I was always very thin as a child. I was active and ate very healthily — I loved fruits and veggies! My mom actually used to laugh because I loved cucumber sandwiches. Despite my good eating habits, my health was never the best. The doctors always said my immune system was very weak. If I got the flu, I would be sick for more than a week, while most people got better in 48 hours.
I first started to gain weight in college, when I was about 20. I was in a bad relationship, so I felt bad inside and I wasn’t taking proper care of myself. I would eat very unhealthy foods, and I even developed insomnia. I felt really terrible all the time — just tired and a bit depressed. I stopped working out altogether, and soon I just stopped going out with my friends, because I was too embarrassed about not taking more control of my life, health, and well-being. By age 23, I had gained more than 50 pounds and I didn't feel I could ever be happy with myself again.
That year, I went to a wedding with my boyfriend, and afterward I saw a picture of myself. I didn't look terrible, but I wasn't happy with the way I looked. What really hurt the most was how unhappy I looked in the photo. It was May 2007. I was only 23 years old, wearing a size 14 and weighing 171 at my heaviest, and I decided I didn't want to be this unhappy forever. I'd finally had it! I admitted that I'd let myself go and that I needed to start treating myself better and regaining my confidence. I told my boyfriend that I was ready to make a life change, and I asked for his support and understanding.
I started by popping in a Denise Austin kickboxing tape that my sister had left at our mom’s house. I got myself a new pair of gym shoes and workout shorts and began working out to the Denise video. I also made a healthy diet plan, totaling about 1,200 calories a day. I didn't so much watch the calories as I did my food choices — I ate lots of veggies, fruits, and fish, just the way I ate as a kid.
I saw results within three weeks, and by the fourth week, I had already dropped two sizes. Within five months, I was down to a size 5, and by the sixth month, I was back at the size I used to be in high school — size 3 juniors, a size 0 dress — and I weighed 120 pounds. I couldn’t resist putting on my old high school prom dress a few weeks ago — and it was a little big!
My family was more than supportive; they were proud. Everyone wanted a Denise Austin video, so I bought about a dozen of them and gave them out. I am a very strong believer in Denise's workouts. Denise is very motivating and funny. She has spunk in her videos, which gets you going, and her choice of workouts is great. I just think so highly of her; I’ve tried many exercise videos and never had the success I've had with hers.
For me, the biggest challenge was to understand that losing weight is not just a diet or just working out — it's a lifestyle change. The word “diet” does not necessarily mean healthy. In fact, you need to change everything, from getting a lot of sleep and eating healthily to working out and having a sense of mental well-being and happiness.
My whole life is different now. You wouldn't believe what it's like to go from that person who was afraid to go out to someone who loves to travel, lie on the beach, and spend time with friends. I’ll continue to work out to Denise’s kickboxing video and her boot camp tape. Now I feel great and have confidence — plus, I'm engaged and getting married in May! Instead of shopping for clothes that will hide my weight, I now look for clothes that will fit my small frame. I’ve had people say that I look like a model, and some of my future in-laws even jokingly call me Barbie. I love to share my story with everyone I run into. And if I haven't seen the people in a while, they always say that they barely recognized me, and then they ask me for all the details on how I lost the weight. I love it! My dream now is to do something related to fitness with my life, to help others the way Denise helped me.
Secret to Success: "Do not give up! I simply put in a Denise Austin tape — that's all it took. If I can lose the weight with her tapes, I am convinced that anyone can!"
More DeniseAustin.com Success Stories:
Cheri's Story: A Brand New Attitude.
Bekey's Story: From Size 26 to Size 16!
Joy's Story: From Couch Potato to Triathlete
*Weight loss varies by individual. You may not achieve these results.