This article is shared with permission from our friends at Drew Canole.

I guess it would be accurate to say that I was raised in a fitness-focused family. My mom was the “Jack LaLaine” of the southeast. As far back as I can remember, she had a daily television exercise show called Exercise for the Modern Woman. Even as tiny kids, my sister and I were always on the show with her. As a teenager, she would have me leading whole episodes by myself. As a shy kid, this was torture for me.

It probably goes without saying that body image was extremely important in my family and we learned that thin was in and fat was NOT. This was the era of Twiggy, Charlie’s Angels and Cher. By the time I was a teenager, at 5’8” and 130 pounds, I began to see myself as fat. It’s a miracle I did not end up with a severe eating disorder early in life.

I look back at pictures of myself in high school and college and realize that I was in shape. I had a great body! Unfortunately, I had to measure up to the image of my 112-pound TV star mother and all those other TV idols. Now, I only wish I was the weight I was when I first thought I was fat. Actually, now that I think about it, I don’t think I ever want to be that thin again.

I got married in 1979 and had our only daughter in 1987. I gained 50 pounds with my pregnancy and this seemed to be the beginning of my real battle with weight. Although I managed to lose the weight by becoming a regular at the gym and living on instant breakfast, I soon began adding about 10 pounds per year once I quit working out and started eating solid food.

Over the next 25 years, I made my family my focus and quit working on me. I would lose 10 pounds and then gain 15 until I found myself at 235 pounds. I had tried diets, gyms and extreme juicing, but nothing left me with permanent results.

Life was uncertain for me in the summer of 2014 when I came to Fitlife.tv. I had been married to my best friend, the love of my life and my soul mate for 32 years. We were enjoying early retirement and had plans to do mission work in developing countries. Our future was set. It seemed secure, only it wasn’t. It never is. In reality, our future included cancer, treatment and ultimately, his death.

Looking back, I realize that I didn’t dream about my life. My husband had big enough dreams for the both of us and our life was filled with love and adventure. When he died too soon, I realized that I had no idea how to live, much less dream.

I slowly worked through the process of grieving and was beginning to be comfortable alone, but my sedentary life seemed to have no purpose and my identity was wrapped up in being a wife with no husband, half of a whole, not my own person.

In the summer of 2014, two and a half years after his death, I began to do some soul searching and spiritual renewal. I also signed up for Fitlife.tv Small Group Coaching. I had followed Drew’s Saturday Strategies and tried some juicing, but I realized that I needed accountability, connection and help if I was really going to change my body.

I had no real clue what a transformation journey I was beginning. I joined the program to lose weight and as I write this, I have currently lost 72 pounds! But more importantly, I am living an abundant life because of all this journey has given me. My mind is clear, my heart is full, my body is thriving and I know my life is limitless. I feel alive and joyful for the first time in years.

During my coaching program, I remember telling Coach Mae that I would be here until they kicked me out. I felt compelled to be a part of the Fitlife mission to help others transform and experience life as they intended to.

Thankfully, they didn’t kick me out and I got certified to be a Fitlife.tv Transformation Coach. Becoming a Coach was a continuation of the journey for me. It is so thrilling to walk alongside others as they transform their bodies, their minds and realize their potential and their dreams.

As a Fitlife Coach, I’m living my dream every day. I’m still on my journey, but I am getting to share that journey with others who are only just beginning to realize the life that is theirs to live. Fad diets don’t work. We need real transformation from the inside out complete with real food. That’s what the Fitlife coaching plan does. I’m living proof that it works and I would be honored to help anyone who’s ready to start.

The post Mom Transforms Her Life and Loses 72 Pounds Without Fad Diets, Gyms, or Extreme Juicing appeared first on The Hearty Soul.