A Louisiana woman who was addicted to sweets ditched her sugar-laden diet to lose 42lbs and drop three sizes in just eight months after her home was destroyed by floods, which forced her family to eat out daily.
Volunteer coordinator and mum of a five-year-old, Christie Lamoureux, 31, always had a weak spot for sugary snacks, an obsession that saw her weight skyrocket.
In September 2016, her home was flooded, prompting Christie and her family to move into a hotel, where she would eat out constantly; this saw her tip the scales at 188lbs and go up to a size 12.
Before and after: Christie Lamoureux, 31, lost 42lbs in just eight months after she gained weight when her home was destroyed by floods, which forced her family to eat out daily
Shedding the pounds: The mother of a five-year-old, from Louisiana, decided to lose weight after seeing herself in a picture and not recognizing herself
After seeing a picture of herself at a baby shower a month later, Christie did not recognize herself and decided to take action.
She joined Weight Watchers, where she was introduced to a stricter exercise and diet routine, helping her go down to just 146Ibs and a size six.
‘I was active and thin growing up, then when I hit my twenties my weight skyrocketed. I tried to lose weight so many times over the past ten years, but would always quit whatever I was doing after a few months or weeks when I didn’t get instant results,’ Christie said.
Christie, who is married to her high school sweetheart, credits her son for inspiring her to shed the pounds.
‘I want to be healthy and be able to keep up with him as well as provide a good example to him. We also have three dogs and have started taking short daily walks with them as a family.
Making a change: Christie said she yo-yo-dieted for the past decade and tried losing weight, but would quit when she didn’t see instant results
Sweet tooth: The volunteer coordinator said she always had a weak spot for sugary snacks, an obsession that saw her weight skyrocket
Awe! Christie, who is married to her high school sweetheart, credits her son for inspiring her to shed the pounds
‘I felt embarrassed, self-conscious, uncomfortable, tired and self-critical. I’ve been unhappy with my weight for years now,’ she said.
Her home flooding and living in a hotel for three weeks caused Christie stress and she said she could feel herself gaining weight, and decided it was time to take action.
Although she yo-yo-dieted for the past decade, the Weight Watchers program is working for the mom, who said she uses their app to track everything she eats.
Ashamed no more: ‘I felt embarrassed, self-conscious, uncomfortable, tired and self-critical. I’ve been unhappy with my weight for years now,’ Christie said.
Working out: Christie now tracks her meals with the WeightWatchers ap and makes a point to stay active
Looking good: Sometimes, according to Christie, people don’t recognize her “before” pictures (left) and are surprised it’s her
‘Tracking my food using the Weight Watchers program has helped me make better choices, lighten up my meals, especially the desserts and control my portions. I also make it a point to get my steps in daily and stay active.
‘I now use less excuses and exhume more confidence. Clothes look better, I love “shopping” in my closet now and I feel better and have more energy. I’ve also stopped snoring at night and sleep better,’ Christie shared.
She added that after losing the weight, which has helped her stop snoring and sleep better, people have told her she inspires them.
A new life: She said she has stopped snoring and sleeps better after shedding the pounds
Everyone can do it! ‘You just have to take that first step, which is the hardest. Go on a walk, join a program, tweak your meals. Whatever it is, just go for it. It’s so worth it,’ said Christie
An every day fight: Christie said that she has good days and bad days, but the most important thing is to ‘lose excuses’ and get back on track for the next meal
‘It’s a journey and I’m not perfect. I’ve had weeks or months where I’ve kicked butt and I’ve had times when I’ve struggled with motivation,’ she said.
‘Losing excuses and getting back on track for the next meal – not the next Monday – has helped me stay on course.’
Sometimes, according to Christie, people don’t recognize her “before” pictures and are surprised it’s her.
She also encouraged others who want to get in shape: ‘You just have to take that first step, which is the hardest. Go on a walk, join a program, tweak your meals. Whatever it is, just go for it. It’s so worth it.’