My name is Melina. I am a mother of two children and run my own photography business in Saskatoon. Last fall, my kids and I were sledding at our local hill. After four trips up the hill, I turned to my son and said, "Gee, I am tired, we should head home." He replied, "Mom, you are always tired. Maybe you are just fat." With a knife in my heart and a tear in my eye, I knew it was the truth and that I had to do something about it.
The next day as I sat in a Tim Hortons weight 236 lbs thinking about how I had tried everything to lose weight, I never thought the weight could come off. Then, for some crazy reason, I decided to leave Tim Hortons from the opposite doors I came in. That’s when I saw the U Weight Loss clinic and took that as a sign that I should go in and get some information. As I listened to the consultant, I was extremely skeptical. The last thing she said was, "I guess you are not ready to lose weight.” I was mad. I felt as though she was telling me that I could not do it. Well, right there and then, I accepted the challenge. I said to myself, “From this day forth, Melina is NEVER, NEVER going to be fat.” And, that is when it all began.
The first week was crazy! I was hungry, but in the back of my mind I never forgot what my son said. That week I followed the plan and lost 11 lbs! As weeks progressed, I began feeling great, eating new foods for myself and my family. With this new diet change also came new positive talk. I continued to lose about 2 lbs per week, but in my mind I thought I would never reach my goal. As holidays and events passed, I was so proud of myself for choosing healthier and smaller portion choices. Before I started this plan, I knew all these things, but I really did not know how to do it. I know that without weekly coaching sessions, I would never have been able to do it on my own. The coaches kept me motivated. They gave me awesome advice, listened to me and became my friends.
After losing 75 lbs, I was not losing anymore, so it was time to exercise. I kept on saying that I had no time, making excuses that I was too busy with work and the kids. I then decided to try jogging and every night after the kids went to bed, I would walk then jog between lamp posts, and then walk again. After weeks of this slow process, I was finally able to jog for a few blocks. Then I started to get serious and bought myself a little gadget that tracked my pace, time, length and calories burned. It helped keep me motivated and challenged me on my runs. Then, I found a new love, yoga. I was starting to feel amazing from all the exercise I was doing! .
My entire weight loss journey led me to find the real Melina again, that hot, sexy mama who has so many life adventures she’d like to take on. My positive experience has also transferred over to my entire family so that we can all enjoy nutritionally balanced meals and live a healthy lifestyle. I want my kids to be able to go up and down that hill a million times. I am now doing things I never imagined I would do in my life. Right now I am practicing forty days of yoga. This is a physical and mental journey I am ready for because I am working on becoming a yoga instructor. I cannot wait to read your story at U Weight Loss soon because I know you can do it! Hey, maybe I will even see you at my clinic. Good luck!