Andrea struggled with body image issues and didn’t feel like she was the same person outside and in.
Hear how she battled negative influences and dropped 135 pounds.
“One good choice at a time.”
“The only obstacle to your success is you.”
Weight Gain Background and Contributing Factors
Andrea was just a little heavier than most of her friends in high school, though not by much – ten pounds by her estimate. However, her brother inadvertently gave her a nickname which would eventually follow her around school, “Pudge”.
The insecurities that sprouted as a result slowly grew until Andrea joined a “Slim Down” weight loss group at a weight of 139 pounds. (63 kg) She subsequently “lost ten pounds the wrong way, by starving [her]self and working out like a crazy person… That’s what started this whole thing.”
When she resumed eating normally, she regained 20 pounds. College life added 50 more, then marriage and a pregnancy added 90.
Andrea’s peak weight was 299.6 pounds. (136 kg)
How Being Overweight Impacted Andrea’s Life
Andrea struggled with the emotional impacts of being overweight.
“I found it more difficult emotionally. If I was out around town and saw somebody I knew, I would do everything to avoid having contact with them.”
She shares that her job required a well-kept appearance, and that despite compliments she received about her style, she was hiding something.
“Inside, I didn’t feel like that person.”
Andrea had seen television & magazine ads and stories about people who lost large amounts of weight, but had never personally met one – until she met Jamie, “an average guy like everybody else,” who lost 100 pounds.
“All it really took was me to actually believe that I could do it… Starting was a mental process. It was looking at myself… in the mirror and saying, ‘You there, you can do this.’ ”
Staying Motivated
Andrea shares that it wasn’t always easy to stay disciplined. A key for her was finding “victories” in places besides the scale.
“At first… if I didn’t see a loss, I would find it very disheartening… I realized early on that the scale cannot be my only source of ‘applause.’ “
Another source of support and motivation was the community she started on her Facebook page.
Andrea stresses how important it was to stay positive, and how remarks that people made often challenged those good intentions.
She ultimately had to eliminate negative influences in her life, and as a result, some relationships had to change or end.
“You can’t let other people’s opinions color your perception of yourself.”
As a self-confessed people-pleaser, this was difficult for Andrea, but in the end was a positive step for her own well-being and health.
Andrea also set small, less overwhelming goals on her way to losing 135 pounds. She began by working on the first 5 pounds, then the next 5, and so on.
“If I had to look at it and say, ‘I gotta lose 140 pounds,’ it seems insurmountable.”
What Andrea Learned About Food, Exercise, and Herself
Andrea shares that she has learned the value of eating cleaner, healthier food. She now avoids packaged foods as much as possible.
“Even though I was overfed, I was sorely undernourished… the foods you eat are just as important as the number of calories eaten”
In terms of exercise, Andrea began by running an a treadmill at home, even though she could only run for a minute at first. Now, she runs half marathons.
Because Andrea is aware of her addictive nature, she has been diligent about avoiding temptations. She mentally prepared for scenarios where people or food options would tempt her.
“You have to be prepared.”
Andrea’s Advice For Your Journey
- Start now. Stop wishing and do something.
- Track calories. Write out the plan you will follow.
- Start small. When you meet and cross out that goal, write and launch into the next one.
“The only person you’re competing with is you.”
Resources Discussed In This Podcast
- MyFitnessPal – online calorie tracking (and smartphone app)
- Livestrong
- Runkeeper app – mobile app for tracking running, cycling, other distance activities
- Strava app – competitive running & cycling smartphone app
- Hasfit.com – free daily workout videos
On Andrea’s Workout Playlist
Contacting Andrea
Andrea posts updates and interacts with her Facebook community at Andrea’s Transformation. Stop by and say Hello!
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