do you have an inspiring weight loss story?

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Sep 10 12:00 PM posted by Team Ricki

On the premiere episode of The Ricki Lake Show, Ricki meets Friend of Ricki Lisa McManes. Lisa shares her story and how Ricki was instrumental in keeping her on the road to achieving her goals. But months before Lisa made her television debut, she wrote to us here at TheRickiLakeShow.com and shared her journey.

My name is Lisa McManes, I am 39 years old and have struggled with my weight all my life.  I was born with a genetic predisposition to obesity.  I have no idea how to dress my new body (have lost 82 pounds with 21 more to go) and, with my birthmarks, I am a little uneasy showing my arms.

I was born with Hashimoto's Thyroiditis, a type of autoimmune disease in which the immune system attacks and destroys the thyroid gland. The sole function of the thyroid is to make the thyroid hormone which affects nearly all tissues of the body where it increases cellular activity. Therefore, regulating the body's metabolism, this is the rate at which the body creates and uses energy. Every day since diagnosed at age 6, I have taken a synthetic form of the hormone in order to have a metabolism. This has caused many health issues and struggles in my life. My husband and I have been married since 1997 and had our daughter in 2006.  It was a high risk pregnancy with complications and constant blood checks of my TSH level to make sure it was okay, so our baby would be born full term and healthy. When Piper was born, I wanted to make sure that I instilled in her the values of good self-esteem, eating healthy and being active so she would live a healthy long life.

Three years ago, at 288 pounds, my friend and I began personal training to lose weight and get fit. I always struggled with my weight, due to my condition, and did not think a trainer would help, but gave it a try. I was learning how to eat right, logging my food, exercising, wearing my EXERSPY to monitor my steps and calories burned.  I also fell in LOVE with running and, after some pounds came off, I tried a beginner’s run club at the gym and have been hooked ever since.

I have lost 82 pounds so far and have 21 pounds to go to reach my goal weight of 185 pounds (a total weight loss of 110 pounds).  I stay within a certain calorie range each day while eating normal foods (no diet food or shakes or pills), train with my trainer two times a week and cross-train/do cardio at least twice a week. I also teach "Eat To Lose" classes and "Beginners Run Club" at the gym to help others with their weight loss journey. I have completed four half marathons and am training for my first full marathon in October. I want to be an example to others and inspire them to lose weight and get healthy. My condition requires me to work harder than others and it is taking me a little longer to get the weight off, but IF I CAN DO IT, ANYONE CAN.

Do you have an inspiring story like Lisa? Share your journey to weight loss below!