Diet And Weight Loss Bloomington Indiana – As a child my weight was constantly fluctuating up and down. I would find a diet/fitness program, stick to it, and lose some weight, but without fail, gain it back because I wasn’t committed to a lifestyle change. I had no plan or proper support, guidance and accountability for weight loss and maintenance. I would let whatever was going on in my life at the time affect what I ate.
As a single mother at a young age, I have dedicated much of my life to being a mother, working hard to provide for my daughter’s needs and less to take care of myself. Over the years, I put my well-being on the back burner and developed a healthy relationship with food in the process.
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In the year leading up to joining Farrell, I struggled with increasing emotional and physical pain. At that point, I had lived in Minnesota for four years, but I didn’t feel like I belonged here, and it was hard to make friends. I got really low, so I turned to food. I would eat until I felt sick. A typical dinner consisted of sitting on the couch, polishing off entire pints of pizza and ice cream. I started gaining weight until I reached my highest weight ever, 287 pounds! I began to notice a decline in my general health. My mental health was suffering, and I started having problems with acid reflux and difficulty sleeping. Simple activities like walking became increasingly difficult for me to do without pain.
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It wasn’t until a friend shared a photo of me at the hairdressers that she realized I was in desperate need of a change. I saw myself and could not recognize the person I would become in that image. I could hardly fit in the salon chair, and it was clear that I was not happy.
It was enough. That photo lit a fire in me, and I posted the last one. With my daughter becoming a senior in high school and approaching adulthood, it felt like the perfect opportunity to start focusing on what I wanted to accomplish in my mind and life. I wanted to do activities that I couldn’t do since I was young, like horse riding and kayaking. I wanted to try new activities that I never tried because I was too pregnant. I wanted to have a body I could be proud of, and feel comfortable with.
Two weeks later, in June 2019, I joined Farrell for the 10-week summer challenge. My first training was at a 9am class on a Friday, and upon arrival I immediately felt welcomed and accepted by everyone there. Everyone was so nice! Getting to the studio for my first kickboxing training was half the battle for me. I was so ashamed of how I looked. Once I got there, my anxiety was resolved as the manager worked with me every step of the way: how to put on the bags, how to kick/hit (and actually hit the bag). Everyone cheered me on, welcoming me and empowering me to believe that I could really do this.
On July 11, 2019, I stepped on the InBody scale for the first time. I had already lost seven kilos since I started in June. I went to orientation and did my first tests: measurements, sit-ups/push-ups, sit-ups, mile run, our F.I.T. Farrell’s community leader, Cindi Nikitu, spoke to us about nutrition. This whole experience really got me started. I was excited about the program, and what was possible over the next 10 weeks.
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Being equipped with weekly meal plans and grocery lists gave me the tools I needed for success so I could focus on sticking to the plan. I took this challenge as my top priority. I followed the meal plan every week, had perfect attendance, even doubled up on some days, and ran a lot during the 10 weeks. At the end of the 10-week Challenge, I increased my sit-ups and push-ups, dropped my mile run time, lost 30 pounds of fat and over 26 inches, and won a $1,000 prize!
When the 10 Week Challenge ended I knew I wasn’t done; I just started my weight loss journey. I decided that entering Farrell’s $10,000 National Challenge would give me the right motivation to continue my progress. After all, I had nothing to lose (but fat!).
On January 2, 2020, a Farrell teacher asked us to reflect on a board by choosing ONE WORD to set our intentions for 2020 as an anchor to remember WHO WE want to become. I chose the word, persistence. Little did I know what 2020 would bring and how important that word would be for me.
“Patience baby, patience. Remember, life is a journey. If you suddenly got everything you wanted, it wouldn’t be worth living. Enjoy the ride, and eventually you’ll see these “steps back” as giant leaps forward, only you could you will not see the bigger picture in time. Don’t worry, everything is within reach; all you have to do is look every day, stay true to your path and you will surely find the treasure you seek” .
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On March 5, 2020, I returned to my desk after an afternoon meeting when it was suddenly announced that we would be packing up our computers and going home, that we would be working remotely indefinitely. The news about COVID-19 was shocking, but at the time it was real for me. It wasn’t long before we found ourselves under a stay-at-home order issued by our state’s governor, forcing several businesses to close, including Farrell’s studios. It felt like a huge setback, and I was worried that my dedication to my weight loss journey would suffer. So instead of letting that happen, I adapted and set up my home gym and incorporated running into my workout routine. A few months later I would find myself quitting my job with an unknown return date. Although this was devastating at the time, I took this time as an opportunity to focus on my transformation.
Even the strongest people, those with the most specific and competitive mindsets, need accountability. Accountabilities come in many forms, but when you’re working toward a big goal, accountability keeps you honest and on track. During the pandemic, I needed accountability more than ever.
With the studios closed, I knew I needed accountability more than ever. What that meant was checking in with owner Cindi Nikitu every week and making a plan. To be accountable and work towards my goal I did weekly weigh-ins and 1:1 with him. We put together a plan that included meal planning, meal prep, weekly weigh-ins, and discussions about nutrition and workouts—what was and wasn’t working—and set goals for each week.
My sister and my daughter have been there since the beginning, they have always supported me on my journey. Instead of making plans about dinner, we focused on outdoor activities like hiking, swimming, and kayaking. They were both very supportive of my new food choices because my sister often stole my recipes!
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Over the course of this year I have developed many friendships with Farrell’s studio mates. I am so grateful for these friendships, and all the support and love they have brought into my life. My Farrell friends have given me something that was missing in my life and have brought me great joy and happiness.
I didn’t realize how bad I felt until I started feeling better for Farrell. I sleep well now, the acid reflux is gone and I can walk for hours without pain. I have much more energy, and activities that were difficult before have become much easier. I found it difficult to walk so I could hold full conversations while jogging for miles. I also noticed a change in my mindset when I lost the weight. I started to focus more on taking care of myself. I found beauty from within and realized that I deserved to be pampered. I actually like trying on clothes now. My confidence level has increased, and I love the person I have become.
In one year I lost over 120 pounds and 32.3% body fat. I am now at 17.3% body fat! My visceral fat has dropped to 5 levels from over 20. Before joining Farrell’s I weighed 287 pounds, wore 22/24 pants and 3X tops. I now weigh 160 pounds and buy size 4 pants and XS/S tops!
It’s about achieving what I set my mind to