Erika

Since I can remember I have always considered myself to be overweight. When I was 16 years old I started noticeably gaining weight. A few pounds here and there eventually lead to a 20 pound weight gain during high school. I went from 135 to 155lbs. After that the weight kept creeping on, in all honestly I didn’t realize the calories I was consuming each day. I would always let myself indulge in whatever I wanted. I had no self-control and I didn’t exercise either. When I was 20 years old I had my first child, and although I only gained 20 pounds during my pregnancy I quickly lost it right after he was born. But a few months after becoming a new mom I realized that I had gained those 20 pounds back. At 192lbs I realized that I was very overweight and depressed. I wanted a
quick solution to lose the weight and decided to try Herbalife. It was successful. I lost 20lbs in a month and was beyond thrilled. But after my one month supply ended I went back to my old ways and regained those 20 pounds and a few more on top of that. Around this time I had my second child. During that pregnancy I actually lost weight because I had gestational diabetes and was put on a no carb diet. But once again after giving birth and returning to my old ways I gained a lot of weight. After having my third
and last child I was under a lot of stress. My two youngest are only 17 months apart and I had to quit my job to stay at home and care for my 3 children. Financially and mentally this was a very overwhelming time and before I knew it I was 232lbs. The heaviest I had ever been!! I had not realized how big I had gotten because I never really went out of
the house. It wasn’t until my husband took a picture of our son and caught my backside that I realized what I looked like. I was so embarrassed and ashamed. I avoided going out and seeing friends and family. I felt worthless and unimportant. I had absolutely no
motivation for anything. I hated what I had become and what I looked like. Shopping was absolute torture and I would end up wearing pajamas all day long whenever I didn’t have to leave the house. When I would leave the house I was constantly asked when I was due because my large fat belly looked like I was pregnant and due at any minute.
At the age of 27 I had high cholesterol and was put on high blood pressure medication. In January of 2013 I decided that enough was enough. I decided to make a lifestyle
change and started eating healthy and working out. In about two months I lost 20 pounds. After that accomplishment I once again let myself go. I was able to maintain my new weight but no effort was made to lose any more weight. A year later January of 2014 I decided once again to re-embark on my weight loss journey. Again with diet and exercise I was able to lose more weight and by October 2014 I was down to 184 pounds but I was no longer motivated to lose weight. After two of my friends did the challenge at the Camp Transformation Center and seeing their amazing results I decided to jump on and sign up for the challenge as well. I did two challenges and was able to loose over 40 pounds. I was finally, for once in my adult life, able to shop outside of the plus
size section! And it felt amazing. I finally had my life back.

Today I am part of Happy Thoughts Fitness. This gym and the owner and trainer
Jesica A. are the reason why I have been able to maintain my healthy lifestyle. This isn’t your typical gym, and I love it. I am always happy to be here and schedule everything about my day around my gym time. The trainer constantly keeps us motivated and pushes us to do our best. Everyone that belongs to this gym is positive and empowering. I am so grateful and lucky to be a part of Happy Thoughts Fitness!!

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