Name: Jenna
Age: 43
Family Status: Married
Occupation: Regional Sales Manager for Livingsocial
Hometown: Highlands Ranch, Colorado
Height: 5’4″
Starting Weight: 269 pounds
Current Weight: 134 pounds
Current Waist Size: 29″
Jenna’s Weight Loss Story!
I want to share my weight loss story and help other people who are suffering or have given up on themselves. I would like them to know that they can do anything! I started my journey on August 13, 2013 and I’m now 135 pounds lighter. I have always been an overachiever with my career, family, and I have great friends but somewhere along the way I neglected myself. I am 43 years old and I am living proof that it is never too late to start again and be the person you only saw in your dreams!
Even at my heaviest, I was never one to lack confidence or self-esteem, but I lacked strength in believing in my ability to lose weight. I hired a personal trainer who helped me with nutritional coaching, training, and constant motivation. My strength started to increase and the weight started to come off.
I am forever grateful for this journey and all of my supporters! My trainer, friends, family, and a surprising Facebook following (Getting Closer Everyday) has been an amazing influence on my life. We all have the power to achieve our goals. My experience has been immeasurable and I’m excited for the next chapter in my life!
I am reminded every day that nothing is impossible and this is just the beginning! People are reaching out to me for help each week. It is overwhelming but I feel that it is necessary to help them and help others by sharing how I achieved my success. I want to be able to reach lots of people so I can remind them that life is too short to settle for anything less than your best self.
Jenna’s Weight Loss Interview!
How much did you lose?
I lost 135 pounds but I still have a few pounds to lose. I started out at a size 22 and now I’m a size 6. I have lost a total of 113 inches!
When did you become unhappy with your weight?
On August 13, 2013 I decided to make a change.
What made you decide to lose weight?
I really don’t remember the moment but my team at work did. I had lost 20-30 pounds over and over and then gained it all back. No one really knew I would make it this far. Not even myself. I believe I just became a robot with the greatest support system chirping in my ear every day. I am so grateful and believe that the only thing anyone needs is to just believe in yourself and somewhere along this journey that’s just what I did. I believed in myself!
What were the most important changes you made to lose weight?
Diet and exercise and doing it every day. I didn’t cheat much at all because I didn’t want to crave the things I loved. I stayed disciplined and the weight just started to peel off.
What was the most challenging thing you had to deal with during your weight loss journey?
It was a big change, no pun intended, so it was an adjustment in my house and overall lifestyle.
How long did it take you to start to see results?
In the first 6 weeks.
How long did it take for you to reach your current weight?
I lost the weight in 13 months.
How long have you maintained your weight loss and what are the most important factors for keeping it off?
This coming August (2015) will be two years and I am working on losing my last 10-15 pounds and then I will work on continuing to tone up and love my body for life!
What keeps you motivated to continue your weight loss success?
I never really saw the fat girl when I looked in the mirror. Talk about true denial! But now, I not only see the old me, I remember her and she was happy and vibrant and determined. I will never lose that girl again. I was the fat girl for 13 years and I want to help others know it is never too late to be your best self!
How has your life changed now that you have lost weight?
Everything has changed! I get to live a longer life with my friends and family.
Do you have any advice for others who are trying to lose weight?
Stay focused on your goals and believe in yourself!
How did ShapeFit help you reach your weight loss goals?
Having ShapeFit’s weight loss stories, words, and pictures of motivation taped to my mirror and on my walls were a source of support!
Jenna’s Weight Loss Tips!
Weight Loss Tip #1:
Start slow so you don’t give up. My exercise program started out very slowly. I have an amazing trainer Eric Bach of Bach Performance. I thought it was crazy because I was hurting from the basic exercises I was doing. Then I graduated to bodyweight exercises and then onto weight lifting mixed with cardio workouts. I began to love the burn. Just stick with it for 4-6 weeks so it becomes a habit. You can do it!
Weight Loss Tip #2:
Eat as clean as you can. Focus on unprocessed, whole foods with lots of veggies and protein. Eating less sugar and going light on the fruit really worked well for me.
Weight Loss Tip #3:
Write down in your calendar each day what types of exercises you did to stick with your fitness routine. This helps to keep yourself accountable.
Weight Loss Tip #4:
I loved using a food tracker. When I thought I ate really well, I was surprised to find out that I might have actually overate for the day. Then I got smart and input my food before I ate it to make sure I was eating the right things. When I got off track this was a fast tool to find out exactly where I was making mistakes and it taught me a lot about food and portion sizes.
Weight Loss Tip #5:
Believe in yourself! That is the key to success!
Jenna’s Weight Loss Eating Plan!
What do you normally eat for breakfast?
Eggs, eggs, and more eggs! Wow, thank goodness I love eggs. I will eat two whole eggs with two egg whites and turkey bacon. I sometimes have whole wheat toast as a treat on intense workout days. Now, I am eating wheat toast every day as my treat which is great for my workouts. I cut out the bread in the beginning and just ate it every once in a while.
What do you normally eat for lunch?
Salad with chicken or fish and I love to treat myself to sushi.
What do you normally eat for dinner?
Lean protein with lots of veggies.
What do you normally eat for snacks?
Apples, hard-boiled eggs (more eggs!), lunch meat when in a pinch and Quest bars are my sugar-free sweet treat.
What type of nutritional supplements do you take?
Multivitamins and fish oils. There are so many different types of fish oils and I took them all (3,6,7,9). I took generic and named brand ones. I also took multivitamins and probiotics in pill and liquid forms. I also tried the Barleans flax oil from time to time. I think it is important to take a multivitamin, fish oil, and extra vitamin D for women. It doesn’t really matter how much you need to lose. It’s all about making small changes and staying on track.
Jenna’s Weight Loss Workouts!
What do you do for weight training (exercises, workouts)?
I use a personal trainer for weight lifting and agility training and I also do a lot of walking and running on my own. My dog and I have a new love affair! She is so happy that I have changed my life and I take her on long adventures all the time!
What do you do for cardio training (exercises, workouts)?
Running, squats, planks, sit-ups, and more. Anything that gets my heart pumping is what helps me know I am getting a great workout in and also helps to control my stress levels. I have always worked in high energy sales environments and cannot believe what exercise has done not only for my body but also for my mind!
13 Comments
Jenna you are amazing! After just having baby 4 I am the heaviest I’ve ever been. I never got rid of all the baby weight after each kid. You inspire me to get moving and take my health back. I love that you did it the right way. There is no magic pill for hard work. GREAT JOB!
Jenna you are truly amazing! We are all so happy for you and think you are an incredible inspiration for so many! You have always been such a bright light and we love you!! Congratulations beautiful!!!
Thank you for all your love and support Candace and cannot wait to give you a big squeeze! xo
So great to hear from you Emmy! I have been watching your beautiful growing family on Facebook. I would love to catch up with you and help you in anyway I can. I really believe once you stick with healthier eating and even if it’s just brisk walking to start for 6 weeks that you will stick with it. You start to really feel great and the hardest part is just getting started. You have a busy life to so I know how challenging that is with kiddos. Maybe swimming and find ways to do a few exercises while your at home with them. Have healthy snacks prepared for you and your family and drink lots of water. Cutting out a lot sugar really helped for me and eating healthy carbs. Little changes make a big difference and I know you can do it! It was slow and steady for me and my boss and good friend Fred said to me everyday when I was frustrated with the slow process that I was “getting closer everyday”. And it was true! And when the scale didn’t move I felt defeated but then I realized that I was losing inches and the scale would start to catch up. Build up your support team and tell them what your doing and you can still go to fun parties and events. You just need to eat before and/or bring your own healthy options and sugar free treat. So proud of you wanting to take steps towards a healthier lifestyle and I am here for you every step of the way. Once you start something just remember you are getting closer everyday and before you know it you will have arrived!
Jenna
xo
I am very proud of you. It takes courage to make a commitment to take control of your health. Great job Jenna!
So incredibly proud of you Jenna! I know how hard you have worked to get where you are today and it so awesome to see that you accomplished all that you have and are an inspiration to so many! You are the rare, special kind of person that lights up every room you walk into and brings sunshine and happiness wherever you go with your positive attitude and great sense of humor. You have always been that way but now that special effect you have on people around you is touching even more people’s lives with your story of your weight loss journey by giving them hope that they can change their life too. You are an amazing woman! Love you!
Thank you Kathy! I have had the most amazing support system! Thank you for being awesome and cheering me on every step of the way! Love you right back! xo
Jenna, you are an inspiration! I am now at my heaviest and fighting to get down. I was wondering if you could give me the name and details on the fish oil supplements that you used? I am currently seeking to find a quality fish oil and would love to know your brand of choice.
Hi Tiffany! I bought generic fish oil from the grocery store and I also buy name-brand products from time to time. I also took a multivitamin and added in probiotics. I think supplements work, but I believe diet and exercise are the key ingredients to my success. Best of luck on your journey and thank you for reading my story. You got this! I’ll be cheering you on!
In First for Women magazine, you mentioned taking Omega 7 and omega fatty acids. What were the names of those products and how much did they contribute to your weight loss?
I read the amazing article about you in “First for Women” magazine! The article was about losing weight taking Omega-7 and that would help you lose weight all by itself. Now, that I have found something about you online, can you explain more about Omega-7? Was it a big help?
Hi Karen – We added some additional information to Jenna’s story about her thoughts on taking omega fatty acids.
Hi Jenna, Congrats on your success! So, in saying that, I have one heck of a challenge for you? I had an accident when I was 10 years old which damaged both my hips and I had operations on both of my hips and as I got older, I started to have back problems, but I could still walk and work. By the age of 36, I’d collapse on the floor and had to be hospitalized. I’ve had one hip replacement and eventually I’ve got to have the other one done also. I couldn’t go back to work and was put on disability pension because I couldn’t stand for too long and couldn’t sit for too long. Now, I’m 53 years old and for the past 17 years I’ve put on 140 kilos (about 300 pounds), so I’m 240 kilos (530 pounds) at the moment. I’ve tried all sorts of diets and everything else, but nothing works. My daily routine is 22 hours in bed and the other 2 hours is spread over the whole day cooking and eating. If you could please help me I’d appreciate it from the bottom of my heart. I’ve been taking omega supplements for the past 3 weeks and that’s where I am at the moment.