the setbacks because we ALL will have them, and move on, those cannot stop my progress and it's not going to undo everything I've worked hard for if I keep a positive attitude. I love chocolate and food, I've learned I don't have to be on a certain labeled diet and cut out some of my favorite foods, like pizza and chocolate, but I have healthier versions of pizza, better recipes options to try and I can still have chocolate (dark chocolate is pretty good after all and makes milk chocolate taste kind of weird now! Lol), all in moderation and portion control. I really enjoy those foods more now than when I was eating them every day.
What does the future look like for you? Even when I do reach my goals, I know it doesn't stop there. I have to maintain my good habits, continue to fight the bad unhealthy ones and rely on support from an awesome trainer, great friends and famliy. It's a journey for sure but the overall benefits far outweigh the soreness you have 2 days later after a hard workout. That goes away soon and you feel stronger the next week!
So keep up the hard work, ask for support, offer your support, and be committed to a healthier you and it will flow through to those who surround you in your life!