HEY! I'm Brandi and the first thing I want to do is be real with you. This is me on day 1 of my workout program (OCT '11):
How I Got to be Obese
Where to begin? I haven't always been this way. I was an active kid in high school. I was in the color guard & that kept me trim. Want proof? This is me from High School -------->
After I went away to college, I did a LOT of sitting on my butt at a computer and a LOT of snacking. It was a cure for my boredom. My freshmen year, instead of the "Freshmen 15", I gained the "Freshmen 50". It was embarrassing! My Sophomore year of college, I started dating David (my husband now). If there is ONE thing I can tell you about David, is that boy can put away some food! I honestly got way too comfortable around him and started eating similarly to him. Don't get me wrong, I don't blame him for what I did to myself! Honestly, we both got WAY too comfortable with one another and BOTH wound up gaining a lot of weight. At one point we both weighed exactly the same weight! The good news is that David has, in the past 2 years, taken control of his weight and fitness and has been a great motivation for me to follow suit! I trust him completely and couldn't ask for a better partner!
Feeling like a failure
I feel like I could honestly say I am the Queen of failed fad diets, but I know I wouldn't be the only one. I've done so many, only to be discouraged after my results were dashed away by stopping the diets. I joined gyms with the intention of getting in shape, but only went every so often. I even went so far as to try Alli (dear LORD don't ever use that crap EVER EVER EVER). Not my smartest month. I've used Atkins, South Beach, Nutrisystem, to name a few. Sure they all worked in their own special ways, but they were all quick fix deals or things I would have had to be financially committed to, but could never really afford. I am someone who doesn't have patience for delayed gratification, so I was always on the prowl for the next quickest fad diet to jump on. I have since learned that what I needed was an actual lifestyle change. That I need to be active and make smarter decisions on the actual food I put into my body. I learn new things every day! I can honestly say that, NOW, I feel confident that I will reach my goals and be changed for the rest of my life. No more feeling like a failure!
Making a new plan for myself
Speaking from experience, you can only go so long feeling sorry for yourself before that switch goes off in your head that makes you honestly try to change. My switch went off in October (2011). I suppose spending 1/3 of my life obese finally caught up with me and pissed me off enough that I just want to change! I want to have kids soon and I know, sadly, that as long as I remain this weight, that it won't happen for me. Along with just an overall desire to not be FAT, I'm making strides toward getting back to the weight I was in my skinny picture above.
After that switch flipped, I decided to try out Shakeology. Seeing as David was the only one working and we had a tight budget, I was seriously skeptical about spending so much money on a product that claimed to give you energy (I also found out this past year that I was allergic to my go to energy source, aka Caffeine...that's a whole other story though), made you feel better, etc etc etc. I had met MY coach online and she encouraged me to sign up as a Beachbody Coach. If anything, I could use the opportunity to get a discount on the Shakeology. I never thought I would pursue it as an actual source of income, but after a week or so, I thought "What the heck?!" I was going to be using the product and if I got the results I was expecting to, then why not make a little extra on the side? After a couple weeks, I changed my view a bit. My reason for doing it shifted from make a little cash on the side to genuinely wanting to help others achieve their goals while I achieved mine. It feels so good to know that I am not the only one going through this process. I am fueled by responses I get from people in my support group. When I first started, someone told me I inspired them. ME?! Big ol fat me?? I inspired someone in a fitness related way?? I honestly was baffled, but at the same time, it lit a fire under me and I feel like I've been a bit unstoppable since then.
My Future?
I see only good things! Since I signed up with Beachbody, I have also managed to get my husband on board. We are a force to be reckoned with, I tell ya! Anyone who joins us will officially be on Team B.A.M.F. !
I have even signed up for my first physical event happening here in GA in March...the Spartan Sprint. I am honestly scared because I've never taken on anything like this before, but I am confident in my training and am looking forward to earning that medal at the end!
Stay tuned! I will update this page as often as I can!!
