I am a native of Arizona, the seventh of eight kids. I’ve been married for 29 years and have two wonderful adult children—an older daughter and younger son. As a registered nurse for 30 years, my family and I love anything outdoors: camping, hiking, kayaking, skiing.
Before joining Copper State FIT, I had reached the pre-diabetic stage. I was on multiple medications and staring down the barrel of full-blown type 2 diabetes. At my all-time high of over 180lbs with 40% body fat on my small 5’3″ frame, I had tried several diets including Weight Watchers, Jenny Craig, Keto, and Intermittent Fasting without much success. These programs weren’t sustainable for me.
My husband, Matt, suggested we do the 6-Week Challenge with Copper State FIT. This took me by surprise because we often had different opinions on what we “could and could not” eat, and Matt had never dieted in his life. I was usually the only one following a plan, and we were never on the same page.
This time was different. Matt and I started the journey together, moving in the same direction. The plan was laid out for us, step-by-step. It was systematic, scientifically sound, and built in logical, progressive layers that we could easily understand.
It’s been a full year with CSF, and now I can enjoy our outdoor activities more easily, with greater endurance, and even take on new adventures. Our son is a kayak guide in Seward, Alaska, this summer, and we are going ice climbing for the first time!
I’m down to 27% body fat, and 143 lbs! Exercise is much easier, my endurance level is great, and Matt and I are on the same page when it comes to food choices. I also LOVE my new shape! The muscle has given me more definition, and I feel great in and out of clothes.
Best of all, my visits to the doctor have significantly decreased, and I’ve been taken off my medications! My doctors and I were happy to see my lab values return to healthy ranges. During my last visit, my cardiologist even told me I was now “medically boring”! He also said he was proud of me!
Before, Matt and I would always have a weekly wrap-up to discuss our schedule for the upcoming week. Now, that conversation includes meal planning as well. We’ve learned to habit stack—shout out to the “Atomic Habits” book. One of my biggest eye-openers was my protein intake—I had no idea how much I was lacking! That’s now a new habit I will continue.
There were certainly bumps along the road, most related to me and my pride. I realized when I finally “surrendered”, my progress hit another gear. I said it before… “Surrender isn’t giving up, it’s letting go.”
I know if both Matt and I hadn’t started working on our nutrition with Copper State FIT, my situation would have gotten progressively worse. Nutrition is the key to weight management, and CSF has given us the tools to be successful in managing our health!
