Before: 274
After: 190
Height: 5’4”
Age: 44
When Andi Guthrie struggled to lose the weight she put on during her second pregnancy, her doctors examined her and found that she had cancer in her thyroid that had already spread to her lymph nodes and parathyroid. (Search: Symptoms of thyroid cancer) Andi eventually came out of the scary ordeal cancer-free. But between her thyroid problems and pregnancy, the former cheerleader and gymnast had gained 149 pounds.
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The Turning Point
Andi knew she had to do something about her weight when her granddaughter was born. “I had gotten to the point where I couldn’t even get up and down off the floor to play with her,” she says. She went as far as signing up for a lap band procedure, but when she picked up the phone to schedule her surgery, she couldn’t go through with it. “I realized that I had been lying to myself,” she says. I could not say that I had really tried to try to lose the weight the healthy way.”
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The Lifestyle
Instead of going under the knife, Andi entered a program called Winning at Weight Loss. The 12-week plan connected her with a nutritionist and exercise specialist, and included a gym membership. Three days a week Andi would drive an hour to meet with her instructors. The long commute paid off. “After the program I continued with my workouts,” she says. “It was the first time I’d been active in years!” She kept going to the gym three to four times a week and would walk at home, as well. Additionally, she used the DailyPlate.com to log all of her activity and meals. Andi learned that the food she was eating wasn’t horrible, but she needed to get a better grasp on her portion sizes. These days Andi clocks in at 190 pounds—84 pounds lighter than she used to be.
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The Motivation
Andi can’t get over how good she feels after losing weight, and she wants to hold onto that for as long as possible. “I had already beat cancer, so I was determined not to let obesity to get me,” she says. Her family also helps keep her focused. “I have a three-and-a-half-year-old granddaughter,”she says, “and I don’t want to miss out on spending time with her.”
The Reward
Since her own lifestyle makeover, Andi enjoys sharing what she’s learned with others. “I love helping people,” she says. “Knowing that there wasn’t a place close to home to exercise led me to open my own fitness studio for people who just need a place to start.” She’s now a group fitness and boot camp instructor, and she’s working toward becoming a certified personal trainer.
Andi’s Advice
Make an appointment with yourself. Carve out time each day to exercise. “Always know that you’re worth the time, effort and fight,” she says.
“Can’t” stays outside. During her fitness classes, Andi doesn’t allow excuses in the room. “I don’t believe in ‘I can’t,’” she says.
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