Weight Loss Success Stories - Maritza Lost 100 Pounds
First Name: Maritza Age: 36 Family Status: Single Occupation: Higher Education Hometown: New York Pounds or Inches Lost: I lost 100 pounds! Height: 5'3" Waist: 31" Starting Weight: 253 pounds Current Weight: 153 pounds
Maritza's Weight Loss Story!
When did you become unhappy with your weight?
Being
extremely overweight is not something new to me. All my life,
I had some serious issues with my weight and it has been a constant
struggle. I was raised in a typical Hispanic low income
family where we didn't have much but for some reason everyone
in my family struggled with being overweight. We didn't have those
luxuries of eating out, getting fast food or splurging for candy
so I constantly ask myself, "How the heck did we all get so heavy?"
As a typical Hispanic family, I remember being served large portions
of rice and beans and being told that I had to finish eating everything
on my plate. Although growing up I was very athletic, my weight
continued to increase. I think it was around age 13 that I knew
that my weight could no longer be seen as "baby fat". I dealt
with the teasing and the name calling in stride as I took everything
as a joke as well as the fact that I was very rebellious and headstrong.
By high school, I was weighing 200 pounds and started my first
bouts of dieting. I tried every crash diet available and lots
of those over the counter diet pills that supposedly curves one's
appetite. Yes, they did work but I was unhealthy, sick for the
majority of the time and unhappy. I became anemic. I started having
heart palpitations because a lot of the products I was using were
loaded with an unhealthy amount of caffeine. I did not have the
energy to do anything. All I wanted to do was sleep. One thing
that these crash diets never mention is that once you stop using
the product, you quickly gain the weight back plus some, which
I did.
What made you decide to lose weight?
I just never realized how heavy I was and no one really told
me that I was gaining weight or maybe I was just in denial. I
enjoyed eating out, I partied a lot and smoked cigarettes. I had
borderline cholesterol problems, high blood pressure and I felt
unhappy with myself. One day, I just woke up feeling so sluggish,
breathing heavy and unhappy that I decided enough was enough and
changed my whole lifestyle. First, I stopped smoking cold turkey.
Next I did the hardest thing imaginable for me, I weighed myself.
I cried for days when I read the scale that said I weighed 253
pounds. After a few days of crying and eating for comfort, I gathered
myself together and mentally and emotionally shook myself out
of the stupor I was in and decided I was not going to be like
the typical person who quits smoking and gains a lot more weight.
I was going to be different! I was determined to be different!
What were the most important changes you made to lose weight?
In
2009, I set a goal for myself – to lose 40 pounds by the
end of year by eating healthy and exercising. I cut from my diet:
bread, rice, beans, red meat, and became very conscious of the
nutritional value of the foods I was eating. I decided to join
a gym and exercised for 20 minutes twice a week. I slowly increased
my exercise routine to 3-4 times a week after a few months. I
noticed a difference in my appearance and in my stamina. At the
gym, I met great people that were very encouraging. YES! Slowly
and with lots of determination, by the end of the year, I weighed
204 pounds (size 14).
What was most challenging about losing weight?
All my hard work was paying off but then for the next 6 months
I lost nothing. No matter what I did, what I ate and how much
I exercised, I could not lose any more weight. I didn't let
the fact that I was not losing any more weight deter me. I continued
going to the gym religiously and joined cardio classes. I realized
that in my goal to lose weight, I was actually enjoying exercising
and my body was craving it. My determination to lose weight and
get myself into shape was noticed by Reno ";The Body".
One day, he took me aside and spoke to me very honestly about
my efforts. He congratulated me on my success but also pointed
out that my body needed a change and that I hit a plateau in my
weight loss mission. He was very honest and candid about me needing
to ";shock" my body and change my routine. I started
thinking about getting a personal trainer. I knew that I needed
someone that would not let me get away with any nonsense but in
the same time was understanding and patient and I knew that the
right person that met those qualifications was/is…RENO! Reno
has a great personality which is very open, honest and mixed in
is a genuine passion to promote healthy living and a healthy body.
I knew that if anyone could help me in my mission to lose weight
and get into shape, it would be him. I felt he really understood
my struggle. So, I began my training session with Reno.
How long did it take you to start to see results?
Although other people saw the results in me pretty quickly, I
didn't see a change in myself until November 2011 when I glanced
in the mirror and did a second take because I didn't recognize
my own reflection.
How long did it take for you to reach your current weight?
I started my weight goal journey in 2009 and lost the weight
slowly but surely.
How long have you maintained your weight loss and how do you do
it?
Throughout
my training with Reno, I kept thinking to myself, ";What the
hell did I get myself into?" After surviving the first session,
I realized that Reno was very understanding with me as well as
being patient, encouraging and when it called for it, a little
tough. Just what I needed. He has helped me realize that I was
unconsciously giving myself limitations of what I can and cannot
do without even trying. Throughout my training sessions, he kept
the sessions intense but fun. He listened to me whine about my
aches and pains, but challenged me to try new intense workout
routines. I have to honestly say that I consider him a great personal
trainer as well as a great person and an awesome friend. It was
during my training session with Reno that he recommended that
I try a nutritional supplement. As my trainer and as a friend,
I knew that he would not recommend anything that would cause me
harm or that was unhealthy. I was sold when he said that the products
he was recommending were all natural and that he too uses them.
I started using the products twice a day. I quickly noticed a
few things. I had a lot more energy, it curved my appetite, I
was losing weight and I was not feeling any side effects. Remember,
I tried everything and used every product before trying this new
supplement. I was training with Reno once a week, taking the products
twice a day and doing some cardio during the week. By the summer
2011, I was down to 184 pounds. WOW! I remember being so proud
of myself because it was the first time that I was doing something
for myself that made me feel great!
Enjoying the results of my weight loss and how my body was really
toning, I decided to increase my training sessions with Reno to
twice a week. He makes the training sessions challenging, helping
me develop and tone my body, but in the same aspect really listening
to my needs and the "problem areas" that I wanted to
focus on. I also started adding a few more dietary supplements
to my regimen. By November 2011, I lost an additional 13 pounds
and I was down to 171 pounds.
Now, I can honestly say that I have so much energy
and my body is really taking a different shape, one that I never
experienced before. I look forward to continuing my experiences
with training and in life. Overall, my heartfelt gratitude goes
to my fabulous trainer and great friend, Reno!
How has your life changed now that you've lost weight?
I have more energy. I feel healthier and stronger. I have more
of a positive outlook to life and I feel great!
How did ShapeFit help you reach your weight loss goals?
I use ShapeFit's fitness tips and exercises to really shape my
eating habits and workout routines.
Maritza's Weight Loss Tips!
Weight loss tip #1:
Have
a support group.
Weight loss tip #2:
Don't weigh yourself constantly.
Weight loss tip #3:
Have a reward day (or cheat day).
Weight loss tip #4:
Read articles (ShapeFit.com) that can give you great ideas.
Weight loss tip #5:
Get healthy.
Maritza's Weight Loss Eating Plan!
Breakfast:
A bowl of high fiber, multigrain cereal, lots of strawberries,
and low-fat milk on top. Or, I have scrambled egg whites, a whole
wheat roll, fresh fruit salad, and a cup of low-fat milk.
Lunch:
My lunch varies between delicious meals like a turkey avocado
whole wheat wrap, spinach salad with strawberries, chicken salad,
Greek chopped pita salad or a grilled Swiss cheese with turkey
sandwich on whole wheat bread.
Dinner:
Dinner
choices are a peanut butter and chicken stir fry, whole wheat
pasta in garlic and oil, lemon butter pasta with broccoli or garlic
chicken with brown rice and black beans.
Snacks or Mini Meals:
Nuts, healthy bars, apple and cheese, yogurt, veggies.
Maritza's Weight Loss Workouts!
Weight Training:
I started off once a week with a trainer then graduated to twice
a week. We target all areas including my arms, legs, back, stomach,
etc.
Cardiovascular:
5 times a week for an 1-2 hours of intense cardio workouts, usually
classes such as 1/2 abs class, 1/2 kettlebell class, 1 hour of
PlyoFit, 1 hour of total body sculpting. Or, I might mix up the
classes with 45 minutes to 1 hour on the treadmill doing different
intensity levels or 45 minutes on the bike.
When did you become unhappy with your weight?
Being
extremely overweight is not something new to me. All my life,
I had some serious issues with my weight and it has been a constant
struggle. I was raised in a typical Hispanic low income
family where we didn't have much but for some reason everyone
in my family struggled with being overweight. We didn't have those
luxuries of eating out, getting fast food or splurging for candy
so I constantly ask myself, "How the heck did we all get so heavy?"
As a typical Hispanic family, I remember being served large portions
of rice and beans and being told that I had to finish eating everything
on my plate. Although growing up I was very athletic, my weight
continued to increase. I think it was around age 13 that I knew
that my weight could no longer be seen as "baby fat". I dealt
with the teasing and the name calling in stride as I took everything
as a joke as well as the fact that I was very rebellious and headstrong.
By high school, I was weighing 200 pounds and started my first
bouts of dieting. I tried every crash diet available and lots
of those over the counter diet pills that supposedly curves one's
appetite. Yes, they did work but I was unhealthy, sick for the
majority of the time and unhappy. I became anemic. I started having
heart palpitations because a lot of the products I was using were
loaded with an unhealthy amount of caffeine. I did not have the
energy to do anything. All I wanted to do was sleep. One thing
that these crash diets never mention is that once you stop using
the product, you quickly gain the weight back plus some, which
I did.
In
2009, I set a goal for myself – to lose 40 pounds by the
end of year by eating healthy and exercising. I cut from my diet:
bread, rice, beans, red meat, and became very conscious of the
nutritional value of the foods I was eating. I decided to join
a gym and exercised for 20 minutes twice a week. I slowly increased
my exercise routine to 3-4 times a week after a few months. I
noticed a difference in my appearance and in my stamina. At the
gym, I met great people that were very encouraging. YES! Slowly
and with lots of determination, by the end of the year, I weighed
204 pounds (size 14). 
Throughout
my training with Reno, I kept thinking to myself, ";What the
hell did I get myself into?" After surviving the first session,
I realized that Reno was very understanding with me as well as
being patient, encouraging and when it called for it, a little
tough. Just what I needed. He has helped me realize that I was
unconsciously giving myself limitations of what I can and cannot
do without even trying. Throughout my training sessions, he kept
the sessions intense but fun. He listened to me whine about my
aches and pains, but challenged me to try new intense workout
routines. I have to honestly say that I consider him a great personal
trainer as well as a great person and an awesome friend. It was
during my training session with Reno that he recommended that
I try a nutritional supplement. As my trainer and as a friend,
I knew that he would not recommend anything that would cause me
harm or that was unhealthy. I was sold when he said that the products
he was recommending were all natural and that he too uses them.
I started using the products twice a day. I quickly noticed a
few things. I had a lot more energy, it curved my appetite, I
was losing weight and I was not feeling any side effects. Remember,
I tried everything and used every product before trying this new
supplement. I was training with Reno once a week, taking the products
twice a day and doing some cardio during the week. By the summer
2011, I was down to 184 pounds. WOW! I remember being so proud
of myself because it was the first time that I was doing something
for myself that made me feel great!
Weight loss tip #1: 
Have
a support group.
Breakfast: 
Dinner
choices are a peanut butter and chicken stir fry, whole wheat
pasta in garlic and oil, lemon butter pasta with broccoli or garlic
chicken with brown rice and black beans.
Weight Training: 
