Q: Describe your life before the Body-for-LIFE Challenge?
Before taking the Body-for-LIFE Challenge, I ate out a lot. I was going out to eat at least once a day, sometimes more if I was really busy. This caused me to gain weight very quickly, and it also caused me to have tummy aches. Working out was by no means a priority, and I would try to fit in a workout when it was convenient. I was very depressed about my weight and I was trying all the “fad” diets, hoping I could get a quick fix, but nothing ever worked until Body-for-LIFE.

Q: What made you finally decide to take that first step and enter the Challenge?
My decision to take the first step and enter the Challenge came when I saw my “Before” pictures. Around the time when my picture was taken, I had recently competed in an Olympic Distance Triathlon. It was a 1 mile open-water swim, a 25 mile bike ride, and a 6 mile run.

To train for the triathlon, I was running six miles at least three times a week, and doing cycling classes the other two days at the gym. What shocked me when I saw my picture was that I had just finished training and competing in the triathlon, but my body was nowhere near the shape it should have been.

I felt like if I had competed in a triathlon, my body would look lean and toned, so when I saw that picture, I felt very disappointed in myself. I couldn’t understand why I didn’t have a “triathlon” body. I decided that Body-for-LIFE was going to be my next step. That’s when I accepted the Challenge.

Q: What were your very first impressions of the program? Did you struggle or was it liberating?
A week before I started my Challenge, I planned like crazy. I planned my workouts, my meals, and my goals. If I was going to do it, I was going to do it right. I think that made it easier for me at the beginning of the program.

At first, I struggled a little bit with finding foods that I could take to school and work with me. The way I dealt with this was keeping a journal to plan my meals and workouts. When something didn’t work, I would write it down in my journal. That way, I could change it and plan the next week accordingly.

It only took me about 2 weeks to work out all the “kinks” in my program, and that’s when it happened! When I put my clothes on, things weren’t tight anymore! When I woke up in the morning, I was excited to start my day and had so much more energy. As a law student, school and work keep me very busy, so I thought the workouts would drain all my energy. Luckily, that wasn’t the case – I would leave the gym in the evening with more energy than I walked in with!

Q: Talk about the moment you first began to see changes in your body and/or outlook?
About two weeks into the Challenge was when I started to really see changes in my body. My stomach looked flatter and my face looked different because my double chin was disappearing. I even had to start belting my size 10 jeans so they wouldn’t fall down! People around me started commenting that I looked good and they would ask me if I was losing weight.

In the beginning, I think the changes I started seeing had a lot to do with the confidence I was gaining through the program. It’s amazing how your confidence builds through exercise, and I think that reflected in my appearance.

Q: Did you have to over-come any obstacles during your 12-Week Challenge?
Yes. My biggest obstacle was time. Being a law student, it’s difficult to balance school, work, and having a social life. Eating right and exercising can take a back-seat to other things going on in your life, and that was the biggest struggle I had to overcome. My weekdays normally consisted of going to school from 8am until 12pm, and then I would go to work from 1pm-5pm. When 5:30pm rolled around and it was time for my workout, I was tired and it was sometimes difficult to go to the gym.

The way I overcame this obstacle was re-reading my 12-week goals in my journal and looking at my before picture. I had listed in my journal certain bad habits that would prevent me from reaching my goals, and one of them was “Skipping workouts because I’m too busy with work or school.” I always tried to make sure to keep the promise to myself to make exercising a priority, just like school and work.

Q: How did you feel on the very last day of your Challenge?
PROUD! I felt so proud that I completed the Challenge without missing a workout or having any extra “free day” meals when I wasn’t supposed to. It was the first time I had finished any diet and exercise program and I was so happy with my results. So I celebrated – with a pizza. :)

Q: What was the reaction of your friends and family to the amazing changes you made?
My family has always been my main support system, and they were so happy with the changes I had made. For years they have seen me struggle with my weight and try diet after diet with no results. When I came home to visit after being on the program for four weeks, they were in shock! They were so happy for me that they all decided to begin the program. My mom said that we were going to be a Body-for-LIFE family.

At first, I think my friends thought I had gone to drastic measures to lose weight because they had never seen me make so much progress so quickly. When they realized that I was not just “losing weight,” but gaining lean muscle the natural way, they were really impressed. One of my friends even asked to borrow my journal so she could get started doing the exact eating plan and exercises. It was pretty flattering.

Q: Do you still follow the Body-for-LIFE program?
I follow the Body-for-LIFE program every day. I still workout six days a week and always pack my small meals in a lunch box to take with me to school and work. And of course, I always save my free meals for the end of the week!

I am currently two weeks into my third Challenge, and it’s amazing how I am still seeing progress! That’s what I love about this program – your results are completely up to you. During my second Challenge, I made it my goal to maintain my weight during the holiday season, and I accomplished it. Now that I am on my third Challenge, I am kicking it into higher gear to get ready for swimsuit season!

Q: If someone were to ask your advice about starting—and finishing—the Challenge, what would you tell them?
I would tell a new person who is considering starting and finishing the Challenge to plan. I think planning your meals and workouts is the key to success, especially in the beginning of your Challenge. I waited a week before I started to set specific 12-week goals, plan my meals, and decide which exercises would best help me reach those goals.

I would also advise someone to buy a journal for keeping track of your meals and workouts, and put your “Before” pictures along with your goals inside. It will help hold you accountable and see the areas you need to improve.

Finally, I would tell them to work hard! Twelve weeks really isn’t as long as it sounds, and if you put 110% of your effort into those weeks, you WILL finish and see fantastic results.

Q: How has your life changed since doing the Challenge?
Since doing the Challenge, I have so much more confidence!! I actually want to go shopping and try on clothes at the mall because I like the way I look. I’ve also found that I really like to cook, which is something I never really did before because I would always go out to eat.

Q: Where do you think you’d be if you had never done the Challenge?
If I had never done the Challenge, my confidence and energy levels would still be very low. I also think I would still be struggling with my weight, wondering if there was anything I could do to change it. I wouldn’t be working out, and I’d probably be hitting up every fast food restaurant in town.

Q: After going through the 12 Weeks, how was your mindset different than it was before? Where you able to face challenges in your life with more confidence?
I no longer see eating healthy and exercising as a chore. It makes me happy to end the day with a workout, and go to bed knowing that I ate the right foods to keep me healthy for the rest of my life. I used to feel so hopeless when it came to losing weight – like it was impossible. Body-for-LIFE has proved to me that anyone can have their best body.

Q: What is your favorite free day meal?
My favorite free day meal is probably a cheeseburger and fries or pizza. Most especially, I love to eat dessert. I have the biggest sweet tooth and that is what I most look forward to on free day – usually I get ice cream.

Q: How have you spread the word of Body-for-LIFE to other folks?
I have told my family and friends when they have asked about the progress I’ve made. I’ve also shared my exercise tips when people have asked me what program I’m doing at the gym.

In a couple of weeks, I am doing a presentation for my company on the Body-for-LIFE program because several of my colleagues have expressed an interest in taking on the Challenge.

Q: What are your current goals?
My current goals are to decrease my weight from 128 pounds to 125 pounds. Also, I would like to get better abdominal definition and am working on decreasing my body fat in order to accomplish this.

Lastly, I am setting goals to train and compete in a triathlon this summer.

Q: Quotes that inspire?
“People are like stained-glass windows. They sparkle and shine when the sun is out, but when the darkness sets in, their true beauty is revealed only if there is a light from within.”

“When you come to the end of all the light you know, and it’s time to step into the darkness of the unknown, faith is knowing that one of two things shall happen: Either you will be given something solid to stand on or you will be taught to fly.”

Q: Define Success?
Success is being happy in everything you do, it is believing in yourself when no one else does, and it is keeping the promises you make to yourself and others.

Q: Any Final Thoughts?
Body-for-LIFE is AWESOME and I think everyone who wants to get in shape and have a healthier life should try it.

Q: What are your favorite EAS products?
CLA, Thermo DynamX, AdvantEDGE Carb Control Bars, Betagen, AdvantEDGE Ready-to-Drinks