My transformation wish– I’ll make it short. I lost 70 pounds over 8 years ago. I have been able to keep most of if off… I went from a size 18 to a helthy 4. My problem is that I gained 10 pounds in the last year. No matter what I try or what I do I can’t seem to be able to loose the weight. I am currently in my last semester of grad school and I will like to be able to control my weight gain. I really don’t have a lot of time, but I workout every morning. I get up at 3;30 in order to be able to have time to do it. I want to become lean and I want to be able to feel confident and not worry that my love handles and my loose skin is hanging and showing! I know you have worked with people that loose weight and understand exactly what I am talking about…

My transformation wish? Get hit on by guys in my own age bracket. Seriously. Whether it be in person or my latest misbegotten foray into online dating, seventy-five percent of the time when a guy chats me up, he’s in the 40-plus crowd. I don’t know if my excess fat (the caliper assessment at my gym put me at 32%) is giving off pheromones appealing to older guys or what, but I’d like it to stop. More likely it’s a confidence issue. Even though I used to be 60 pounds heavier than I am now, I’m still not quite comfortable in my skin, so that “leaks through” and attracts–well, the type of person who wants a girl who’s unsure of herself. Thank God I have the sense to not date any of them.

Also according to my gym’s assessment, my cardiovascular fitness is currently in the “fair” range, and my strength is “average.” I’d like to improve them both. Not that there’s a large chance of it happening, but should I ever be running from a lion across the Serengeti, I’d like to know I have a chance of making it to the nearest tree, hoisting myself up a branch, and climbing to safety. And if Guy in My Own Age Bracket happens to be in the same tree and ask me out after the lion’s gotten bored and wandered off, so much the better. 😉

Too facetious? Here’s the more boring, albeit still true, version of my transformation wish: I want to be secure in my own skin and confident of my body’s ability to handle what I throw at it. I have 14% body fat to lose to reach my goal of 18%, and I’ve been at this point for over two years now.

Well, that’s sort of a lie, because last year at this time I was 10 pounds lighter than I am now. In the podcast, Leigh mentioned the importance of having an accountability partner who you’d hate to fail. To large extent, I am that person I’d hate to fail. Recently, each time I head to the gym, I tell myself I’m doing this because it’s unacceptable to be another 10 pounds heavier this time next year. But even that is asking too little of myself. I was an obese child, certainly never an athlete. I’d like to one day complete a triathlon and do a pull up to prove to myself that my body is not broken or run down. To prove that I’m capable of so much more than 4.7 miles an hour on the treadmill for 45 minutes. But I need some sort of plan to follow. I wouldn’t say I’m training without a purpose, but I’m training without a plan, and that doesn’t work.

And should I catch the attention of Guy in My Own Age Bracket at the triathlon or while completing my chin-up, that’d be just as good as meeting him after fleeing the lion. Though it wouldn’t make nearly so good a “how we met” story.

What a mean, mean, April Fool’s joke Kevin!!! My stomach sank momentarily.

Hi Leigh and Kevin,
Well my transformation hope isn’t super dramatic but it means everything to me. I have never been severely overweight just a little heavy. Two years ago I went on a diet of prepackaged meals and super low calories and got down to my goal of 125 lbs (5’4″). Unfortunately, I was sick all the time, lethargic, fatigued and moody. Even though I lost weight the wrong way I have never been happier. I had a confidence that I have never felt. I held my head up and was proud. Unfortunately my body rebounded and no matter what I did I put about 10 pounds back on. I know that 136 isn’t overweight but mentally I am just devastated. I hired a trainer early this year and instead of losing weight I gained more. I am a meticulous calorie counter and food weigher. I lift weights 3 times a week and do cardio. I feel like no trainer ever really listens to what I need. I do my HIT workouts but I also need to do endurance work as I compete in triathlons and other endurance events so I have to do endurance work. My trainer couldn’t seem to understand that concept… It seems like all trainers want to do is cut out all cardio and do weights. While I enjoy lifting, that isn’t my goal. I want to feel confident and be proud of my body. RIght now I have trouble letting my husband see me. It seems like my weight sinks into every part of my life and negatively affects me. I just want help to lose the last 10… I don’t need to see my abs like Kevin, but I do want to be sleek. I am not expecting miracles but maybe something to give me advice that is reasonable.

My journey echos aspects of all of the others. Depression led to a self-destructive mission to dull the pain by eating and drinking my hidden fears/desires into submission. At a specific point, something snapped in me which prompted a minor shift in my thinking and made me realize that it was only ME making myself miserable. I made a conscious effort (A LOT OF EFFORT) to try something new: to stop getting in the way of my own happiness. Subsequently, my behaviors slowly followed suit. With exercise came those wonderful endorphins (helping to combat the depression) and better self-esteem/efficacy. Instead of a downward spiral, I started the uphill battle and have rarely looked back — except to say “I don’t ever want to go back to that place again.” It’s not all about my aesthetic appearance. I’m in a much happier place mentally and spiritually because I’m taking care of myself.
I take care of myself for my loving family and friends. I do it for the future possibility of being somebody’s healthy mom. I’m doing my own tiny part in combating ever-rising healthcare costs. I work at my health to set an example for the neighborhood children. And OF COURSE I do it to bite my thumb at those childhood bullies. Yep – for bikini season too. 😉
My “transformation wish” is to keep this crazy learning process going and to be the best (looking/thinking/feeling) person I can be. And I hope everyone finds their best inner-self too.

PS: To Debbie – that sense of self-loathing attributed to your weight is REALLY what’s weighing you down. You are a goddess. Work what you got and your a$$ will follow. I’m rooting for you!

I’ve been obese or morbidly obese all my adult life. A little over a year ago I got a wakeup call when I was diagnosed with skyrocketing blood pressure and sleep apnea. I’ve lost almost 100 pounds since then and am still trucking.

I’m not expecting to become anybody other than me, but at the same time I AM changing. I can’t say I know what all the changes will be but I know the ones so far are good and so are the ones to come. I’ve lost the sleep apnea and my blood pressure has dropped. I’m learning how to cope with life’s everyday stressors and moods in ways other than eating.

Of course like many other folks I want to change what I see in the mirror, but the transformation I am hoping for goes beyond that. II want to find out who I am when being fat is not my defining characteristic, to find out what I do when I quit putting my life on hold, to get more of my life and energy back instead of my state of constant tiredness that I didn’t even know I had sunk into.

I think I’m within 20-25 pounds of my goal and maybe closer. Since I’ve never been thin or even average weight, every step on this journey is a step into new uncharted territory. So I can use all the knowledge and resources I can get.

I’m listening like crazy: to people’s personal stories, forum conversations, my trainer and nutritionist, and comments from experts like Leigh. I’m reading and trying to understand both the science and the nitty gritty practicalities. And (more slowly and awkwardly but steadily moving forward) I’m getting the behavioral stuff ingrained and getting a handle on the psychology of it all.

In spite of what I’ve learned and am learning I still feel incredibly ignorant, and since so many people say things get harder as you near the end stage I’m not about to rest on my laurels. I am going to succeed. I will beat the statistics and keep the fat off, but to do that I need every bit of an edge I can get.

Leigh’s ebooks look like a wealth of knowledge and expertise that could really help me get a solid understanding of how fat loss and maintenance work. I plan to read every section, even the ones I don’t think apply to me, so that I really really get it. I don’t want to do things by accident or because somebody tells me to. I want to do things because I UNDERSTAND what I am doing.

Four years ago, I was walking out of the gym (after yet another attempt to start losing weight), I tripped going down the stairs and fractured a bone in my foot. Unfortunately, at the time I did not have health insurance and thought I had just sprained it. Six weeks later, I finally saw someone about continued pain while walking. I went to a health clinic at my college and no one seemed to be of any help, every doctor had a different theory and I was only a month or two shy of graduating anyhow.

I moved to a new city where EVERYONE walks, which would have been fine, if I could participate. I tried working with a trainer to help, but there was not much she could do with someone who could not bear weight on one leg, and she was a far cry from a Jonathon Fass (if you know what I mean). Luckily, I did pick up health insurance and finally got to see a doctor about that bothersome foot. Well after many tests and endless battles with health insurance, I had to have surgery, physical therapy, and a whole lot of recovery. When I went into surgery, my weight had ballooned up to 245 lbs (I’m a 5’6’’ female).

After recovery, I decided I was too young to take walking for granted, (I was 21 when I first fell). I began a diet and got all the way to 180 lbs, that was two years ago. In the last two years, I have gone from 175 to 185 at least 10 times. I’m not tired of dieting, but I’m tired of fighting the same battle with the same pound over and over and over. I want to get to 150/160, but I sometimes fear that may not be possible. Worse yet, endless dieting cycles have left some food issues that I am also now struggling to overcome. I refuse to stop fighting, I dream of the day when I no longer feel stuck inside a body. In the podcast, Leigh mentioned losing weight and then having the ability to put food and weight on autopilot and getting on with your life. I can’t wait for when that day comes!

Anyhow, thanks for the great work, listening to you guys is great.

Hi Kevin and Leigh,

I am about to make it harder for you Leigh heehee.

First I wanted to say thanks for the chance.

I have been struggling with my weight my entire life. I don’t really know why I had such issues with eating. My mother and I were both overweight, while my sister and my father were like sticks. We all ate the same food but I guess my sister and my dad just moved more. I was picked on in elementary school for being “the fat girl” but once I got to highschool I got friends that didn’t judge me, and I just hid in the background. When I got to college I decided I wanted to feel better about myself so I started WW which went well for a little while. I lost about 20 pounds then I just stopped losing, I went to Southbeach and lost about 10 more pounds then no more. Within the next year I gained it all back. I just figured there was something wrong with me and it was hopeless. I finally stubbled upon Leigh’s blog and she said things that clicked with me. I always thought I had some kind of a fat gene and my sister was just lucky, but it never occured to me that she may have just moved more, she was so social and played sports…that stuff really makes a difference. I am now in a situation where I have bought a food scale and am counting my calories, I have lost 10 of the 30 I put back on and now I really just want to get it done and I know that Leigh’s books will help.

Thanks for listening and Goodluck to everyone!

Hey Leigh and Kevin,

As always another awesome episode, again many thanks for the continued effort that goes into the show.

I will add my story to the mix…

My name is Kyle, I am a 22 yr old college student who is currently employed in the criminal justice field. Growing up I was one of the growing majority of kids who did not have a nutrition plan whatsoever implemented in their life when arguably the most important habit forming behaviors are developed. I come from a family with parents that are obese, and 2 out of four grandparents that passed away from cardiac related issues at a young age. Diet and nutrition consisted of diet soda and limiting pizza carryout to 1-2times per week lol.

I love playing sports, and this is probably the only thing that kept me from getting into such a rut with my weight when I was younger. However every ‘season’ of sports I went through a very dangerous cycle of weight gain and loss, at one time going from an all time high of 245lbs down to 182lbs (I am 5’11”). I played varsity football 3 out of 4 years in high school for a very large school in our area, I played on the offensive line because of my size. Gaining weight at a rapid pace to remain competitive, no matter what the cost, was always pushed by the coaches.

When I moved on to college I took an interest in becoming a Police Officer. I was lucky enough to have family members who were police officers themselves that could lend a helping hand in preparing me for the physical demands of a police academy. I took an interest in maintaining personal health, enrolling in nutrition classes, wellness classes, etc. to try and change my thinking as it relates to food and exercise. Through implementing running and a regular resistance training regiment, I was able to go from 240lbs now down to approx. 205lbs.

After months of hard work, preparing for the entrance testing for a large department here in the area (ahem the motor city) I took a blow below the belt when I went for my pre-academy eye exam and was diagnosed with glaucoma at age 22. After submitting all of my medical records to the state licensing ‘body’ I was ultimately told that because I had glaucoma and there is no cure…I could never be a police officer.

Because my glaucoma was uncontrolled with medicine and drops, I had to have a rushed surgery in both eyes. In this procedure, a metal ‘shunt’ is inserted into your eye, and aids in relieving pressure in your eye from fluid build-up. As a result of the surgery I have been limited to lifting things only if they are extremely light while I am healing. Lifting too much weight causes the eye to strain and then as a reaction the eye deflates…this is very painful and happened to me the first day after the surgery in my right eye when I was making my bed! lol.

To get to the point of this story…now more than ever because I am in a ‘healing’ state and still cannot resume a normal resistance training regiment (3months post-op), I have come to understand the EXTREME importance of nutrition. This has become foremost to me in my efforts to not only maintain a healthy weight but to be ‘healthy’ in general.

I came across the Fitcast a few months ago and have come to love the show and appreciate the wisdom of some of the ‘superstars’ in the industry ;). Leigh your nutrition information has been very insightful, and it would be awesome to be able to learn just that much more of what you have to say!

I will be returning to school in the fall to pursue another related field, and hopefully returning to the weight room as well. My goal is to reach a solid 190lbs. I have a long road ahead but I am excited to learn more and more as each day goes by and increase my understanding of fitness and nutrition!

Please don’t take this as a sob story haha…everyone has there own individual challenges from day to day and a big kudos goes out to everyone who has shared there story in this thread.

Thanks! Have a good one!

Hi Leigh,
I would like to put my hat in the ring for a chance at your materials.
I am a 45 year old female. I feel like the years are flying by so quickly and I want to be as strong and healthy as possible. About 15 years ago I started having muscle problems. Lots of very painful aches and pains and very, very tired. It took 10 years to finally diagnose Celiac (I can’t eat gluten) which causes a sort of auto immune disorder which attacked my muscles mostly.
My goal is to be strong and healthy but I seem to have to try twice as hard to get half as much effort. But I don’t give up. I try too hard actually because I have recently been diagnosed that my adrenals are not good and my cortisol levels are very high. I am learning to take it easy but that is hard for somebody who wants to be healthy and strong. But I gain weight so easily and have to struggle to get it off.
I am a fitness junkie, reading about everything I can get my hands on but it seems if there is a missing piece that I just can’t figure out. I keep thinking that if I try harder or read another book the missing piece will fit in.
I recently got a treadmill at a garage sale and put my laptop on it so that I can try burning more calories by walking while I am working.
I am just afraid to buy your stuff because I have wasted so much money before and I just can’t take the chance but I desperately want to see if this is the missing piece that will help me lose the fat and help to keep my muscles strong so that I can stay active.
Thank you for considering me.