The Year of Brandi's Weight Loss

My name is Brandi, I'm a Firm Believer, and I live in Jacksonville Florida.  I'm also an animal lover, especially dogs!  I am 25 years old, and I teach Intensive Reading to Special Education students (last year I taught Academics to high school Autistic children).  I'm originally from Atlanta, Georgia (I have no idea what possessed me to move here, lol), and have been here since I graduated from Georgia State University in 2002.

My story:

I came from a family of people who just did not exercise.  To be quite honest, I am almost embarrassed to say that I did not know that exercise was not optional until my senior year of college (go ahead and laugh, everyone I tell does, lol).  I never exercised growing up.  I have always been heavier, but despite that fact, I was a cheerleader in middle school.  That was the extent of my workout . . . until I decided to do something about my weight, the first time (May 2002).  I initially bought the Gazelle Freestyle Elite (what can I say?? I'm a home shopping kinda girl ) and joined Weight Watchers (WW).  I lost about 34 pounds in 14 weeks doing WW (I actually was not eating all of my points) and working out three times a week.  I'm actually sad to say that I bought the Firm Body Sculpting System (BSS) 1 then, and since it was suppose to come in one week, and did not come for three months, I sent it back (sigh- if only I knew then what I know now -sigh).

After college, I moved to Jacksonville and gained all the weight back.  I was lonely being here all by myself, so food was my only friend (darn evil friend, lol).  I eventually decided to eat one meal a day (with no exercise) and the weight dropped off of me, though I was starving all the time.  That didn't last, and it all came back, plus some.

I joined WW again in 2003 and stayed for a few weeks, quit the meetings, but I continued to still follow the plan (still not eating all my points).  I also did Leslie Sansone's Walk Away The Pounds (WATP) religiously.  I lost about 25 pounds, but due to some personal issues, I stopped exercising and gained the weight back.

For our birthday, my twin sister, Brenda, bought me the Firm BSS2 (September 2003).  It sat in the corner.  I did it on and off for a while.  Same sister (gotta love her) bought me the BSS3 for Christmas (2004).  She also made me commit to going to the Firm studio in Columbia, South Carolina, during St. Patrick's Day weekend this year (2005).  I just couldn't go there completely out of shape and not being able to follow the moves in a room full of firm and in shape women.  So I worked my butt off for two months, five days a week to prepare.  We went on our trip, and we got there Thursday night.  We took two classes Thursday night, three classes Friday and a personal training session, two classes Saturday (they only offered two due to the St. Patty's Day parade), and one class Sunday on our way back to Atlanta, where I had flown up to meet my sister.  Believe me, all those classes were NOT my idea.  My sister is a MACHINE, lol. 

That trip was my turning point.

I had my personal training session with the fabulous Firm instructor, Suzanne Bates, and she said something to me that has stuck with me since that session.  She said "You will be a great success story.  You will be coming back to do our next infomercial."  I was shocked, speechless, and almost in tears.

I came home, took a week and a half off, and had been Firmly committed since April 3, 2005.  I also rejoined WW on April 5, 2005.  This time I took it slow and steady, AND I was eating all my points.  I also purchased the Firm BSS4, the TransFirmer.

In late May of 2005, I fell down the stairs and sprained my ankles.  I tried hard to continue the good eating, but I eventually lost all motivation and gained all of my weight back, plus some.

On November 25, 2005 (the day after Thanksgiving), I decided to go back to Weight Watchers for the fourth and last time.  I was shocked and appalled to find out that my weight had reached 263.8 pounds!  My all time highest weight is 265, so I was terrified to be so close to that highest weight.  I made a promise to myself that I would reach my goal this time, no matter what.  I don't care if I have 20 injuries, that will not deter my healthy eating.  I have been down that road before.  I am so tired of going up and down in weight.  I will go down and stay down.

Join me, track my progress, and make progress of your own.  I can do this!  You can do this!  We can do this!!!

If you are also taking this journey with me, I'll see you at goal!!!

This Year is My Year!