Name: Lisa
Age: 49
Family Status: Married
Occupation: Personal Trainer and Fitness Instructor
Location: Fulton, Mississippi
Height: 5’4″
Starting Weight: 340 pounds
Current Weight: 164 pounds
Current Waist Size: 33″
Lisa’s Weight Loss Interview!
How much did you lose (pounds, inches, dress/pants size)?
I lost 176 pounds! My starting pants size was 26 and now I wear a size 6!
When did you become unhappy with your weight?
I’ve always been obese and I became morbidly obese in my 30s.
What made you decide to lose weight?
Severe depression, the loss of my mother and realizing that life was short.
What were the most important changes you made to lose weight?
Clean eating and lots of exercise. I had to push myself harder each day to make myself better than the day before. Now, it’s a way of life and I do weight loss coaching to help others reach their goals.
What was the most challenging thing you had to deal with during your weight loss journey?
The most challenging were the naysayers. There were people who didn’t believe I could do it. I had to prove them wrong.
How long did it take you to start to see results?
Within a few months, I realized I felt better and could see visible changes in my body.
How long did it take for you to reach your current weight?
It took almost 3 years to reach my current weight.
Did you have any issues with loose skin after losing the weight? If so, how did you deal with it?
Yes, I do have loose skin and I have not had surgery. I wear Spanks which really help. You can barely tell in my clothes. I would love to have surgery, but I just don’t want to take the 8 weeks off to do so.
How long have you maintained your weight loss and what are the most important factors for keeping it off?
I have maintained my weight for about a year. Keeping it off is a struggle. I have to continue to do what I did to lose on a daily basis. Working in the gym and helping others keeps me motivated.
What keeps you motivated to continue your weight loss success?
Helping others is one thing that keeps me motivated. People see me now and want me to help them achieve similar results. I did it without surgery, and I want them to know they can to in most circumstances. If I failed, that would hinder their ideals of weight loss. My commitment to keeping it off is helping them to see they can do it.
How has your life changed now that you have lost weight?
I have more energy and I can work now. I also want to go places and don’t mind being seen. Before, I lived a lonely existence mostly at home because of the shame of being morbidly obese.
Do you have any advice for others who are trying to lose weight?
Don’t stop! Some people stop because they realize they have to eat right and exercise for the rest of their lives and it seems too hard. I tell those people that being overweight is hard too. Once you begin an active lifestyle and eating to meet nutritional needs instead of recreationally, it becomes a way of life. Make small changes at first. Conquer small goals, then move onto the next.
How did ShapeFit help you reach your weight loss goals?
The nutritional advice and exercise hints on ShapeFit.com are on point. Who couldn’t use more hints to help them reach their goals? ShapeFit’s weight loss success stories are also motivating and inspirational.
Lisa’s Weight Loss Tips!
Weight Loss Tip #1:
Make small changes that add up. Lose the sugary sodas, for instance. Once you conquer a bad habit, focus on another bad habit until all are conquered.
Weight Loss Tip #2:
Keep track of your nutrition. An app such as MyFitnessPal.com has been instrumental in teaching me what to do and what not to do.
Weight Loss Tip #3:
Move! Some people think diet alone will help them reach their goals. It may work to help you lose some weight, but you won’t see the results and health benefits that you would with regular exercise.
Weight Loss Tip #4:
All exercise is work. Find something you enjoy doing and it won’t seem so hard. Walk around the neighborhood, go to a dance class, or bike with your kids. Any chance you get to burn calories and get your heart rate up will help.
Weight Loss Tip #5:
Don’t ever give up! Weight loss is a lifelong struggle. Stay on top of it instead of letting it drag you down. Be the boss of your body.
Lisa’s Weight Loss Eating Plan!
What do you normally eat for breakfast?
Oats with fresh fruit and nuts and a boiled egg or an egg white omelet with spinach.
What do you normally eat for lunch?
Rotisserie chicken or carved turkey on wheat bread with veggies.
What do you normally eat for dinner?
Lean protein and veggies. An example would be grilled salmon with steamed broccoli and carrots and a small salad.
What do you normally eat for snacks?
Raw fruits, veggies, nuts or low-fat Greek yogurt.
What type of nutritional supplements do you take?
I take a multivitamin, vitamin B complex, vitamin D, calcium, and garcinia cambogia.
Lisa’s Weight Loss Workouts!
What do you do for weight training?
I teach high impact classes which incorporate cardio and strength training, weight lifting and HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training) cardio workouts.
What do you do for cardio training?
I do HIIT intervals that incorporate running into the workout. I teach Insanity and kickboxing. I also enjoy doing the elliptical machine.
2 Comments
I’m just wondering how you became a fitness instructor through all of this. Is this something you pursued during your weight loss journey, or afterwards?
Hi Melissa – Lisa was attending group fitness classes while losing weight and the instructor encouraged her to get certified to teach, so she started during her journey. Then later on she got a personal training certification.