Okay Jen ~
Here’s how it all went down …
A year ago April (2008) I was at an event and had the two pictures taken in the beaded skirt. I thought I looked really nice that evening. I got the pictures later, and could not believe how fat I was. I’d been in complete and utter denial. I was 210 lbs. worth of denial.
I knew my 30th class reunion was in a year, and there was NO WAY I was going to go looking like that. That was my impetus to get the weight off. My brother Tim had been on me to come try out Bootcamp, and I finally decided it was time to give you & Team JAB a shot.
Lisa Nelson
Lisa Nelson
I remember my first Bootcamp, when I approached you with a blown out knee and a million excuses why I couldn’t do it. We were at Clovis West, and you told me to just start walking. Walking around the track. I huffed and puffed my way around the track. Then we did some group activities, and towards the end of the hour, we’d played a round of tag! Extreme tag! It was so much fun! I felt compelled to come back again … and again … and again. The first two weeks, I was so incredibly sore, and the summer heat and bad air caused my lungs to scorch. But amazingly, my body started responding … pretty soon the weight was coming off!
I don’t have a scale at home, but clothing-wise, I’ve gone from a Lane Bryant Size 16/18 to a normal Petite misses 12/14.
Lisa Nelson
I’m off of all blood pressure medications. I’m off of all anti-depressants and anxiety medications, too.
I ran the Komen run last fall … Ran the Marine Corp Mud Run this summer … Was on the StreetStrider R&D team and rode in the Xmas parade … If there’s a signup sheet for anything physical, you can pretty much count me in! And this comes from the girl who was ALWAYS chosen last in jr. high PE class. Today, my Bootcamp BFF’s WANT me on their team! AMAZING! The friendships I’ve made at Bootcamp are ones that will last a lifetime.
And then, there’s the giving back … We did the Extreme Home Makeover. You’ve helped me with the Children’s Hospital cancer kids. And all of the other opportunities to support good things have added that much more to MY life!
So the 30th reunion has come and gone. I paced myself at the buffet table, maybe had a little too much champagne, but have made a commitment to keep up the healthy routine despite the festivities being over! Of course I’m still a work in progress, but am a far different – and much better – person than I was 16 months ago!
I think the best thing I heard over the reunion weekend came from one of the football jocks … while wading in a sea of some severely obese classmates, the jocks called me over and we got reacquainted – and I was prounounced ”smokin’ hot” by one of them! LOL Never thought of myself that way, but of course, I’ll take it!
Lisa Nelson
You can certainly use my story as a ringing endorsement to encourage anyone that needs some motivation. If I can do it, anyone can!
Thank you so much for providing a place where we can come and laugh, cry, form lasting friendships, get healthy, learn, vent, piss and moan, and even fart. Hahahahhah! I know that the ultimate desire has to come from within, but YOU have made my life so much better by providing a place that feels safe. I wish I’d win the lottery, and I’d finance your Fat Farm dream!
God Bless you and yours … I love you bunches!
Lisa Nelson