I like to show a lot of big transformations to help get you excited and motivated to make change.
Click here to see how boot camp changed Kris forever…
Click here to see how the resistance training changed Tracy’s life…
I know that for every 1 quick transformation, there are another 5-10 that are much slower. Maybe it is because a person is struggling to follow the plan, or that their body is out of whack hormonally and is being stubborn by holding onto the body fat. Whatever the case may be, it can be very discouraging for people who lose slowly to see that others have lost 15-20 lbs. in 1-2 months. I totally understand this, and I believe Melissa’s story will encourage those of you who do feel this way.
Melissa is an amazing mom who, even though she still feels like she struggles quite a bit, has made massive changes in her life and health. Despite the struggles, she is well on her way to achieving optimal health, and I am 100% convinced she will get there even if it does take her a little while longer.
I didn’t get this blog post up for a few months, so you can see that the dates are a little outdated and I hope Melissa can fill us in on how she is currently doing.
I want to thank Melissa for sharing her story and supporting so many women. When I first met her, I didn’t see a spark in her; she seemed very tired and worn out all the time. It is unbelievable how different she is now! She is a totally different person to be around, she has more energy and her spark is very strong. Ultimately, I think this is far more important than weight loss or body changes.
So check out Melissa’s Story!
Measurements:
Before (Jan 2009) Now (April 2010)
Bust 38 35.5
Waist 32.5 30.5
Abs 37.5 35.5
Hips 43.5 41.5
Thigh 23 21.5
Arm 12.25 11.5
Here’s my story:
Before I had kids I was very active and ate pretty well.
When my first son was born he had colic and didn’t sleep very much. I developed postpartum depression and completely stopped taking care of myself. What little energy I did have was devoted to taking care of him.
Melissa before
A couple years after my Husband had me seek help, I felt much better. I still hadn’t lost all the weight from my first child but decided I was ready for our second. Thankfully, my second son was a much easier baby. I still felt that most of my time should be spent on my children and that it was selfish to take time for myself before everyone else was taken care of. The problem was there was never any time left to take for myself.
I didn’t even recognize the person I saw in the mirror any more. I started to resent my kids for making me give up everything I was. It took me a little time to realize that it was MY fault I didn’t know who I was anymore, and to be a good mom I needed to take time for myself. I needed to make sure I was happy and taken care of just as much as the rest of the family. I needed to make a change now.
I knew I wouldn’t be able to keep myself motivated working out alone and gym classes were OK but I wanted more. Then I stumbled on Dustin’s classes and decided to try the Mama Tone class. I loved it! I started going to Mama Tone about once a week (when the kids weren’t sick). I really struggled with feeling guilty about taking time for myself. I started feeling much better and had more energy.
Melissa now
After I went back to work I joined bootcamp and have been going 3 or 4 days per week ever since. That was about 9 months ago. So far I’ve lost 14 pounds and 3 sizes. I still have about 20 more pounds to go, but for me it’s more about making a lifestyle change that I can sustain than about rapid weight loss.
I’ve started focusing more on my eating and getting my giant sweet tooth under control. When I get sweet cravings I have a piece of fruit instead of a candy bar. I’ve been incorporating more fat in my diet to try to avoid the blood sugar crashes from too many sweets and carbs. I have learned how to balance the ratio of carbs, protein, and fat in my meals. The only fats I use are coconut oil, butter and a little olive oil on my salads. I’ve also noticed I’m less prone to cravings throughout the day if I have a really big breakfast in the morning. I still really love chocolate, so I stick with at least 70% cocoa because I don’t eat nearly as much of the dark chocolate.
I’m still not consistent with keeping a food journal but I plan out the entire weeks meals before I go grocery shopping. When I know I have something healthy and filling planed out, I’m much less likely to eat junk food. On the weeks I don’t plan, I feel hungry, tired and crummy all week. We also get most of our fruit, veggies, eggs and meat from CSA shares. It makes it a lot easier to eat organic and in-season healthy foods. I once again love to cook and now that my kids are a little older they can help out. I’ve built up my collection of quick healthy meals and stopped relying on processed foods. On Sundays I make a meal that’s more involved and double or triple it so that I have backup dinners in the freezer for times when what I had planned just won’t work.
Melissa's goal
I never though I’d be able to sustain getting up at 5:00am every morning to go workout. But bootcamp has become the best part of my day! I’ve been having a lot of back trouble lately and have been stuck on a plateau for a couple months now but I’m just going to keep
doing the best I can and I’m sure I’ll drop the remaining 20 pounds. So stay tuned!
Dustin here again: I totally understand frustration and feeling like there is little progress happening. Here are a couple things I would like you to remember.
1. Enjoy the journey. I am a total type A person, so when I reach a goal I set a new one bigger and better. I find myself beginning to just live my life goal to goal never being satisfied or enjoying how I am changing as a person and the results I have already achieved. So what I would encourage you to do is write down everything you have achieved relating to your health. It doesn’t have to be big.
2. Realize numbers aren’t everything. Yes I tell you to weigh yourself, measure yourself, and get your body fat taken, but although these are measures of progress, there are so many other measures that can’t be defind by numbers. Make a list of all the bad habits you have broken. All the new healthy habits you have formed, and the people you have influenced.
3. Be thankful for a body that can take you from place to place and do what you tell it to. We never know when that could get taken away from us. If you remember back, I shared with you a powerful story of a teenage girl named Megan who instantly became paralyzed. In this interview I get the closest ever to crying when interviewing someone. Her attitude and presence was powerful. I am getting goosebumps right now typing this. So please check out her video and story.
Question to answer on this blog: We have all experienced times when we don’t think we are getting the results we deserve. Instead of dwelling on that, what changes HAVE YOU MADE? I look forward to seeing your responses.
First off congratulations to you Melissa, what a difference your face, arms, butt, belly-all so much smaller, and more than that I think I can actually hear the “happy” in your voice. You are a success story!
This post strikes a real pain in me, as I have found myself recently addressing the question within myself of just how does one measure success?! Increments of inches, pounds, percentages-conventional wisdom would say that is the measure of one’s personal success/dedication in the weight loss world, but what happens when those numbers don’t change, when one’s perceieved level of effort produces less than desired results……I don’t have an answer for this, except to say that the only answer seems to be just keep on keeping on, I know I have to be brutally honest with myself, and if I can truely say I am doing all that is asked of me by the trainers, well that may be all I can do-does this cause me much mental anguish, absolutley, just ask poor Abby who has to deal with my mental demons on a daily basis, after all, as Dustin said above, it is very hard to see everyone around you getting smaller and smaller on a seemingly monthly basis when you yourself seem to be treading water. What helps me most…. attendance at Dustin programs, listening to the trainers, learning from my classmates.
So to all you who have succeeded, who are succeeding- congratulations! Celebrate yourselves…..One day at a time, one choice at a time, in the end it all adds up, hard work does pay off, sometimes we just have to change the way we choose to measure our success!
So I took measurements this morning and here is what I came up with:
Bust 35.5
Waist 29.75
Abs 34
Hip 41.5
Thigh 22
Arm 11.75
Some of those measurements are bigger than previous, but I think that’s because I’m not measuring the exact same spot every time, so the numbers fluctuate a bit. I have definitely noticed my waist and abs getting smaller.
I’m working with Tracie on some hormonal imbalances that should help get my sweet cravings under control. She and Dustin have helped me so much and I feel fortunate to have them in my life.
Congratulations to you for sticking to it!!!
I have been doing the fit moms for life DVD’s, Since I have started I am addicted! I also do the Core DVD and the newest the buns, guns, shoulders DVD. I work out every morning at 5, before my two girls wake up. It has been going great.
My issue, nutrition. I see you work with Tracie. Do you find it helped you out? I have been thinking of doing that. I am not organized in the kitchen at all. On the nights I get done with work at 6, I just grab something on the way home for supper. The last couple weeks I am just exhausted I feel it is related to my eating. I am finding myself getting frustrated.
My husband is so great in telling me I look good that he can see the change. So that helps motivate me. If I would do better with our meals it would benefit him also, he is type 1 diabetic. For example, when I cook with whole grain pasta, he doesn’t need as much insulin. So I see how eating healthy can help everyone in the family.
I do tell myself this is a lifestyle change it will take time. I can’t help but think how nice it would be if it would happen in a week!
You Rock Kirby!!
Heather,
I highly recommend Tracie’s 8 week class. She’ll give you a binder full of information including menu plans and recipes. She’ll also teach you how to balance your meals so you can put together your own.
I’m familiar with just grabbing anything to eat because you just got home from work and are too tired to cook. Find some simple healthy recipes that don’t take a lot of prep work or do the prep work over the weekend. Then PLAN your meals for the entire week or at least dinners. I know weekends are busy too but I make sure I carve out an hour before grocery shopping to go through what I have on hand and what needs to be used up. Then I sit down with my grocery list, binder of recipes, sales fliers and calendar. Having the family calendar in front of you is key. That way you can just do sandwiches or leftovers on that really busy night because you knew ahead of time that you wouldn’t be able to cook.
When I first started doing this it took me 2 or 3 hours because I had no central place for favorite recipes and felt pretty overwhelmed. With practice I have it down to a half hour to an hour. I also sort my grocery list according to the store layout. Produce first, then meat, breads, dairy, baking, toiletries, and frozen foods. I don’t waste time back tracking that way. It also helps that I stay away from processed foods… less isle to walk down:-) Hope that helps!
Melissa,
Thanks for responding. It is all a bit overwhelming. I never cared before what I was eating. Never gave any attention to it.
It helps hearing that I am not alone in the struggle. Sometimes it just looks so easy to others. I will check out Tracie’s program.
Thanks Again, Heather
Nice work, Melissa! You look great and you are a real inspiration!
Melissa, you look great! Thanks for the motivation & the adding fat idea. I like your binder system, too. I’m going pretty slow with my weight loss, and I get really frustrated when I don’t see results & I don’t see results when my kids end up taking over my exercise time & I’m stressed out and make poor food choices. I like your attitude! I’m going to try and copy it
Also, Dustin, when will you be in Fargo?
this is a great post, melissa and dustin. congratulations on your success, melissa, and dustin: thanks for pointing out that success can be measured in many different ways. i’ve been doing the Fit Moms DVDs for almost a year (on #11 now), and at first i lost 10 pounds. then i gained it back. my measurements haven’t really changed. BUT.
in 2007 i won a biggest loser contest at my gym, went from 30% body fat to 17% in 7 months. i won’t lie: it was fun being in that body. but my back always always always hurt.
now, nearly a year into Fit Moms, my back almost NEVER hurts. i would rather be pain-free than low-fat any day of the week! i have plenty of energy, feel stronger and am always in a better mood when i do my workouts. plus i feel good about myself if i do it, instead of being lazy. so many ways to be successful!
also, dustin touches on being grateful for our bodies. so important! i think we really need to find ways to enjoy our bodies – just doing something we are good at that makes us feel competent and in charge and capable is also huge.
keep up the good work, melissa AND dustin! and all you fit moms out there!
Bridget,
I will be in Fargo July 31st.
Dustin
Well I am going to N.Y. on Sunday and I plan on exercising in my room for at least a half hour a day. I’m going to walk probably a half hour. Try not to eat bread when I have to wait in a restraunt for a half hour. Notice I will be doing all this in half hour increments. I just noticed it. It will probably be very humid there and I will bring my filtered water bottle with me. Try not to eat too heavy as I do not want to get to heavy. I plan on going with a tour of probably 30 people who will love to eat desserts. Since I am an artist I plan on drawing the desserts. How does that sound Dustin? If I learn how to send an attachment, I can send the drawings to you. I also plan on going to Polland,Prague, Budapest and Vienna. I hope I won’t be a pest while I’m on my trip about the food or any thing else.
This is a great post! I am learning alot but I need more help.
I have been doing Dustins videos for a year now and I am down about 20lbs but I can’t seem to lose my belly. If I gain any weight it goes right to my belly and I can’t get it off. Please can you help me find ways to just target that area. I am through video 12 and I still have a belly so I don’t know what to do.
Please help!!
Cindy,
You might have high levels of stress hormone called cortisol… It contributes to belly fat. A couple causes are high stress and lack of sleep. You might have your doc check your cortisol levels to see if they are within normal range.
Also carbs seem to store in the belly easier on many people. So try to go a little lower carb and see what happens.
Thanks,
Dustin
You are awesome Kirby! I just love having you in Bootcamp, you are a tough little scrapper!
(Moe says, definitely a terrier in a previous life!)
Your weight loss and strengthening are really evident to those of us who have been running chariots behind you! Rock on sister from another mister…
Great job Kirby. I have noticed you are shrinking too. I think I mention how noticable it was when we were still at indoor bootcamp. You are a trooper and will make your goal.