Tracey Weight Loss Success

Let me introduce myself, I am Tracey. I am a mother of 2, stepmother of 2, grandmother of 2, and I own 2 pizza shops (where I spend 40-50 hours a week).

When I started this journey in May 2013, I weighed 244 pounds. As of now, June 2014 I weigh 159 that is 85 lbs. gone. That is more than my grandkids put together, and more than the amount of dog food I buy a month (my dog is not a pocket dog).

I think about what got me to be that person, yeah, I can blame my parents, society, my family or friends but those are excuses. When I turned 18 the decision was mine to either be fat and miserable (the easy way) or to be healthy. For 35 years I chose the easy road and played the woe-is-me card. Knowing what I know now, that attitude killed my spirit and my relationships with men, my family and my friends. Now my attitude is vibrant. I am not afraid of talking to people and I am not afraid of going shopping. I am no longer invisible, which is an oxymoron. How can you be 244 pounds and be invisible?

If you do not have the mind set and the will power to lose the “baggage” around your waist, then no matter what I say, nothing will help you. If you are done carrying that load and really want to do it then just do it. Have that voice to tell people no thank you to the cake, to the chips, to the Mexican food (burritos were my favorite, now my smaller jeans are). A family member told me the other day that I look amazing and she wants to treat me to cake and ice cream, REALLY!? If they insist on pressuring you to just “have a bite,” would they offer an alcoholic a sip of tequila? I politely said no, I treat myself with a new pair of jeans or cute jacket now instead of food.

During this journey I have discovered so many things about myself with the help of the individual attention of Susanne Boos. Not only did she teach me how to really read food labels, I learned that I am a stress and boredom eater. I never realized it before because it was second nature to grab a bag of chips and mute everything out. I had things to do, but it could wait while I ate another burrito. I now know how to use my voice to face my stress and ask for help. When I eat, it is because I am hungry, not because it is just something to do. My journey will never be over. My true goal is to never let food control me again.

There is so much more I can say about my journey, because every day I noticed something different about myself. All I can say is if you want to see and feel what a life changer this has been, jump in with both feet and never look back. I hate to be a cliché, but if I can do it so can you.