| Tallahassee's Biggest Loser
How Brandi Lost 140 pounds and kept it off. By Amanda Leighty |
| Sometimes inspiration happens like a lightning bolt. Sometimes, it takes the form of a journey. FIT Weight Loss & More client, Brandi, is a source of inspiration for everyone around her. |
| In the spring of 2010, Brandi weighed 410 pounds at the age of 24. She had been overweight her entire life and had been classified as “morbidly obese” by her doctors. Upon reflection, Brandi said, “When I first heard those words, I cried, of course.” She felt worse that her habits were responsible for a whopping 410 pounds. Brandi said, “I was 24 years old and I had a toe tag waiting for me within the next 20 years due to my weight.”
|  |
| The health complications linked to obesity include heart disease, diabetes, and hypertension, along with many others. Brandi was afraid that if she didn't change herself and her habits, she'd end up facing some of these complications. |
| 
| She made it a goal to get down to 199 pounds. She began dieting and exercising on her own, but realized that wasn't enough. She decided to give the FIT Medical Weight Loss program a chance.
Over the course of her weight loss plan, Brandi has had a varied exercise routine. First she was going to the gym 3-5 days a week, performing regular cardio, along with sit-ups and push-ups.
|
| However, once she hit a plateau, she switched up her routine. She began doing cardio at the gym only 2 days a week, and took dance classes the other 3 days. She also tried to cut out red meat, and eat more fish instead. Fish is a lower calorie protein source that has essential Omega 3 fatty acids and a lower fat content than red meat. By the summer of 2011, Brandi had been in the FIT program for roughly a year, and she was well on her way to reaching her goal.
On her weight loss experience, Brandi said, “This entire diet lifestyle change is like a puzzle. You have to figure out a way to make all your pieces fit together. You give and take a lot on this program and it helps you with self-determination and self-discipline as well. I am slowly but surely reaching my goal and it feels amazing to be getting closer to it with every passing second."
"I can't believe how amazing life can be when you are losing weight and feeling not just good but GREAT about yourself.” - Brandi
|
| Brandi's advice to others looking for weight loss inspiration is, “You don't have to wait for that ‘snapping point' to do something about your weight; otherwise, you'll end up looking in the mirror one day and saying, ‘what happened?!' You have to be your own inspiration and not let things get to your head easily.” Today, Brandi is still working diligently toward her goal weight. She has about 80 pounds to go, but she's lost 140 pounds and kept it off. Just a year and a half ago, Brandi weighed 410 pounds, now she is, in her own words, "a former ‘huge/obese girl' and a perfectionist, and I love myself and every flaw that I have inside and out.” | 
|
| Brandi has inspired a number of people she knows to join FIT. She doesn't shy away from sharing her story, whether it be with friends or with total strangers. She says, “You would be surprised at just how many people are out there that are trying to lose weight.” |
| 
FIT Co-owner, Stephanie Jansen | The staff at FIT Weight Loss & More aspires to inspire. Brandi has upheld that mantra in the sincerest manner. Her story is an inspiration to everyone lucky enough to know how beautiful she is inside and out.
|
| The staff at FIT Weight Loss & More would love to help you find the inspiration to follow in Brandi's footsteps. Visit: http://www.fitweightlossandmore.com/ Or give them a call at (850) 385-1105 Inspiration Starts Here … | 
Read More Inspirational Weight Loss Stories Here! |
