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Women send us these types of success stories every day – But as you can understand, most of them ask me NOT to share them publicly. And I understandably agree.

Fortunately, for every bunch of ‘private’ fat loss/fitness success stories I get – there is usually one person that allows me to share their story, publicly, on the blog – like this one below…

Please share your thoughts and praise in the ‘comments’ section at the end – and please share the link to this page with anyone you know who can use this type of motivation and inspiration… Here it is…

Mom’s Fat Loss Secret: How Siobhan Dropped Many LBS of Fat

— happily submitted by Mom of 4, Siobhan Callaghan

I was in absolute terrible condition for my age! After having my fourth child I was so busy about home life, taking care of the kids and everyone else – I just put myself last and let myself go.

My heaviest weight was around 200lbs. I suffered from panic attacks low self esteem, constant headaches, fatigue and I had awful back ache, with falling arches in my feet as well.

Sadly, the only thing good was my cholesterol levels were fine!

I hate to admit it but emotionally I was crushed. I was always the high-spirited ‘’joker’’ of the group, the one who seemed to make others happy. I always knew people cared for me but they also (I feel), didn’t look up to me or I suppose maybe even didn’t respect me.

Siobhan at 200LBS, Before Weight Loss

Siobhan Before

I hated shopping because I could never find anything that would fit me properly and I always hated any special occasions that I would have to dress up for because I could only wear clothes that were made for women in their 50’s!

There were always tears to be shed…

But at the end of last April I went out on a friends birthday party with a bunch of girls and got the kick in the butt that I needed!

Siobhan After Fat Loss

Siobhan After

There I was among other women my age, who had children too, and well… embarrassingly I WAS the biggest girl there and the most dootsy dressed. The only thing I could think of that night was why and how have I done this to myself??

Siobhan Before

Siobhan Before

I thought that I too deserve to look and feel good, feel confident and sexy and most important to be and look as young as I was…. I was just going to have take the time for myself which I never did before, realizing that it wasn’t or wouldn’t be selfish for me to it. I would only be selfish by continuing to let myself get so far out of shape and unhealthy.

There was only me that made the mistake and only me that could fix it now.

The first thing I did was a simple, yet focused, week of healthy, controlled eating. I have to say it did help get rid of all the sugar and salt cravings. When the week was over I was stronger inside and more determined and I knew that this was something I really wanted to do, to take control.

I didn’t join any weight watcher clubs, I just stuck to fruit and veggies and chicken and started to buy wholegrain bread and pasta/rice and I bought myself a skipping rope! I was fairly new to the internet (and still am!) and just started to Google anything and everything to do with losing weight or exercises.

As my hips were the biggest part of me I Googled hip & bum exercises and that’s when I first came across my life support!–JOEY ATLAS!

Siobhan After

Siobhan After

There it was… a free download sample of exercises – and I signed up for his free e-newsletter which educated me and I just knew this man was talking sense and in plain old fashioned English with no big health or fitness words that I didn’t understand.

The best thing was, after doing my jump rope I always did the free exercises from Joey and you know, I could see results which made me want more. I was hooked – and Joey earned my trust.

I was so delighted to order his program – I knew it was just meant for me! I was like a kid waiting on Santa after that!

When I did my first session well what can I say I couldn’t do it.. that’s how unfit I was…

My whole body was shaking and nerves twitching everywhere that I could only do maybe 4 or 5 repetitions on each exercise! And as for the next day well it hurt (in a good way) and the day after that, too! I knew this would be the thing that worked for me. Even though it was a challenging start.

Siobhan Before

Siobhan Before

But as Joey told me in the instructions to “do what you can and that it will get easier”, well those words of encouragement really persuaded me to stick with it and of course he was right..it did get easier and I did do more and I got results!

Joeys plan is very easy to stick to and all the exercises can be done almost anywhere and as a busy mum of 4 kids, I didn’t have to leave the house to see to myself and get my workouts in!

More importantly I had no expensive equipment to buy which was an added bonus. The ULBHTM is very easy to follow, Joey makes you feel that he’s right there with you step by step by the way he structured the program, I found it much easier to stay focused, get into the exercises and I suppose, get them right.

Siobhan After

Siobhan After

My current weight is now right where I love it and I’m wearing my favorite dress sizes which are around (UK) 8/10. I had a wedding about a month ago and bought myself a USA dress size 4! WooHoo!!

I hadn’t wore a dress since my wedding dress nearly ten years ago and I went from white to black! that’s the dress in my after pics which I did pose for because now I can!! LOL!

Beforehand I always hid behind people in pics which now I wish I didn’t because I would have had great before pics! But nonetheless – you can still see how bad I was.

Its great; now I can almost buy anything I want to wear as long as its not too pricey and not too bare cos even though I’m “half the woman I used to be”, I am so used at covering up myself but I’ll get over that hurdle too!

I want to do more now, get in better shape & go out shopping more! I feel renewed!!

My physical and emotional energy levels are much better now and I’m always up for new challenges and fun things!

I feel that my personal success has made me stronger as a wife, mom and friend – and I have far more confidence in what I can do, not just emotionally but physically.

I have learned that it is important to start to love and and take care of myself and not just others, I need to be confident to make my kids confident, I need to be aware to make my kids aware, I need to be active to make my kids active, I need to be motivated to make my kids motivated and I need to care about myself to make my kids care about themselves, I am trying to educate them that it is important to be fit and healthy and that it can be very fun doing it!

The feed back from others is mostly good. A lot of people don’t recognize me anymore which can be funny! Then you get some saying ah you’ve done enough now you look brilliant so Stop!

It can be hard for some to understand that I actually enjoy eating healthy and exercising, that its not “just to keep the the weight off” for superficial reasons, I just need it for my emotional stability!! I want it for my longevity and… ‘cos I enjoy it!!! that’s all!!

I was asked “was I taking anything” which actually insulted me and I thought well if that’s what a close friend thinks then what does everyone else think! So it knocked me back but again I pushed forward! I’ve learned that people can be jealous of others success and I had it mentioned to me a few times.

I also have learned that people can be inspired by others success and so encourages them to follow suit!

I feel in control of my life and health now, I know where the grass is greener! I wont let myself go like I did for so long, I don’t think I’ve ever been happier!

Now I always try to start my day off and get up an hour earlier than the kids to do my ulbhtm program, and like Joey advises, if you want your morning coffee then have it!

Joey has the best ‘secret seven’ snack foods ever, and people who come in to my house and see the (natural) peanut butter jar look at me funny and say you ate that and lost weight??!! (Good job the don’t see my dark chocolate!!)

I make good, healthy food choices, and if I get even ten mins free I do a little cardio like skipping rope to up the metabolism and to boost my energy levels. I usually go for a 4 mile brisk walk weather permitting! And if I don’t get the time during the day to do my ulbhtm exercises, I leave it till I get the kids to bed and do it then..

I feel that I’m now more the person on the outside that I have been on the inside for so long.. So I feel I’m freed from the suit or ‘shield of armour’ and instead put the armour into my mind so that I’m stronger person now.

For all the women, and men, who feel they’ve let themselves down or are prisoner in their bodies, well… you’re not.. that’s all in your mind.

Take control of yourself, love yourself and your body.. ‘Cos if you don’t, who will??

Start by saying to yourself “I am in control of who I am and I am going to be happy.. I deserve to be happy..”

And when you control the thoughts in your mind you will control what you do with your body… what you feed it, how you use it, and you will come to realize that the effort is worth it and more importantly it is fun!

And if you have a bad day today, then don’t tell yourself ‘you’ve failed’ or that you can’t do it. Don’t give up hope, because every minute that lies ahead waiting for us is always a new one that we can start from, again.

The only way to encourage change is to think like a baby; you have got to be able to balance on your feet before you take your first steps and then you must learn to walk before you run and everyone stumbles and falls, but rise again and soon you will be fast on your feet…

- Siobhan Callaghan
Donegal
Ireland

You must admit, this is an incredibly inspiring story of positive change and leading by example. We would love to hear your thoughts about this. Your success, your challenges, your goals – just post them below – because I would love to know… Just click on that oval shaped ‘Comments’ button you see just to the right over here…

Your trainer for life – your trainer forever,

Joey Atlas

Filed under: Blog, Case Study Success Stories, Fitness of the Spirit, Mind Body Connection, Reducing Fat and Flab