Hi, my name is Chastity “Chas” H. and here is a little about my journey. I used to be confident. I used to me outgoing. I used to be vivacious. So what happened? Life, I guess. I met a great guy, and we had two wonderful children and my focus quickly shifted from “me” to “them”. Little by little I began to lose sight of that person I once was. Food became my best friend, the one who was always there in the good times and bad. Don’t get me wrong, there were times when I said to myself, “time to do something”. I felt like I’ve tried them all, but nothing ever worked. I was tired, depressed, and embarrassed of what I had become. I avoided going out. I become the family photographer (so I didn’t have to be in the pictures myself). I was fading into the background becoming a piece of the scenery in my own life and I didn’t know how to change it. This frustration in myself would boil over and affect the way I spoke to my husband and my kids. I became so critical and hyper focused on them that it became suffocating at some points. I was spiraling out of control, hurting, and lashing out on my loved ones. I needed a lifeline but didn’t know what to do or who to turn to. That is when I was scrolling through Facebook and came across a post from an old college friend, Pam. I had been silently watching her journey for the past two years. Her story resonated with me. She was a real person that struggled just like me and she was doing it! Not just for a few months but was changing her life. If she could do it, why couldn’t I? I was sitting in my office, tears streaming down my face as I took that difficult first step and reached out to her for help. It was the best decision I ever made for my marriage, my children, and most importantly, myself! I have been on program for 5 months and have released 58 lbs and 62.8 inches! Non-Scale Victories (NSV): Clarity! I never realized the mental fog I was living under. Energy! I’m no longer physically and mentally wiped out by the time I get home from work. Bye Bye Cankles! I have a desk job. By the end of the day my ankles would be HUGE. It didn’t matter how many times I got up and walked around or the amount of water I drank. So, what makes this program different? I can honestly say, like most things in life, you will only get out of it, what you put into it, but they offer you tools that will provide you with everything you will need to be successful: My Coach: Pam is my hero! She has helped me plan for vacations and helped me prepare for the holidays so I was able to successfully navigate these situations that would typically derail me. The Community: Knowing that we aren’t in it alone! The community helps me reenergize myself by reading their stories. To step out of my comfort zone and share mine. And it’s a great resource as well. I use it to find tons of information from recipes to hacks that continue to keep things fresh and fun. The Education: Knowledge is power! Most programs just tell you what to do, but never explain the why. The books help you explore why we do this, how these changes and choices are impacting your body, and help you explore your own thoughts and feelings as well. The Nutrition: There is nothing more overwhelming than trying to change how and what you eat. This program provides us with the guidelines and starts us off small. One meal. You can do one meal. It doesn’t require a huge grocery run. It lets you keep it simple while you figure it out. My journey is far from finished, but I feel more content and in control again. I’m no longer sitting on the sidelines. I’m an active participant in the lives of those I love. Creating memories not just recording them.