Weight Loss Stories – Tina Lost 128 Pounds and 96 Inches

Name: Tina
Age: 40
Family Status: Married
Occupation: Personal Trainer and Fitness Studio Owner
Hometown: Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
Height: 5’5″
Starting Weight: 308 pounds
Current Weight: 180 pounds
Current Waist Size: 34″

Tina’s Weight Loss Interview!

How much did you lose?
I lost 128 pounds and a total of 96 inches overall which included 10 inches off my waist alone! I went from a 44 pants size down to a 34!

When did you become unhappy with your weight?
I was never overweight as a child but when I was 27 years old, I lost my father to a battle with cancer and at the same time I came out of the closet and told my family I was gay. It was a lot to deal with all at once.

What made you decide to lose weight?
I have 3 children ages 19, 9 and 7. While browsing through photos and looking at myself over the years, I had never really saw myself as being that large. Looking at my photos that day was like a slap in the face. I was getting older and I realized I couldn’t keep up with my kids as much as I used to so I decided to quit my job of 12 years and focus on me. Once I put myself first, the weight started to come off. I’m not going to lie, it was a lot of hard work. I learned to fall in love with my kitchen. The old saying, “Abs are made in the kitchen”, is so true. I took a few courses on nutrition, studied for my personal training course and then opened up my own little fitness studio so I could start changing the lives of other people just like me!

What were the most important changes you made to lose weight?
I realized I had an emotional eating problem. I was always on the go and never spent any time making healthy meals. It was always something quick and not very nutritious. Food was definitely the most important change I made not only for me but my family.

What was the most challenging thing you had to deal with during your weight loss journey?
The mental journey is the toughest. The key is to stay focused no matter what life throws at you. The need to push through every day no matter what challenges come up is very important.

How long did it take you to start to see results?
The first few weeks were the highlight. After drinking a ton of water along with meal planning and prepping, the results were almost instant. It was something my body had been wanting for such a long time.

How long did it take for you to reach your current weight?
I’ve been on this journey on and off for 4 years. Life happens and you fall off the wagon once in a while but I’ve never given up and I’ll never give up. I’m not only accountable for me but now I have clients that watch everything I do and it keeps me very focused.

Did you have any issues with loose skin after losing the weight? If so, how did you deal with it?
I do have a lot of loose skin and I’m actually happy with it. It’s better than having all that extra weight. It’s a reminder of how far I’ve come and how much more work I need to invest in order to feel the love on the outside.

How long have you maintained your weight loss and what are the most important factors for keeping it off?
I’ve maintained for the last 2 years and continue to work hard to lose more weight along with tightening and toning the areas where I have loose skin to tone up.

What keeps you motivated to continue your weight loss success?
My clients are the best thing that has ever happened to me. Have you seen the show “Fit To Fat To Fit“? Well, I’m coming at it from the other end (fat to fit) and my clients are all coming from the same angle. Many of my clients have suffered some sort of trauma in their life which includes the loss of loved ones, financial issues, relationship problems and work stress. At the end of the day we all come together and set goals and we work towards them together. My kids and my wife play a huge part in my success and we are all in this together.

How has your life changed now that you have lost weight?
I’m still working on myself on the inside. I’ve been able to keep up with my kids, join 5K and 10K races along with obstacle courses that I would have never done before.

Do you have any advice for others who are trying to lose weight?
Never give up! We all struggle, we all cheat and we all give up at some point but this is only temporarily. Have faith and understand that you started this journey for you so make it about you.

How did ShapeFit help you reach your weight loss goals?
I love ShapeFit.com! I find that the weight loss stories people share really motivate me to keep going. I love seeing how others conquer their own battles. I also love the exercise videos, food recommendations and the questions and answers section is super helpful!

Tina’s Weight Loss Tips!

Weight Loss Tip #1:
Focus.

Weight Loss Tip #2:
Set goals.

Weight Loss Tip #3:
Research and make a plan.

Weight Loss Tip #4:
One habit at a time.

Weight Loss Tip #5:
Don’t give up!

Tina’s Weight Loss Eating Plan!

What do you normally eat for breakfast?
High source of protein with fruit (eggs and berries).

What do you normally eat for lunch?
Salad with a source of protein like eggs, tuna, chicken, turkey.

What do you normally eat for dinner?
6-8 ounces of any kind of lean meat with 2 cups of mixed veggies (the greener the better). I try to avoid carbs all together so no rice, no potatoes and no dressings unless I make it myself so I know what is in it.

What do you normally eat for snacks?
Fruit and nuts, cut up veggies and hummus.

What type of nutritional supplements do you take?
Potassium, Cal-Mag (calcium and magnesium), B6-B12 and a multivitamin.

Tina’s Weight Loss Workouts!

What do you do for weight training?
Boot camp , kickboxing, Zumba and circuit training.

What do you do for cardio training?
I do a lot of hiking and mountain biking, trail running and stationary biking.

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