Where’s the best place for listeners to connect with you?: Instagram @colleen_getslean

Describe your weight loss journey.: I started my weight loss journey in May of 2020. I found a free online tdee calculator to determine how much my calorie deficit should be and then started tracking everything I ate and just counting calories. I didn’t over restrict, I didn’t cut out any food groups. At the time I didn’t want to majorly change my lifestyle I just wanted to lose the weight but be able to stick to it. So I still ate everything I loved just in moderation. I lost 117lbs in a little under 2 years and then my mindset started to shift. I didn’t exercise outside of walking which is totally fine and I loved it, still do. But I wanted more. I wanted to see my body shape change. I wanted to get stronger. So in March of 2022 I joined a gym, hired a personal trainer and started weight training. It was definitely a mental battle at first. After being obese and working so hard to lose the weight it was tough seeing the scale creep up. It took a few months but I came to terms with the process and eventually let go of my “lowest weight” and currently my goal is build as much muscle as possible and down the road maybe do a bodybuilding competition.

What’s a skill you developed as a result of working through your weight loss process?: Patience. That’s a big one. It’s natural for us to want to see instant results but that’s just not the case. When you think you’re doing everything right but not seeing results in a week, two weeks, it’s easy to think it’s not working. You’re simply just not giving it enough time.

What has that skill led to outside of weight loss?: The same applies to bodybuilding. It takes a long time and a lot of training and a whole different way of eating to grow significant muscle. And we’ll patience can apply to pretty much anything in life. I’m a mom of two crazy boys that are only 13 months apart. To say my patience isn’t test on a daily basis would be a total lie.

What advice would you give to someone working through their weight loss journey?: Keep going. Even when you feel like it’s not working. It is you just have to give it more time. It’s ok to have set backs or even take a little break, as long as you don’t quit entirely. Cause what happens if you stop? Nothing. I don’t care how many times you need to restart or refocus, as long as you don’t quit. One day at a time. Don’t focus on the entire mountain in front of you, focus on the next step right in front of you and repeat that the next day and the next day and you will get there.

What's something most people don't know about you that has nothing to do with weight loss?: I’m a really good advice giver. I always look at all possible sides and scenarios. If someone is asking me for advice, I don’t give them one straight answer because most times there isn’t only one way to look at things. I give them multiple scenarios and ways to handle it that they may have never thought of and let them handle the situation the best way they feel to handle it.