About Me
November 1, 2006.
I woke up to Wednesday morning. But I knew that this day was going to be different. A day that would change the rest of my life if I allowed it. You see, that morning I woke up knowing I weighed almost 350 pounds. The day before, I had finally worked up the guts to get on the scale. That was something I had been avoiding for far too long. I hadn’t always been that heavy. True, I had struggled with my weight from the time I was a teen, but it didn’t get out of control until I started having children. Through the previous ten plus years, I had tried off and on to lose weight, promising myself each time that this time was going to be different. I always started off strong, but each attempt ended in tears of discouragement and a pan of brownies.
This time really would be different, I told myself. This time I had hit bottom. This time I wasn’t doing it so that my kids wouldn’t be embarrassed of me, or because I overheard a hurtful comment passing by someone in a store, or to buy a smaller dress size, or to feel pretty again. This time it was for ME.
I had driven down to the local gym and signed up for an annual pass. I remember it so clearly. Just to get the courage up to walk into the gym took me almost ten minutes. Walking in to the gym, my heart was racing. I remember thinking, “People are judging me right this minute. They are thinking, ‘Well it’s about time she found her way to the gym. I wonder what took her so long!’” I had to push all of that out of my head and focus on why I was there. I wasn’t there for them. I was there for me.
In the beginning, I did cardio for 20 minutes a day, six times a week. The pounds started to come off! I was so excited. It was really happening! And then after four months or so, I hit a plateau. I tried everything I could think, and I couldn’t get past it. A couple of months passed. I was talking with a friend one day, and she mentioned that I should try out the weight equipment. Well that was certainly a SCARY thought! That area of the gym was just intimidating! That was where the big, muscle bound men were. I didn’t know how to use those machines, and I certainly didn’t want to hurt myself or look stupid by doing it wrong. What to do? I hired a personal trainer.
In the following months, as she taught me how to properly use the machines and perform exercises effectively, I began losing body fat, building lean muscle and gaining self confidence. I became very passionate about health, nutrition and how the human body works and moves. I had found something I loved and I wanted to share it with everyone who would listen.
After much research, I enrolled in school to get my certification to become a personal trainer. I chose to certify with The National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA). It is one of the top three certifications in the nation. For me, NSCA made sense because I am a “why?” person. I want to know why I am doing a certain exercise.. What muscle does it effect? What are the benefits of doing it a particular way? With the program I went through for my certification, I was able to get more information and explanation than the other certifications provided.
It was a perfect fit for me.
It was a perfect fit for me.
In the years that have passed since that Monday morning in November, I am amazed at the transformation my life has undergone. To date, I have lost 190 pounds of that gal I used to be. I have lost countless inches and have gone down more than 12 dress sizes. I work out now because I love it. I love feeling healthy. I love feeling strong. I love that my kids aren’t embarrassed of me. I love that I overhear pleasant comments in the store, and get double takes. I love that I can buy a much smaller dress size. I love that I do feel pretty again. I love that I get to help people change their lives and give them hope every day. I love that I am one of the lucky few who loves what they do for a living. But most of all, I love that I DID IT.
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Vanessa, my daughter, brags about you. Now I know why. Your story is incredible.
What a great transformation story and a wonderful way “to pay it forward”. Thank you for sharing
Wow! Very amazing! That is quite the accomplishment!
Go Girl! Awesome story! I know how happy your family must be.
Cindy
Awesome site Laura! So proud of you! Your Bro, Alan.
Laura, I knew from the minute you walked into the center that you would help others transform their lives! You are amazing! Glad you are on my team!
I just want you to know how proud I am of you and your accomplishment’s. Not only your physical transformation “WOW” but to see the difference in self confidence and that you have taken the passion you have developed for fitness and healthy living and are teaching others how to do the same is awesome. Keep up the great work.
Hey, I just wanted to let you know that I think you are awesome and that you are doing a great job!
Laura, I need your kind of inspiration to help myself, you’re great for helping others and teaching us to better our health and save our lives. Thanks.
Laura! Proud of you! Keep motivating the rest of us here at So Jo!
Laura you’re my inspiration!!!
I know exactly how you feel. As I read your story I kept nodding my head… I did a very similar thing. I went from 182 lbs to 123, and have maintained my size 6 ever since! It takes courage to recognize you’re sick and tired of feeling depressed about your looks, how your clothes fit (or rather, don’t!), how little energy you have… I’m so glad I took up the courage to DO something about it, to hit that gym and work hard like my life depended on it! It’s so nice to see you’ve done something amazing, and now you’re helping others achieve the same. Only people who pay the price know the taste of victory. Congratulations on conquering this amazing victory!
Congratulations on your victory as well Clarisse! I’m thrilled to hear that you’ve been able to take off the weight and maintain it! Thanks so much for your kind words and for taking the time to share your story with us! That’s what life is all about…sharing our successes with others, motivating them to create their own success! As long as we are all improving quality of life one person at a time, we will live in a better world tomorrow than we did today! So happy for you!
What an inspiration!
Hey mom, I LOVE your site! I think you are doing a great job on it! I love you to death!!
You’re a true inspiration to all of us, those who have met you and those who are going to meet you. Thank you for sharing your truly amazing story! Through perserverance anything is possible and you are a true example of this! You go girl.. keep sweating and working hard.
Much love Pamela