Update Dec 2016 – Marie has lost over 60 pounds. She wrote in to share how she’s maintained her success and what she’s learned during her weight release journey.

It’s not just about the weight I’ve lost. It’s about the confidence I’ve gained! Looking in the mirror and taking selfies is something I absolutely dreaded in the past. Now, you can’t keep me out of the mirror and I can own up to being that girl who has tons and tons of selfies in their gallery.

They say losing weight is hard. In my opinion, maintaining the weight you’ve lost is the hardest. I have to push every single day in order to maintain my progress. I’ve had plenty of good days on my journey, and as we all know, bad days are unfortunately inevitable. When things get hard, I have to rely on my discipline to keep going. I’ll be honest, motivation isn’t enough to fuel your fire. You have to fight mentally for what you want on a daily basis. I realized early on that results aren’t just given to you. Throughout this journey, I’ve learned not to be so hard on myself. I allow myself to have that extra cookie. I don’t stress out if my nutrition isn’t perfect or I skip my workout for the day. Why? Because this journey is a marathon and not a sprint.

A lifestyle change should be about being the best version of yourself, learning what works best for you, and loving yourself unconditionally Don’t go on a weight loss journey just to lose weight. Do it for all those times you cried while looking at your reflection.Do it for all those days you said “How did I let myself get this way?!” Do it for better health!

Jan 2016 – Weight Loss Story: Marie lost 23 pounds and saw a huge difference on her midsection. She believes the saying that “Slow and steady wins the race.” Wanting to be more active and live a healthier lifestyle for her family, she focused on changing her eating habits and working out with DVD programs. Check out her story…

Hi, my name is Marie. To start, let me say that losing weight has never been easy for me. There have been many times where I lost weight quickly, only to gain it back even quicker.  In January 2015, I weighed 193 pounds at 5’5″ tall. I couldn’t stand to look at myself in the mirror, because what I saw wasn’t who I wanted to be. I decided the day I took the picture in the left that I was going to change my eating habits and workout every single day. I knew that weight loss would happen, but honestly that wasn’t the only thing on my mind. Becoming more healthy and active for myself, my two daughters, and my fiancé was my main goal. That is what motivates me daily.

I cut out all juice, candy, dairy products, and everything else that was unhealthy for me. Now I know that my body feels so much better when I fuel it with lean meat, protein shakes, fruits, and veggies. Honestly, I don’t see how I lived without it!

I exercised 5-6 times a week. The types of exercises that I did were cardio and strength training. I also used programs such as; Walk at Home with Leslie Sansone, 30 Day Shred with Jillian Michaels, and 21 Day Fix with Autumn Calabrese.

My current weight is 170 pounds. It has taken almost a year for me to get where I’m at now but I’m absolutely okay with that. I’ve always believed in the saying, “Slow and steady wins the race”, because its so true. I’m not where I want to be yet, but I’m so thankful that I’m not where I used to be!

To anyone that really wants to lose weight, I say, “YOU CAN DO IT!” Don’t ever think that just because you’ve tried and failed more than once that you will never lose weight. I’ve tried and failed more times than I would like to admit, but look where I’m at now! I never gave up and you shouldn’t either! Forget about your past and don’t think too far into the future. Focus on doing your best and being the best you can be TODAY! If I can do it, then so can you!

I have an Instagram fitness page: @mariefit25 where I give tips on how to lose weight.

Losing weight isn’t easy at all but it is SO worth it! I’m glad I decided to change my life for the better.. ✨If I can do it, so can you!✨

A photo posted by M a r i e 60+lbs ⬇ (@mariefit25) on Jul 5, 2016 at 6:21am PDT