I “met” Brandee on a weight loss page on Facebook and I loved looking at pictures of her journey. She and her husband are in this together and they look A.M.A.Z.I.N.G. So – I asked her if I could do a success story on her and she graciously took time out of her busy life to do so. Thanks Brandee!!!!
Could give us a brief summary of your story from the beginning:
Growing up I never had an issue with my weight, I was known for my “hourglass figure” and rock hard abs. It wasn’t until I was 21 yrs. old that weight became a problem for me. Shortly after giving birth to my first born in 2002, I was diagnosed with Poly Cystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS).
Living with PCOS, three children and 11 years later, I was left with a 245 lb. body that did not represent who I was. My weight held me down and kept me from living my life. I wanted so badly to free myself from the weight but I was so overwhelmed and it seemed impossible. I tried so hard to accept that this was just who I was now but I knew it wasn’t. That body didn’t belong to me. I wasn’t happy and knew I would have to change.
Guide for others to get similar results:
Diet: (What’s a Sample Daily Diet?)
Breakfast – 2 whole eggs, 2 egg whites
about a cup of fruit (berries, grapes, melon, etc)
1 piece of Whole Wheat Arnold’s Toast with real butter
Lunch – 4-6 oz lean meat or fish
unlimited veggies
small sweet potato with small pat of butter and cinnamon
Snack – Small Apple with All Natural Peanut Butter or small orange with string cheese
Dinner – 6 oz lean meat or fish
unlimited veggies
*After Work Out – Protein Shake with milk or 1 cup cottage cheese
Other eating tips:
I drink over 120 ounces of water a day. (half of your body weight in ounces is recommended)
I lower my carb intake on days I’m not working out or have a lighter work out day.
I avoid processed sugars and highly processed foods
I watch my salt intake and use a lot of Mrs. Dash seasonings
Training: Weekly training schedule
I participate in a group boot camp class 4-5 days a week. We are constantly switching our work outs up but we usually do:
We do a lot of High Intensity Interval Training.
Monday – Leg HIIT training
Tuesday – Upper body
Wednesday – Cardio HIIT training
Thursday – Total body training
Saturday – Track work out – Bleachers and sled pulls, sprints, tire flips and dead lifts
My instructor mixes it up every week so that it is not high impact on your joints and we incorporate cardio and lots of weight training together. We work large muscle groups because they burn lots of calories after the workout.
I’ve very recently started to get into the gym to lift and I’m loving it. I do a lot of pyramid sets and burn outs. For example, a pyramid set would look like this:
Hamstring Curl Machine
12 reps @ 50 lbs
10 reps @ 60 lbs
8 reps @ 70 lbs
12 reps @ 50 lbs
I also like to do what I call burn outs. An example of this would be:
Bicep Curls with dumbells
12 reps at 15 lbs
Then lower your weight and do unlimited reps until you can’t perform a single one any longer.
My tips to getting into a work out routine would be to find something that you love doing. Experiment with different activities and work outs until you find something that you love. Once you find your passion, stick with it. Consistency is the ‘secret’ everyone wants to know. Also, know that this lifestyle isn’t an ‘all or nothing’ deal. People find success when they are able to find a balance which creates happiness and a sense of calm in their life.
Basically from this section, be as specific as possible. People always want to know training routine and diet, something they can look at it see exactly how you did it.
Also any tips you could add to help them on their journey.
Before Stats:
I don’t have stats from when I was 245 lbs. These stats are from January 13, 2013 at 227.3 lbs.
Body Fat % – 42.5
Weight – 227.3
Chest – 51
Upper Waist – 49.5
Lower Waist – 54.75
Hips – 51.5
After Stats:
(Age/Height/Weight/Waist Size etc)
32 yrs old
5’5
Body Fat % – 28
157.7 lbs.
Chest – 40
Upper Waist – 32
Lower Waist – 34
Hips – 38
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How Did You Put On The Weight?
My weight problems didn’t begin until after the birth of my first born in 2002. I gained 32 lbs. during my pregnancy and weighed 172 lbs. on delivery day. Considering weight had never been an issue for me I figured the ‘baby weight’ would melt right off. Within the first week of giving birth I noticed I started gaining weight. I continued gaining weight at a steady pace. Nine months later I was 198 lbs. and diagnosed by ultrasound with PCOS (Poly Cystic Ovary Syndrome). PCOS takes a major toll on your body/hormones and causes weight gain. Feeling defeated by my PCOS I used it as an excuse to eat anything I wanted. I got pregnant again in 2007 and 6 weeks after the birth of my second child became pregnant again. The back to back pregnancies combined with my unhealthy eating habits and I was soon sitting at 245 lbs. I was too tired to keep fighting the fight. I surrendered.
How Did You Feel About Yourself At Your Heaviest Weight?
I still can’t think about how I used to feel without crying. I was just so sad. I was depressed and there were many days I couldn’t even bring myself to brush my teeth. I quit caring about my appearance and who I was. I locked myself in my home and avoided social activities at all costs. I had no friends or social life. I eventually had an emotional breakdown and began counseling for my depression soon after. I missed the woman I was meant to be deeply and yearned to be her constantly. I lost hope for my life and settled for simply being alive.
What Sparked Your Dramatic Change?
I wanted my face back…it was so hidden by the fat for so long that I forgot what I looked like. I wanted to be able to laugh without fear of how it made my double chin look. I wanted to be able to smile. I wanted my kids to be proud when I went to school events. I wanted to take pictures with my kids or husband and not delete them. I wanted to look and feel sexy. I wanted to improve my marriage and sex life. I wanted to be complimented by others or maybe even hit on. I wanted to go dancing. I wanted to wear a pair of blue jeans. I wanted to go clothes shopping. I wanted to say “thank you” when my husband complimented me and not roll my eyes in disbelief. I wanted to feel worthy. I wanted to be a good example for my children. I wanted to be healthy. I wanted to LIVE not just be alive. I had an “I want to” list a mile long. The light bulb went off for me when I realized that I could have EVERYTHING that I “wanted” and all I had to do was eat right and exercise. It was that simple. I told myself “I can have it ALL!! I just have to go get it.” I realized at that moment that I truly have the power to change my life.
Were People Supportive Of Your New Lifestyle?
Family and friends were very supportive of our new lifestyle. We surround ourselves with like minded people as often as we can in real life and social media.
How Did You Support Each Other?
Supporting and encouraging each other has kept us both accountable. We are each others #1 fan. Two years ago when I started my journey he sat quietly watching me transform my life and my body. I never pushed him to join me but hoped one day he would. After about a year he started walking in the mornings before work. He did that for a few months before asking me what else he could do at home, he was gaining endurance and wanted to do more! He never joined me in boot camp as I ended up getting hip bursitis and stopped going, my journey ended….but he kept going. Almost a year passed by as I now watched him on his journey and he watched me gain 30 lbs. and slip into depression day by day. Early in January this year he told me if I re joined boot camp that he would do it with me this time. Our first day was January 14th and it was a day that quite possibly saved our marriage. Taking this journey together and being there to support and encourage one another is the best decision we have ever made. We are stronger than ever in more ways than one.
Was It Easier To Do It Together?
It was definitely easier to do it together. I’ve tried 4 times in the past to lose weight and was unable to keep it off long term. His bad habits would rub off on me and before I knew it I was right back into mine. By doing it together we were able to encourage and offer strength to each other when one was weak.
What Did You Change In Your Diet?
My diet was given a complete overhaul. The biggest thing I had to overcome was my Diet Coke addiction. My diet was filled with fast foods, convenience foods, comfort foods, and ball park food. I didn’t eat breakfast and usually only ate twice a day but with large unhealthy portions. Now, I wake up and eat a healthy wholesome breakfast followed healthy meals through out the day.
What Would We Have Found In Your Fridge Before?
Before this journey we were a meat and three family. I cooked a lot of meats with gravies, mashed potatoes, pastas, cheesy dishes, boxed macaroni and cheese, boxed potatoes, canned veggies, hot dogs, chips, processed foods, snack cakes. We rarely had food in our fridge as most of our foods were processed boxed foods and stored in the pantry.
What Would We Find Now?
Once we got serious about this journey we soon realized we had to purchase a bigger fridge. We quickly learned that our previous fridge was way to small when we started buying fresh foods. 90% of our foods are now stored in our fridge and our pantry is bare. Right now you can find the veggie drawer filled with zucchini, asparagus, bell peppers, mushrooms. The fruit drawer has grapes and berries. We have white fish, lean pork, and lean beef., eggs, greek yogurt, cottage cheese and other healthy food items.
What Exercise Did You Begin To Do?
I began my journey January 14, 2013 and I started with a group boot camp class. There were some moves that I couldn’t do and reps that I couldn’t finish but I simply did the best I could do. Each day I showed up and gave my all and each time I got better, faster, and stronger.
Any Tough Points On Your Journey?
The tough points in my journey happen when my mind and I are not on the same page. There’s times when I get tired of eating healthy or having to search for the healthy items on the menu instead of simply ordering what I’m craving.
How Did You Stay Motivated?
I stay motivated because I remember how I used to feel and how my life was at 245 lbs. Those are some of my saddest days and emotions that I will never voluntarily feel again. I will work hard everyday and earn my happiness.
What Advice Would You Give Someone Who Was Looking To Lose Weight?
“Someday” is not a day of the week. DO IT NOW. Stop waiting ’till Monday’ stop waiting until New Years or ‘until you’re not as busy’. Make your health and happiness a priority NOW. Do not dwell on the choices that you made yesterday… it’s dead and gone. The only thing you can change are the choices you make today. Try each day to be better than the person you were yesterday.
I was drowning in self pity and living a life of depression. I remember what it felt like to think “I have 100 lbs. to lose. There’s no way I’ll ever do that. I’m just going to stay fat, it’s easier than losing 100 lbs.” Every year that passed I got another year older as did my kids. My marriage was failing fast and our sex life was non existent. I was wasting my life away in many ways. My body didn’t fit my personality so I hid from myself; I suppressed my personality so I would just be a shadow in the room. I took the backseat in my life. I wasn’t living MY life – my weight was.
Listen, I know how overwhelming it seems when you look at the big picture. In fact, it was so overwhelming that it took me 11 years to change my life. Please believe me when I say not a day goes by that I don’t regret changing my life sooner. I was so foolish to keep living in misery because change was ‘hard’, well damn it so was being fat. The day I made the choice to change my life is the day that I became accountable for my actions. It was the day that I became a hard worker. It was the day I became a role model to my children. It was the day I became FREE. I no longer felt imprisoned by my weight. I was FREE.
You have the power to be FREE too! Free yourself from the weight that’s holding you down! Be who you are meant to be! Hold yourself accountable to your actions!
Did You Make Any Mistakes When You First Started?
When I first started? Heck, I still make mistakes but that’s the beauty of this journey. Being fit and healthy doesn’t have to be 100% perfect 100% of the time. What matters is that you don’t dwell on your mistakes and simply pick up where you left off. It’s about learning from your mistakes and becoming stronger from them.
Did You Use Any Supplements?
I didn’t use any supplements other than the occasional protein powder.
What Are Your Goals For The Future?
My goals for the future are to continue to inspire and motivate people to believe in themselves and transform their bodies and life. Through my own journey I’ve developed a passion for fitness. I feel compassion for women who are where I once was and I want to reach out to them. I plan on doing this through online training with my boot camp instructor. We are in the process of creating a website for our company, Busy Girls Weight Loss, and we hope to start transforming lives soon.
I plan on getting more involved in the gym and gaining some lean muscle. I really hope to hit a 100 lb. weight loss but after a 90 lb. loss my new focus is losing body fat and getting to a healthy body fat percentage.
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My Personal Journey/Fitness Page:
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Need more motivation – check out the dozens of other people I have interviewed HERE.