Guest Blogger: Meet Nicole!

 I had the pleasure of working with Nicole a couple years ago. She is the best! I asked Nicole to do a guest post, because her story is truly amazing and inspiring to me. I have met many people in my personal and professional life who have struggled to lose weight. It can be a deeply internal, emotional battle. But, there is hope! There is a way out! If anything, Nicole is your hope. She did it! She got to that place so many of you yearn to be. Sure, she failed a few times...but, she didn't give up. Her efforts and commitment paid off. Look at her now! Nicole is truly a beautiful person inside and out. She radiates because she is happy with the woman she is today. Go Nicoleeee!! Love you and miss you tons! You inspire me!

Hi everyone,
This was me before I shed my weight. At my heaviest I was about 268 pounds at 5’1” and my body fat percentage neared 50. I went on countless diets that worked for a short period of time, and then I got bored. I was the definition of a "yo-yo dieter" only I never got to my goal weight. It was hard to when you weigh that much and really don’t care how big you are. To be honest I wasn’t ashamed of my weight like everyone else was. I was overweight most of my life and went on so many diets that I can’t even count them. I did Atkin’s, Subway, Medifast, and some random shake only diet where the chocolate shake didn’t even taste anything like chocolate; and I even tried starvation for about a day. In the Fall of 2009, I started losing weight in a healthier way. I began by cutting down on foods I shouldn’t be eating, like Ben and Jerry’s or pasta. I also added more physical activity. I began walking more, and instead of playing Zelda on my Wii, I put in Wii sports or Active. I didn’t mind the exercise and even started playing basketball again. Pretty soon eating healthy food became easier. I love food, but I love cooking it more, so learning to cook healthy was an adventure for me. I was excited about the progress I was making!

On January 21, 2010 all that hard work went in the trash. That night I was watching "So You Think You Can Dance" with my roommate and celebrating the fact that I hadn't eaten from any Ben and Jerry’s for a while.That night my older brother called to tell me my grandfather was in the hospital, and he wasn’t going to make it through the night. Within an hour I found a flight for myself and my mother. Soon after, my brother called again. He told me that grandpa Joe had just passed away. Within 15 minutes after that call, I inhaled a pint of chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream. The binge continued that week at my grandmother's, as I ate everything but the table. The first day at grandma's I helped myself to two large portions of her famous chocolate chip ice cream cake. It was a slice for me and a slice for grandpa. When I returned home later that week I got on the scale and looked at the weight I had gained. I decided that it was time to get a little help. I found a fitness retreat in Utah, packed my bags, and was off.

-->                   On May 16^th 2010  I weighed 238 pounds , was 48% body fat and my pants were a size 24 extra tight. I finished my journey that coming January at 120 pounds, 24% body fat and a lovely size 3!!! While in Utah I took kickboxing with Melissa! (with a little hip-hop; of course this crazy combo was brought on by Melissa), Zumba, personal training, and therapy. In the midst of my journey, I took a brief 5-week break to Virginia and was paranoid about gaining weight. When I got back to the program, I was pleasantly surprised to get on the scale and see that I can lost 9 pounds during that time. I had done it on my own!! That was a big turning point for me. -->

Going through the the weight loss program was truly the most rewarding experience, and I wouldn’t change it for the world. I gained so many life lessons that I still use today. I still believe that a happy life is a life filled with healthy foods and enjoyable physical activity along with some time to relax. Now, when life throws its curveballs: when my great uncle gives us a health scare, or when I have to say goodbye to my little brother who went off to college, I call a friend or go for a walk. Although I'm tempted a bit, I don't go to California Pizza Kitchen and get the Tequila Fettuccini and dessert.

                  Today I am going to school to get my associates in Health Fitness.  I want to be a dietician.  Before I go back to school I plan on hiking 621.371 miles from northern Israel to southern Israel. I still weigh about 120 pounds and continue to cook healthy meals. And although I don’t have Melissa teaching me kickboxing, hip-hop, or TRX, I still find ways to stay active. I walk, run, and meet with a trainer at my gym in California. I enjoy yoga from time to time or swim in the ocean. I guess that is the life lesson and trick to it all, MAKE IT SOMETHING YOU LOVE! I now love being healthy and having the support and love of great people. Life is good. I know for myself I will NEVER go back to where I was.

This is me today. Happy to show off some skin!