Fat, frumpy and forty seven. I was 5'6 " and 180 lbs. My weight had been as high as 198 after my last son (now 9 years old) was born. I felt I was destined to be this way forever. I felt hopeless. I hated having to go out to events or dinners. I did not have many clothes and hated shopping for myself. I would often find myself rushing to the store a few hours before any event trying to find something to wear. Nothing looked good. I avoided looking in mirrors. My feelings about my weight and body kept me from fully participating in life.


I felt invisible.


My wants and needs took a back seat to everyone else's. I have three sons, 19, 17 and 9 a husband.

When I met my husband I was 25 and weighed 128lbs. As our relationship progressed we ate out more, worked out less. When we were married I weighed 135. I thought I was fat then. As the children came along we decided I would become a stay at home mom and so for the next 18 years I stayed at home and looked after everyone but myself. My weight kept creeping up. Over the years I tried various methods of getting fit: weight watchers, joining an all female fitness club, running, Pilates, yoga, power walking, jogging, slim fast, Dr. Bernstein. I did not see the results I was after and often became distracted from my goals by the day to day challenges of living. My husband traveled a lot when our two eldest were small and I was often alone and isolated. We did not have family support nearby and I often turned to food late at night once the boys were in bed.

Last October I decided to make yet another kick at the can. In August we had gone out to Penticton to visit my husband's family. I saw my sister in law for the first time in a year. She had totally remade her body. She had always been active and eaten right but she could not seem to get her body to where she wanted it to be. She looked extremely fit and happy. I asked her how she had accomplished her new body. She looked like an after picture you see in the magazine ads for weight loss supplements. She told me about Lisa and her new training and eating program. When I got home from the visit I continued to think about how great she looked. I did not believe that it was possible for me to accomplish what she had. In October in a fit of desperation and longing I called my sister in law asking for Lisa's contact information. I emailed Lisa asking her if she would be interested in working with someone like me; someone who was not looking to become a fitness model or competitor; someone who just wanted to get her groove back. Lisa responded right away and we got to work.

At first I felt totally overwhelmed by the nutritional guidelines. Counting carbs, proteins and fats was new to me. How was I ever going to pull this off? I quickly got the hang of it with Lisa's guidance. The workouts Lisa designed were challenging and fun. The most important thing Lisa told me when I spoke with her was that it was time to put my needs first. I had to look after myself in order to look after everyone else. I had heard this before of course but Lisa made me believe that my health and happiness was important and worth working for. I had to be a little bit selfish carving out time to workout and plan my meals.


I was uncomfortable with this at first but I quickly realized that my family benefited from my new found energy and knowledge. Life continues to throw curve balls, as it will. The teenagers get into various problematic situations, basements flood, the heat pump gives out in the dead of winter, family health issues arise, holiday sweets and goodies continue to temp, washing machines break down, plumbing backs up, car accidents happen ( no one was hurt thank goodness), the dishes still pile up, laundry is endless. Any one of these situations would have sent me running to the cookie cupboard, or the chips, or the pots of pasta and tomatoes, I used to eat in front of the TV after everyone was in bed. Now that I am doing a better job of looking after myself I can better cope with all the things life throws at me without turning to self defeating habits.

Lisa is with me the whole way. On one occasion, after I sent her an email saying that I did not think I was getting anywhere called me to give me a pep talk and "pulled me off the edge".

To date, I have lost 41 lbs and many inches.

My husband and I just got back from a trip to Costa Rica. It is the first trip in our marriage that I have not been ashamed to be seen in a bathing suit. It was very freeing not to worry about the shape of my body. I was comfortable in my own skin for the first time in a long time. I still do have my challenges. I would catch myself looking in the full length mirror in the hotel room ( I don't own a full length mirror at home) and think to myself, I wish my legs were that fit, I wish I looked that good. Then with a jolt I would realize, Hey that's me! I am that woman!


It is possible to be fit and healthy. Even if you don't fully believe it can happen for you, make a leap of faith. You never know where your journey will take you.





Thank you Lisa, you made me a believer.

Sue L.
Ontario, Canada