Erica, 24

Online Coaching
 Body Stats:
  • Before Weight: 203 lbs
  • After Weight: 151.8 lbs
  • Before Measurements:
    • 37.5 in. waist
    • 44.5 in. hips
  • After Measurements:
    • 29 in. waist
    • 34 in. hips

What has been your biggest struggle with losing weight and achieving your fitness goals?

My biggest struggle was always being consistent enough to maintain the progress long term. I had lost weight in the past, but as I became more and more stressed – and happier in a relationship – I gained all the weight back. I didn’t have the habits needed to maintain a healthy lifestyle. It was a cycle of diet and weight gain – I didn’t know how to sustain fitness, weight loss…anything in that realm, really. Even staying on a diet was a struggle. Nothing was sustainable or enjoyable for me!

What made you want to change? 

My now husband and I had been talking about getting engaged for a long time, and I had just graduated college. It was kind of a wake up call for how I wanted to spend the rest of my life – especially because I got engaged the week before we officially started working together!

I had tried so, so many times to get into better shape, and even had a good friend who was very encouraging in helping me do so. Knowing that marriage was right around the corner and having just started post-grad life, I knew I had to start making changes to start life out on the right foot or I would continue on with the same habits.

What was your biggest concern before you began working with me? How did you overcome it?

I think my biggest concern when I began working with you was that you would get tired of my rambling and cut me off. I eventually learned that you didn’t care – that’s what you were there for. To listen to the ramblings because the often end up becoming part of the process. At least for me, the ramblings were where I made the most discoveries about myself and this process. It just took time.

What was the hardest thing for you to change in order to succeed? How did you do it?

I think the hardest thing for me to change was my mindset – that took a LONG time to change. I had to get away from the mindset that I had to be perfect every single day in order to continue making the progress I wanted. There was definitely a mindset shift initially, but it came even more after most of the weight had come off.

I had to learn that my consistency would pay off even if every day wasn’t within my calorie goals, even if I ate a whole basket of chips with a side of queso and two margaritas one night.

What was the lowest point of your journey? How did you overcome it? 

I think the lowest point of my journey was managing the stress from wedding planning and my job (second year teacher, inner city) while balancing it with continuing through the habits I had formed early on in this process – fairly late in the journey. I was maintaining my weight, but not losing anything like I wanted to be.

I had to realize that I had been doing this for two years and that maintaining a new weight was progress itself. I had to realize that it’s okay not to be completely perfect and that I can’t be in a deficit forever. I had to realize that I was becoming stronger in the gym and that I was finding more comfort in going there that I had ever done in the past. It was hard, but I think getting through all that showed me that I really had made a lifestyle change and I could sustain this for the rest of my life.

Did you achieve what you initially set out for? Was there anything positive you achieved that you didn't expect?

Yes! I absolutely achieved what I set out for. I’m healthier. I’m happier. I actually weigh less that I ever have in my adult life and am in much, much better shape. I achieved so many more things that I didn’t expect to – I’ve changed my life, my mindset, my goals completely.

Looking back, was working with me what you thought it would be? Do you feel you made the right decision?

Working with you was everything I thought it would be and more. I couldn’t have asked for a better person to walk alongside me in this. You were supportive in all aspects of my life – not just my weight loss journey. Working with you has made me change my outlook on all things, and I’m absolutely a better person because of it.

It was absolutely the right decision – if it wasn’t I wouldn’t have continued working with you for two years! The only reason I stopped was because I knew if I didn’t rip off the band-aid soon, I’d be working with you until I was 80!

What was your favorite part of about working with me?

There’s too many… Haha. It’s hard to decide, but probably how encouraging you were, even when things got tough and I was less and less consistent over time. You were always supportive and open to hearing what I had to say, even if I wasn’t right. You’ve always, ALWAYS pushed me to see the best in myself, though I didn’t always see myself in the same light. Not only did you encourage me to keep going, but you encouraged me to love myself more, and that became much more important.

You always pushed me to be better – even if better just meant continuing to push through the mess, instead of sitting in the middle of it. I’m a completely different person that I was when I started working with you, and I truly believe it’s because of your influence!

What are your future health and fitness plans?

My future health and fitness plans are already happening! I’m going to just keep crushing it. I’ll probably continue with fat loss for a bit longer and then maintain for a while and really focus on getting stronger. Health and fitness is just my life now – I’m going to just continue what I’ve been doing, but sharing it with others, too, so they can begin to live happier, healthier lives, just like I did.