a weightloss journey

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Mar 06 3:39 PM posted by Team Ricki

Stephanie Burke began her Change Challenge with Heather Frey’s guidance in August of 2012. Since then, the published author vlogged about losing up to 24 pounds, but a few obstacles were thrown her way with full-time job and extreme winter conditions on the East Coast that sidetracked her progress. Stephanie shares her story.

The Struggle

Weight loss has been my journey for as long as I can remember.  As a woman, from a very early age we are taught to be aware of our weight.  Society dictates what a woman should look like.  Thin is beautiful…just open any magazine or watch a movie.  I mean even the cartoon characters are skinny…have you ever seen a “chubby” Disney princess?

My journey began in my teenage years.  I look back now and I remember thinking I was so big. In actuality I was only about 20 pounds overweight but I thought I was huge.  I would try everything: I ate healthy, I worked out, I tried the fad diets—nothing worked.  I would see no results and get discouraged and give up.  Then a few months later, I would try something else I had heard of and so the cycle went; all through my teen years and twenties.   It was waves of emotions, ups and downs where I would give up and then go back determined.  And with every defeat came more emotional scars.  I would feel bad about myself and, when I feel bad, what do I do? I eat. 

The Challenge

I have always been an emotional eater.  If it’s a happy occasion, “Okay, let’s go out to dinner.” I’m sad, “Okay, let me have my favorite food to make me feel better.”  It was an endless cycle.  I would literally feel guilty about eating.  If you have never been there it’s hard to explain but I would literally feel guilty about feeling full. 

Then one day I woke up and I was 33. Where did the time go? I then saw myself in a photo and almost died from embarrassment.  Was that really me? So I said to myself, “Stephanie, the time is now.” It was around this time that I came in touch with Friends of Ricki and was introduced to The Change Challenge.  The Change Challenge is a healthy living program.  Notice I didn’t say weight loss program, that’s because the Change Challenge is different. It takes the focus off the scale and focuses on changing you… one healthy decision at a time. 

The First Step

I took the single step to really begin my weight loss journey. I started my change in August and to date I have lost about 22 pounds, which is amazing! I couldn’t believe I was actually seeing results!

Then I hit a stall and plateaued a bit. I went back to work full-time at the end of October and life got insane! Plus with all the weather we have been having in the Northeast it is kind of hard to run. I could join a gym but it is hard finding one I feel comfortable at. 

I'm down 15 from where I started. However, at my highest weight loss achievement, I was down 24lbs. I did gain a few back once I went back to work full time and with the holidays and what not. But I really can't blame the weather or the time in the day.  What it comes down to is me and the change works when I work it!

I felt myself getting discouraged so I reached out to Heather Frey, the creator of The Change Challenge.  She gave me some great tips to help me get back on track.

The thing that is so great about The Change Challenge… you are not alone! Through social media, Heather’s workout tips and advice are only a tweet or a visit to Facebook away! I actually find myself looking through Twitter for Heather’s tweet! The other day she tweeted “Change how you think. Working out doesn’t take time away. It GIVES you time. No more wasted time worrying about your body” and all I could think was SO TRUE. If I  can find the time to whine that I don’t have the time, then I have the time!

The Future

No one is perfect all the time and there will be days where I falter, but it is nice to know I have people behind me.  I just send a tweet with #Changechallenge #FriendsofRicki and my Twitter feed is quickly filled with words of encouragement.  So I am continuing my journey and I look forward to where this will take me.  Until next time, remember, weight loss is not a sprint, it is a marathon and you are not running it alone.