Happy Sunday! I LOVE today’s success story so much. She puts it all out there and as I was sitting here reading/editing it, I hung on her every word. She spoke to me so much and I know she is going to speak to you also!
Meet Chelsea and check out her amazing transformation!
Tell us a little about yourself, your family, your job, etc…
My name is Chelsea, I’m 23, born and raised in Buffalo, New York with my family and three cats! I moved to Raleigh, North Carolina in June 2012 as I taught second grade in Louisburg, North Carolina and moved back to Buffalo in August 2013. Now, I am a graduate assistant at a local college in their Academic Support Center while obtaining my Master’s degree in College Student Personnel Administration from Canisius College. I’ve been working on a healthier lifestyle with Weight Watchers since February 2013 and have lost 52 pounds. I enjoy running and I love to laugh!
How long did it take you to get to your ideal weight? Are you there now?
I am not at my ideal weight in this current moment but I am working hard to get rid of the last 30 pounds! I started this journey in February 2013 and am currently down 52 pounds!
What was your motivation to lose weight?
I will never ever ever ever forget Wednesday February 6th, 2013 as Miss Miller and my class of second graders, (besides you know throwing up on the FIRST day in front of my entire class) in one million years. I was teaching a grammar lesson to my second graders about comparative adjectives and gave a few examples such as, “I am older than you.” Then, I pulled my coworker in from the hallway in order to use her as a real life example, “Miss Czuhanich is taller than Miss Miller.
” One of my students thought it was appropriate to blurt out, “Oh, so Miss Miller, YOU’RE THE BIGGEST.” Those words crushed me, my face was as red as a tomato. I don’t even remember what I said to that student but right in that moment I knew that I was supposed to be a role model to these students and as far as he was concerned, I was the “biggest.” That afternoon after school I decided to check out the Planet Fitness near my house, went on the elliptical for 20 minutes and I thought to myself, “If you’re going to do this, you’re going to do it FOR REAL.” So, without hesitation, 20 minutes on the elliptical, I decided to find a Weight Watchers meeting and have been living a healthier lifestyle ever since!
What made you decide to start your weight loss journey?
I joined Weight Watchers as a junior in college but as most people know, if you want to lose weight, you have to WANT IT and dedicate your every fiber to it. I also believe that other people wanted me to lose weight more than I did. I was in denial. This time around, I heard it from a student and as their teacher, I wanted to be a role model. I knew that at 214.2 pounds, I was far from a role model. I was only going up on the scale and my health and general well-being were in danger. Since I lived in North Carolina, I was doing a lot of traveling back and forth to Buffalo to visit family and friends. Let me just tell you, that Charlotte airport will make you realize how out of shape you really are! I wanted to be able to not be out of breath simply walking from gate to gate. I wanted to fit comfortably in a seat on the airplane without my body bulging over into my neighbor’s seat. I wanted to be able to go into the store and not search the back of the rack for my size with all multiple XX(s) in the front. I wanted cute clothes to have my side and most of all, I wanted to look good! I mean who doesn’t?! Finally, I decided that I wanted to lose weight because I was tired of being someone that I wasn’t. I was tired of being trapped in a body that my personality did not match up with. Overall, I wanted to be genuinely happy. At the end of the day, your own personal happiness is most important. You have to do you. This weight loss journey is me getting my life back.
What kept you on track losing weight?
The accountability and support of Weight Watchers! I love the program because you not only track what you eat but you also track your activity! I also adore my Sunday Warriors group and I can’t imagine spending my Sunday mornings with anyone else!
Tell us about a typical day in terms of eating and exercise.
With Weight Watchers, I really enjoy playing with my points! I typically have 4 or 5 small meals a day and exercise 6 days a week. As far as eating, I eat breakfast, a snack, lunch, a snack, dinner and another snack. It’s really great that fruits and veggies are zero points! I have also learned to love the phrase “Everything in moderation!” As far as a workout, I believe that there is nothing better than a long run outside! If I am at the gym, I run 3-4 miles on the treadmill in addition to various weight training exercises. My workout depends on the weather and the day!
What is the biggest difference you have noticed because of your weight loss?
The biggest difference that I have noticed because of my weight loss would have to be that my passions have changed. In high school, I lived for my daily run but then I went to college and thought that my metabolism would keep up if I lived a sedentary lifestyle. NOPE! It does not work that way. Then, when I lived in North Carolina I began to depend on food for my happiness. I would get so excited about diving into some Sonic or eating an entire frozen pizza. (Yes, that happened!) Now, I get excited about buying new running sneakers or a new workout outfit. I look forward to those long distance runs where it’s just me, the outside and my headphones. Never in my wildest dreams did I think that I would be able to runTHIRTEEN.ONE miles TWICE. Never did I think that I would be signed up to run my first FULL Marathon in May 2015!!! It’s crazy what can happen when you push yourself and go after the impossible!
What advice can you give to others struggling to lose weight?
Do not let a number on the scale dictate your entire journey. I have been known to get too focused on what the scale says without paying attention to how my body feels. It happens but once you realize that this is a journey, there is no final destination and you do not stop. It’s not going to be perfect. You will gain. You will regret something you ate, you will wished you spent more time at the gym. You just have to own whatever decisions have been made and move forward. Don’t beat yourself up!
How do you keep the weight off in order to maintain a healthy lifestyle?
Since I am still trying to lose weight, it’s all about switching it up in order to get the results you want. There were weeks when I would lose 5 pounds and the next week lose .2, gain .4 the next. Your body will become complacent if you repeat the same things day in and day out. Try a new recipe or increase the intensity of your workout!
Give us a quote or a motto that you have used to keep you focused.
I have a few quotes that I live by:
“Life begins at the end of your comfort zone.”
“Excuses are for people who don’t want it bad enough.”
“It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop.”
“Some quit due to slow progress. Never grasping the fact that slow progress….is progress.”
“I may not be there yet but I’m closer than I was yesterday.”
“Nothing tastes as good as skinny feels.”
I must say that Instagram has been a huge motivator in my weightloss journey in addition to various weightloss/transformation Facebook pages. Not only does it help to have supportive followers of my own page (luvtobfit) but following the success of others keeps me going too! If you find yourself caught in a rut just try searching #weightlossjourney #transformation #weightwatchers and you’ll be sure to find something to keep you going! It’s like you have your own little online cheering section! Feel free to follow me : )