LeanGirlsClub

I met Angie through the Shape Up NYC Fitness Instructor Training program (more on that later). Angie and I share a passion for boot camp classes, races, and connected while exchanging weight loss stories. Hers is more impressive as she’s lost more than 100 pounds! I am inspired and encouraged by her story and how she dug herself out of what felt like a bottomless pit. She’s a fighter and constantly looking to push herself. Please welcome Angie to the Lean Girls Club.

Angie
39 years old
Bronx, NY
Starting Weight: 320+ pounds

LGC: What was your childhood like? Were you athletic as a child?
Angie: I wasn’t athletic as a child. Everyone [else in my family] was regular. I was the black sheep in the family. You wanna be like your family and I felt out of place.

LGC: At what point did you realize that you needed to make a change?
Angie: When I had to modify life and how I functioned. Like if I dropped something…man! That was a big problem. I had my daughter pick it up. Every day things became a problem. Like daily hygiene, because I couldn’t reach. Walking was an issue. Carrying groceries. Stairs – i had to take one step at a time [and rest in between] and couldn’t go step-by-step. The big moment was when I went to the doctor and he gave me a referral and listed me as ‘morbidly obese’ at 34 years old. That’s when it hit me.

LGC: So how did you start your transformation?
Angie: I started in 2010 not as a new year’s resolution, but just for change. I started with the Nintendo Wii Fit – it was fun. Part of the reason I started with the Wii was because I didn’t fit on my personal scale and the Wii digital scale could weigh me. [On the food side] I started by cutting out soda and i bought myself water bottles. There were water bottles everywhere. I joined a gym five months later with my sister and followed her routine. She eventually stopped going and I stuck with it. A year later, I was down 100 pounds.

LGC: That’s amazing! What do you credit for the weight loss?
Angie: Portion control. It’s all a numbers game for me, calories in, calories out. Drinking lots of water helped because it filled me up before meals.

LGC: What a great tip. What are some other things that worked for you?
Angie: Burpees – they are a great full body work out. And grapes – they’re sweet. I ate them like candy.

LGC: What’s your work out of choice?
Angie: I love obstacle courses! I figure it’s because weight loss was the biggest obstacle I’ve had to overcome and if I can do that, I can tackle any obstacle. I’ve done the Rugged Maniac, the Citi Field Spartan Race, and the Down and Dirty Mud run.

LGC: So what’s next?
Angie: I’d like to incorporate more fitness into my life. I’d like to get my AFAA certification and possibly consider fitness as a career choice. I’d like to do more obstacles – I’m doing the Rebel Race on May 18.

LGC: Lastly, what is your life motto or do you have advice for other Lean Girls?
Angie: There’s a Helen Keller quote I love: “We can do anything we want to do if we stick to it long enough.”