Name: Maria
Age: 40
Family Status: Married with children
Occupation: Physical therapy assistant
Hometown: Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania
Pounds or Inches Lost: I lost 87 pounds!
Height: 5’4″
Waist: 27″
Starting Weight: 210 pounds
Current Weight: 123 pounds
Maria’s Weight Loss Story!
Hi, my name is Maria Hall. I am 40 years old and I am a physical therapist assistant. I live in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. My before weight was 210 pounds and my after weight is 128 pounds, I am 5’4″. In April of 2011, my friend asked me to go try out a Zumba class which I was reluctant to do but after she persuaded me to go, I immediately fell in love with it and ended up going 3 days of week. Towards the end of April, the instructor opened her own studio and started offering more classes. At that time I decided that was it, I was sick of my weight and wanted to lose full force. I went on my own diet with an App on my phone counting calories (1,200 calories a day).
Jessica Sands, a volunteer instructor at S.W.E.A.T. Fitness Studio, helped me in every sense of my weight journey answering questions I had on food decisions, what classes to take, etc. I really owe it all to her for being my inspiration in this past 8 months, even though she will say it was all me. I am totally in love with eating right and exercising all the time. I take as many classes as I can, sometimes 1-3 classes a day, every day of the week. So after 8 months of losing 72 pounds and dropping from a size 16 to a size 2, I have met the most amazing people ever, and I’m developing friendships I feel will last a lifetime. I am the happiest ever in my life. I finally feel good about the way I look and feel. My husband, Jim, of 18 years and my children, Patrick, 17, and Katie, 13, are very supportive in my new way of life and I wouldn’t be able to do any of this without them either. I am very thankful every day that Jessica took the courage and many pitfalls, even surviving through a flood, to keep her studio open to give me a second home to go to every day to achieve my goal. I love S.W.E.A.T. Fitness Studio, all the instructors and all the friends I have made along the way!
Maria’s Weight Loss Interview!
When did you become unhappy with your weight?
Looking at pictures from a concert that I went to April of 2011.
What made you decide to lose weight?
Finally found the exercise routine that I loved and felt I was in the right mental capability.
What were the most important changes you made to lose weight?
Exercising every day and making the lifestyle changes of eating right.
What was most challenging about losing weight?
It really wasn’t very challenging.
How long did it take you to start to see results?
2 months.
How long did it take for you to reach your current weight?
8 months.
How long have you maintained your weight loss and how do you do it?
2 months, exercising and watching what I am eating at all times.
How has your life changed now that you’ve lost weight?
I am much happier and healthier.
How did ShapeFit help you reach your weight loss goals?
ShapeFit’s weight loss success stories are very motivational.
Maria’s Weight Loss Tips!
Weight loss tip #1:
Develop the right schedule.
Weight loss tip #2:
Use a phone app to enter food.
Weight loss tip #3:
Have a good support system.
Weight loss tip #4:
Have a gym that is like your second home.
Weight loss tip #5:
Workout every day.
Maria’s Weight Loss Eating Plan!
Breakfast:
Special K cereal.
Lunch:
Turkey sandwich.
Dinner:
Low fat meals from recipe books.
Snacks or Mini Meals:
Fruit or Greek yogurt.
Maria’s Weight Loss Workouts!
Weight Training:
TNT-tighten and tone full body workouts, 3 days a week.
Cardiovascular:
Kickboxing, Zumba or hip hop fitness, 6 days a week.
