Stacey Is Back On Track
I recently graduated from Appalachian State University and a college education was not all I gained in my 4 years in North Carolina. I was around 50 pounds overweight when I started my freshman year in 2001 and managed to gain an additional 80 pounds. In my 4 year journey, I watched my friends do considerable damage to their bodies trying to lose weight; bulimia, anorexia and addiction to diet pills made me lose hope of battling obesity in a healthy way.
I attempted to lose weight by taking pills, participating in fad diets, weight loss programs, therapy and exercise. However, I could never find a winning combination. I would see myself getting bigger and bigger and farther away from caring. The depression of being obese would lead to an instant gratification process of drinking alcohol and then indulging in unwholesome eating and eventually ending up with more weight gain. My desire to look good in a pair of jeans was moving quickly towards a desperate need for help to improve my physical condition for health reasons.
I first came into Healthy Inspirations during my last spring break in March 2005. I was convinced the program would work. The words of 2 to 3 pounds a week guaranteed weight loss echoed in my mind for 5 months; I promised myself I would come back in August after I graduated.
When I finally moved down to Daytona Beach to pursue my dream of working for NASCAR, I decided I would try to lose the weight on my own because, like everyone else just finishing school, I was broke. For 3 weeks straight I ate very light and walked 5 miles every day. I got on the scale after those 3 weeks and I had lost a little under a pound. I was devastated.
I decided that I would not wait any longer. So on August 19th, 2005, I decided to take a step to try to change my life. I went down to Healthy Inspirations and signed up. After the first week on the program I had lost 7 pounds, which was extremely captivating because I was eating a lot, and had only exercised 3 times that week!
After the first month I was down 20 pounds. It felt so good to finally succeed at losing weight a healthy way. And now 7 months later, I am down almost 80 pounds. My friends are so impressed that I have done it with a good diet and exercise that they say I am an inspiration to them. My co-workers at the speedway also notice the change in my body and call me skinny!
My favorite part about the program and the most essential is the guidance and individualized support from the coaches. Without them, this program would not be possible. I can tell by the looks on their faces how proud of me they are and that leads me to be proud of myself. I feel like I have joined a family and that this program is what really changed my life. Through their continuing support, I have learned that eating until exploding is not rewarding and I finally feel for the first time in my life that I am eating to live rather than living to eat.
I am extremely confident that with Healthy Inspirations I will be able to lose the rest of my weight, keep it off, and most importantly GAIN self-esteem and become the confident, sexy businesswoman that I have been longing to become! Thank you Healthy Inspirations!
Stacey P.
Ormond Beach
*Stacey was one of eight finalists in the "Are You Inspired" essay contest.
