Sandy, Olive Branch, Mississippi
Following Jillian's plan, Sandy lost 55 pounds* and discovered that she wasn't destined to be overweight for the rest of her life.
Up to a certain point in my life, I never thought of weight as an issue or something that I had to “deal with.” When I was young, I gained weight during middle school, but I lost most of it by my senior year of high school. It wasn’t until I after college that I really began to notice my weight gain. I stopped being physically active, and I began regularly skipping breakfasts and overeating at lunch and dinner to make up for the missed meal.
By the time I hit 40 — and weighed 177 pounds — I had already accepted myself as being overweight, and I never imagined that I could successfully do something about it — that is, of course, until I watched The Biggest Loser for the first time. Incredible! I told myself that it was now or never. I needed to lose the weight, and if those contestants could do it, then so could I!
After watching just a few episodes, I found a link to JillianMichaels.com. I didn’t have to think twice about signing up. What drew me to Jillian the most was her tough-love attitude, which actually reminded me of myself! She didn’t pamper or babysit the contestants — she was a drill sergeant! I realized that she was just the person I needed if I was going to make this work for me.
I decided to jump right in and get started losing weight. I followed Jillian's online program, counted my calories, performed the online circuit workouts, lifted weights, and exercised to Jillian's DVDs. I also made sure that I changed my routine (and calorie levels) periodically to avoid plateaus. Of course, there were weeks when I would gain a pound or stay the same, but I’ve since realized that slowdowns come with the territory.
I took my time and kept pushing myself, losing on average about 1 to 2 pounds a week. I was consistent and determined — and it paid off. Now, at 42, I have not only lost 55 pounds but I’ve gained a confidence about myself that I never thought I’d have. And while it’s still hard for me to believe that I am physically smaller now than I was two years ago, this journey has shown me just how much stronger I am — both physically and mentally — than I ever thought I was.
Activities now: With a new body, a stronger mind, and a fresh outlook, my life has changed for the better in so many ways. Physically, I can get around a lot better and I am a lot more flexible. I've started biking, and I absolutely love those hardcore circuits on Jillian's Web site! I have so much more confidence now, and I actually like having exercise be a daily part of my life. I make a point to always have variety in my exercise routines and to keep things interesting and challenging.
Best compliment: This journey has been incredible. I found that when others begin to take notice of the healthy changes in your life, you realize that all the work that you put in is paying off. Someone once commented that I was now “half the person” I was before. It really made me stop and realize that while this may have been physically true, I am more whole mentally than I could have ever imagined!
Advice for others: The most important thing to understand is that this is a never-ending journey. You MUST make up your mind to lose the weight — because it’s as much mental as it is physical. Weight loss is not a race, and neither is LIFE. It’s about getting healthy. Make sure you are doing this for YOU and no one else. Find a positive support group, and be honest with them — and yourself! Take advantage of the Message Boards on Jillian's Web site — sometimes you need that tough love to get you back on your feet. Set both small and large attainable goals, and reward yourself for each one as you meet it. It’s okay to have a piece of cake every now and then, you just can’t have the whole cake, and you can’t have it every day. We all must crawl before we can walk. Our walk may be a bit wobbly, but eventually we all find our balance. And remember, you have all the tools you need — you just have to do it!
*Weight loss varies by individual. You may not achieve similar results.