Katie writes, “This is long, but I NEVER post anything this long, so I promise, there is a point!

I would LOVE to say that my before picture was my absolute rock bottom. That would be a total LIE. In September, I was 12 lbs HEAVIER than my before picture. I do not have a picture to show you because I was literally in hiding, ashamed and embarrassed. Here’s the craziest part. I was actually exercising MORE when I was at my highest weight than I did while I lost the weight! I can vividly remember my rock bottom moment. I had worked out and struggled to run for more than 1 minute at a time. I came downstairs, face beet red, dripping in sweat and Matt asked me, “how was your workout?” I just started crying. Tears streaming down my face and I said, “what am I doing WRONG? I workout, I eat healthy food. I do not understand!” Of course, he gave me the whole, “you look great” speech. But, I was just so defeated, I felt ugly, and I was so over feeling chronically tired.

Around that same time, I learned that I had high blood pressure. For those of you that do not know, I lost my Dad to a heart attack at age 62, so this news REALLY bothered me. I made a promise to myself, my family, and my team that I would get healthy and turn this around. I started right away. I started using the meal plan from my favorite program. I knew that nutrition was 90% of the battle! I was determined. And, fortunately, I lost 12 lbs! That brought my blood pressure down to pre-hypertension level. I had more work to do. That brings me to my BEFORE picture!

When I was asked to be in this test group, I cried. Like, literal tears. Something inside of me KNEW that this would be MY program. Something inside of me KNEW this was what I needed. I went live on Facebook and literally could not stop crying as I shared my heart. I was so embarrassed that day that I could not hold my emotions together, but also so hopeful, so excited, and so ready to close this chapter of struggling and desperation.

Undoubtedly, this story is different from ANY of my past Beachbody stories. Here are the reasons why-

#1. I am not showing you a 3-week transformation and saying “look at my amazing transformation in such a SHORT period of time!” I am showing you what happens when you adopt a new LIFESTYLE. This is a progress picture, not an “after picture.” I have no plans on returning to my old way of eating. There is no end date. I love this way of living! It is realistic. It is FILLING (that matters a whole lot to me). I am not hungry or deprived, so why EVER stop?

#2. I did NOT rigidly follow a plan. I traveled numerous times. I ate some stuff that people would be shocked to see a test group participant eating. I went out to eat, I had some treats and I learned how to live in a world full of constant temptations without feeling like a total freak on a diet.

#3. I really did not exercise as much as I normally do. I wanted to focus on my nutrition. In fact, I am JUST starting to pick up the frequency of my workouts again. I feel SO good that I have to release my energy. I am ready to gain more definition and muscle! But, the weight HAD to come off! And when you are significantly overweight, it is an emergency to lose the weight. That had to take precedence for a while.

#4. I am NOT dieting. Real life example- the other night, Jackson made cookies and brought me a plate. I told him that I really should not eat them. He said, “why not? You are not on a diet or anything!” Doesn’t that say it ALL? My kids never felt like “mommy is on another one of her plans again.” I do not want them growing up, seeing me on constant “diets.” I want them to remember me as a healthy eater who enjoyed life!

Soooo, this is the first chapter of my new story! Many more to come. 🙂 I went from tired, depressed, and defeated to FREE, healthy, and hopeful. I went from having a scary blood pressure to having an IDEAL blood pressure. Since September, I have lost 27 lbs! And, for the first time in my ENTIRE adult life, I have zero fear of regaining that weight.

****I will end with this. If I were to give you ANY advice it would be this- do NOT wait for this program to release. I lost 12 lbs BEFORE this program even started and I can help you do the same. I am so glad that I took immediate action. Still, BE EXCITED! EAGERLY await the release of 2B on May 2nd. If it helped me, a food-loving, volume-eating, wine-loving, once tortilla chip addicted nearly 39-year-old mom, it can MOST certainly help ANY of you! ”