I always thought I had my weight and my eating habits under control. That I didn’t need to exercise t because I was healthy and didn’t have anything too concerning; until I went up four pant sizes in one year. I wore over-sized shirts and huge sweaters to hide what I was embarrassed to show and always wore black. I walked slowly up the stairs so I wouldn’t lose my breath. I would stare at the mirror and tell myself to change but never did. 

My husband went through a weight gain about 10 years ago and after about a year, he started exercising frequently and never looked back. I tried but I didn’t have that much motivation, I didn’t have the drive to do so because I thought I was fine. But I didn’t want to keep spending money on buying new clothes because I couldn’t fit into the pants or shirts that I had just bought. 

I saw an ad on Facebook for Camp Gladiator for $29 to try for a month. I got a card from a fellow member and meant to call to sign up but didn’t. I saw another ad and it was for $39 to try for the month and it was 6pm on a Sunday night and I was like what the hell. I called the number, she took my info, and signed me up and when she told me “Okay! Camp starts tomorrow! How does 5:45am sound?” I thought to myself “OMG what did I just sign up for!” But it was done and I haven’t looked back since because it was a good change that my life needed.

Camp Gladiator helped me lose the first 7lbs but I knew I was still missing something. After eight months of consistent working out and even completing CG Games, which was a big accomplishment for me, Joseph posted a status about an 8-week Holiday Challenge which I didn’t even know he did nutritional counseling on the side! I told him I was interested and just like that, my life changed again for the better! 

When I started Joseph’s meal plan, the one thing I worried most about was taking pictures of myself every week without a shirt on. I didn’t like the way I looked, therefore, I felt like I was going to be judged or criticized for the lifestyle I was living in. But after a while, Joseph made me feel more comfortable because the pictures weren’t just for him to help me. At the end, I saw those pictures as a reminder of where I don’t want to be again in life: embarrassed, no energy, giggly everywhere, and even though at my highest of 156lbs, people would tell me “oh that’s not that much! You’re not fat!” But for a 5”1’ little girl, yes, I was overweight. My physician told me I was technically considered obese due to my height but no one else saw that but me. 

I’ve been on Joseph’s Meal Plans for about 8 months and it’s worth every penny! The support from not just him alone, but his other clients who are just like me wanting change and need that push and guide from someone to tell them what to do and what not to do! I’m down 20lbs since 2019 and I’m much more toned in places I wouldn’t have imagined before. I’ve dropped three pant sizes and I fit in my jeans better than when I was a size 6 before. I always had love handles and now they’re not there. I’m not saying I’m totally fit because I am not but I feel so much more comfortable in my clothes. I don’t hide my body behind big shirts or sweaters. I can wear a fitted shirt and not be embarrassed about it because I know I look good in it. 

The self confidence that Joseph has given me is worth the struggle in not giving into temptation to eating Bill Miller’s for breakfast and Whataburger for lunch. Knowledge really is power when you know what you could be eating throughout the whole day instead of spending all your calories in one meal. Discipline and control was a struggle when I wanted to eat more carbs for my meal but I had to stick to my plan. Yes, I fell off the wagon here and there and had a soda and some cheat meals, but I haven’t given up. “Treat every Monday as if it’s your 1st Monday on the plan” as Joseph would say!

 I won’t stop bettering myself and I’m glad I found CG and Joseph’s Facts over Fads Nutrition program because without them, I wouldn’t be where I am today with my fitness and health!