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May 18, 2012
22,609 Members Strong
Leigh Anne
"They will not force us, they will stop degrading us, they will not control us, we will be victorious!"
Location Riner, VA
Age 27
Gender Female
Interests Working out, writing, coffee, hiking
Smoke? I do not smoke
Drink? I do not drink
Education Graduated college / 4-year / BA
Favorite movies 18th Angel, Christmas Vacation, Exit Wounds
Favorite music I like anything with a good beat - except country!
My name is Leigh Anne, I'm 27 years old, I've been overweight my entire life and this is the year all of that is going to change!

I remember being teased in school. I remember crying when people would call me fat. I remember being left out, pushed out, never considered.

I also remember the day I said I'd never look back. I've been looking forward ever since.

In 2008, I was laid off from my job as a reporter for a local newspaper. I was hired at the government building in my county in the public information department. Not long after, Halloween rolled around and I came to work in a black shirt with a red one underneath, black pants and devil horns atop my head. The black shirt (which I still have) had always been one of my favorites ... and I knew it used to fit. That morning I dressed up, however, I could not button that black shirt.

After seeing photos from that day (you can see one in my gallery in a side-by-side comparison), I knew things had went too far. I stepped on the scale and saw 280 pounds. Twenty pounds away from 300. I was having trouble breathing when I was sitting, I couldn't climb the stairs at my new job, I didn't feel comfortable in my own skin.

I started slow. We have a small fitness room at work with a couple treadmills, an elliptical and a Nautilus strength circuit machine. I would go walk on the treadmill for 15 to 20 minutes every day, all the while having flashbacks of times past I'd tried to lose weight and failed. But I pushed my focus to today, concentrated on what tomorrow would bring and eventually worked my way to 30 minutes on the treadmill with ease. I stepped on the elliptical. Five minutes later I stepped off, out of breath! Today, I'm able to do around an hour on the elliptical ... and I love every second of it.

I added in strength training in a circuit routine. We got some free weights in the fitness room, so I worked with those, too. I was constantly researching, reading all the material I could get my hands on, including Max Muscle magazine. I visited Max Muscle in my town and received a nutrition plan from the store owner. It is the guidelines from that plan that help me shape my meals and snacks today.

Here I am, 65 pounds lighter. Problem is ... I've been hovering around 215 pounds for over a year! When I heard about the MaxFormation challenge, I knew immediately it was my opportunity to get going again. I've taken my before photos, visited my Max Muscle store, have an appointment with my doctor to discuss some supplements I'm going to take and I am pumped to jump into this challenge!

This is going to be the year that all my fitness goals are met, my health improves, my weight comes off and I'm left in a strong, confident, sexy body!
Leigh Anne's Wall
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  • By GwynGirl22 on February 07, 2012 4:02pm

    Thanks for the friend request! You've already accomplished so much - you'll get there! :)

  • By Kid4life on January 12, 2012 8:33am

    Best of luck to you as you turn the page and continue to find success in all that you do! Being able to start off on your own, see progress and continue to challenge yourself is a great achievement. Keep the focus!

  • By kim129 on December 25, 2011 3:27am

    You can do this Leigh! You have accomplished a lot already. Best wishes to you ;0) kim129

  • By Leah Davis on December 19, 2011 5:27pm

    Love your attitude! Next year at this time you will be telling yourself "Woo-hoo, I did it!" just keep reminding yourself how great that is going to feel! Nice job! Keep up the great work.

  • By Leigh Anne on December 20, 2011 5:47am

    Thank ya, ma'am!! :)

  • By Steve Peters on December 12, 2011 4:24am

    Hi Leigh Anne, thanks for the add. Congrats on what you've accomplished so far, that's awesome! Keep it up! You've got this!

  • By Leigh Anne on December 12, 2011 5:41pm

    No problem. :) And thank you! You're going to do awesome, as well!

  • By Tonya Sprague on December 09, 2011 10:32pm

    Your drive and inspiration will carry you thrue to the end of the 2012 transformation challenge... I understand where you coming from.... Im very excited to see everyones progress as we all the need the encouragment to continue meeting our goals....Keep up the great work! ..... tonya sprague

  • By Leigh Anne on December 11, 2011 6:59pm

    Thank ya, ma'am! :) Good luck to you!

  • By Don Dona on December 09, 2011 11:08am

    Leigh Ann

    Thanks for the friend request. Congrats on the progress you have made so far. Keep up the good work. If I can be of assistance let me know.
    Don

  • By Leigh Anne on December 09, 2011 8:26pm

    Thank you! I bow down! LOL, congrats again. Your work definitely does not go unnoticed or unappreciated!

  • By Christina B. on December 09, 2011 9:50am

    Thank you for the add!! I just read your profile and I’m looking forward to seeing that strong, sexy body in 6 months!!!! You've done to GREAT already!!! It’s going to be tough, but stick with it, ask questions and be strong and you’ll do it!!!

  • By Leigh Anne on December 09, 2011 8:24pm

    Thanks so much!! :) It's nice to have people believe!

  • By Transformer on December 09, 2011 9:49am

    Hi Leigh Anne. Thanks for the friend invite ;-) You are such a strong person I could only hope to be as strong and determined as you. I too have flashbacks of all the times I've tried to lose weight and failed and family members or co-workers ask, "Which diet is it this time" It hurts but then again I know they are right. I've never finish what I start, but you drive a good point, push your focus to today and don't look back. I will remember this when I start having doubts about myself. Thank you.

  • By Leigh Anne on December 09, 2011 8:23pm

    I wish I knew how many times I've heard "Which diet is it this time." Gag! ;) I used to have an answer because I'd be on a fad diet ... but now? I say ... "It's that magical one where you eat healthy, exercise regularly and GASP you lose weight and get in shape!"

  • By JessetheHobo on December 09, 2011 8:03am

    Thank you for your support Leigh Anne! This is going to be your year!

  • By Leigh Anne on December 09, 2011 8:46am

    You're welcome and thank you! :)

  • By Angie Nipper on December 08, 2011 12:18pm

    I am excited to be here and watch you as you go through your journey. Keep your head up even when you have those doubting moments which I promise you will. When you have those moments remember to look in the mirror and remind yourself why you are doing this. Reach high and go big because you have nothing to lose and everything to gain..... the skies the limit =)

  • By Leigh Anne on December 08, 2011 3:41pm

    Thank you!! Same to you. :)

  • By Dezirae on December 08, 2011 11:24am

    Thanks for the add Leigh Anne! Reading your story makes me cry with you! i have been there! picked on my whole life... although, i wasn't very "big" in high school, i was the quite nerdy girl that everyone picked on. Maybe that's reasons why i have got to where i am now, who knows! but i do not what it feels like to be called names pertaining to weight. those are the ones that hurt the worse. i learned to be numb to any thing else. but weight, ugh, its like im being shot & killed. its crazy how much similarites we have in life as far as where we got to our "before". What an amazing accomplishment you have made thus far! that's amazing! way to go!! good luck Leigh Anne!! you can do this!

  • By Leigh Anne on December 08, 2011 3:41pm

    Thanks so much for the comment and add! It's nice to find someone who understands ... though I wish no one did, haha. Looking forward to checking out your profile and journals. Let's do this!!
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