Weight Loss Stories – Holly Lost 157 Pounds

Name: Holly
Age: 46
Family Status: Married
Occupation: Personal Trainer and Pilates Instructor
Hometown: Surrey, British Columbia
Pounds or Inches Lost: I lost 157 pounds!
Starting Weight: 305 pounds (in high school – age 18)
Current Weight: 148 pounds (age 40)

Holly’s Weight Loss Story!

When did you become unhappy with your weight?
I was unhappy with my weight for as long as I can remember. I was heavy from grade 6 onward. After my father died, I consoled myself in food and gained a lot of weight.

What made you decide to lose weight?
I was nearing my 40th birthday and walking with a cane on major medication for pain, fibromyalgia, osteoarthritis and Raynaud’s disease. I was not going to be fat and forty! The wheelchair that the doctors had ordered for me was coming and I did not want to use it!

What were the most important changes you made to lose weight?
My mental and emotional attitude. Food was there, but it was my choice to stuff myself or make a healthier choice. Two to three chocolate bars a day were no longer an option. I learned to exercise properly for my physical conditions. I have had 18 surgeries over the years. I slowly learned how to eat right. It was and always had been my choice, but with God’s help and a lot of prayers, I now had the strength and determination to change.

What was most challenging about losing weight?
For me, it was the mental change I made. To have control over my future and how I treated my body was key. I could change the outcome of the rest of my life. Having to change my eating habits was probably the most difficult. However, now I cannot imagine eating the way I did 8 years ago. One of the most important things I learned, and one of the most challenging, was to eat 5-6 times a day. I was used to eating only twice a day and enjoying whatever type of food I wanted.

How long did it take you to start to see results?
I started walking in the spring and then joined a gym in the fall. I didn’t see a lot of results until several months later when I found a trainer and really started to workout with weights and do lots of cardio. That is when the weight really started to come off and within 3 month of working with Dave, things were changing. Walking really helped me to be disciplined and consistent, but I was still eating anything I wanted. If you went by the calendar, it took about 9 months, but from when I really got serious about training and my diet, it was only about 3 months.

How long did it take for you to reach your current weight?
I started to walk in the spring, but I didn’t get serious about it until the end of January. My all time high weight for many years was 305 pounds. My starting weight in the spring was 255 pounds and I went down to 143 pounds and then stabilized at about 148 pounds.

How long have you maintained your weight loss and how do you do it?
I have kept my weight off for 6 years now and it has not been easy. I workout 5-6 times per week and I watch everything that goes into my mouth. It is very easy for me to gain weight so I have to be diligent about my eating and exercise. My mom passed way last year and I started menopause, so after that I gained some weight. I have lost all of it except for about 5-7 pounds which I’m currently working on.

How has your life changed now that you’ve lost weight?
My entire life has changed! Never in a million years would I have expected to do what I do now. Since my weight loss, I have become a certified personal trainer and Pilates instructor. My goal and passion in life it to help as many people have the same success I have had. I work mainly with people who have either weight issues, or joint problems. My greatest joy is to watch them find the freedom that comes with being fit and healthy. I can honestly say that I love my job!

How did ShapeFit help you reach your weight loss goals?
I visit ShapeFit.com to learn about new exercises, read their success stories and keep up to date with what is going on in the fitness industry. I love to read stories about other people who overcome obstacles to reach a life of health and wellness. I never would have thought I would be one of those success stories but I am!

Holly’s Weight Loss Tips!

Weight loss tip #1:
Eat 5-6 small meals per day.

Weight loss tip #2:
Combine both cardio and weight training for the best results.

Weight loss tip #3:
One little mistake should not give you a reason to have a bad day or a bad week.

Weight loss tip #4:
You are doing this for you.

Weight loss tip #5:
Work in short-term goals since the long-terms goals could be too hard to attain right away, especially if you have a lot of weight to lose.

Holly’s Weight Loss Eating Plan!

Breakfast:
3/4 cup of Go Lean cereal, 8 ounces of milk and yogurt.

Lunch:
Whole wheat tortilla, 1 can of tuna, low-fat mayo mixed with tuna and a little low-fat cheese. I heat it on a grill to make a tuna melt. I also have a large salad with low-fat dressing.

Dinner:
Chicken breast, fresh veggies, salad with low-fat dressing.

Snacks or Mini Meals:
Apple with 4 ounces of yogurt, protein bar, Carnation light hot chocolate for my chocolate fix .

Holly’s Weight Loss Workouts!

Weight Training:
I always warm up for about 10 minutes on the recumbent bike. I do upper and lower body split workouts and divide them up for back, chest, biceps and triceps, along with abs for 45 minutes, twice per week. I also do quadriceps, hamstrings, calves and shoulders with abs twice a week for 45 minutes.

Cardiovascular:
I do cardio for 35-65 minutes on the elliptical, 3-6 times per week depending on my weight training routine.