Weight Loss Stories – Camille Lost 79 Pounds and 10 Sizes

Name: Camille
Age: 45
Family Status: Single
Occupation: Executive Producer
Hometown: Phoenix, Arizona
Height: 5’9″
Starting Weight: 279 pounds
Current Weight: 200 pounds
Current Waist Size: 29″

Camille’s Weight Loss Interview!

How much did you lose?
I lost 79 pounds and went from a size 22 to a 12!

When did you become unhappy with your weight?
I was overweight as a child and went through decades of yo-yo dieting. It started nearly 40 years ago and the struggle with weight began as a child in grade school. After the birth of my youngest son in 2002, I enrolled in a fitness boot camp. I lost 30 pounds in 6 weeks but tore 2 ligaments in my knee. Nevertheless, the pounds I lost I found them again along with 20 more.

A heart wrenching public divorce as a pastor’s wife and 3 adult children who were launching into the depth of their college years and identifying their own paths in life left me anesthetizing my pain with food. I knew it was bad when I had all the nearby restaurant’s phone numbers stored in my phone on speed dial including the entrée of choice for each place. I attended a grief recovery class that forced me to look at myself in a full glass mirror while addressing my childhood abuse and pain while looking for validation in all the wrong places both personally and professionally.

As the healing began, God began to restore my soul and fill me up with his love. On March 22, 2012 my mom had several toes amputated and I stayed with her until the surgery was complete along with her recovery. I went home and cried the entire drive home and continued sobbing all night. I wrestled with the fact that if I didn’t do something about my health I would be next.

The following morning I vowed that would not be me. I stepped on the scale and noticed 279 pounds staring back at me. Immediately I began to think about my family’s long history of heart disease, high blood pressure, and diabetes. I realized that if I didn’t do something I would either be just like my mother or as Auntie Hattie put it,  “A girl with a beautiful face who’s killing herself with food”. My cousin Sheri had been hounding me about trying a new workout class with her. I was nervous and resistant because of the previous experience with boot camp. So on March 23, 2012 I met Nichole Fisher who helped change my course and give me a new lease on life one day at a time. She was a hardcore trainer who decided to leave the dogma of the fitness industry and started to change the lives of many people one person at a time in her basement.

Nichole and I connected immediately. She was no-nonsense just like me and would not accept me quitting on myself or me giving her excuses. She did not once put me down for being overweight and lacking energy while my discipline was developing. The ladies at the Figure Eight Boot Camp were phenomenal. They were all there for different reasons with separate goals. What I loved most about one of the ladies was her raw transparency concerning her own struggles with weight and how the folks in the fitness community take advantage of the obese. So the first week I detoxed with fruits and vegetables while avoiding meat, pasta and sweets.

I could barely make it through the first 5 minutes of walking in place. After my first week I lost 9 pounds and that’s when I got serious. I committed to working out 3-4 days a week while journaling my meals, water and exercise. Then chicken and fish were added in and I started eating 3 meals a day with two snacks.

After 90 days I could not believe I had already lost nearly 32 pounds! After 2 years I lost 60 pounds and was gearing up to lose the next 40 pounds. As life would have it, things changed. My trainer’s dad died and she took a new position that limited her time and I relocated to another state. After a year in a rural community where I didn’t know anybody along with the challenges of getting acclimated to a new job and housing caused me to get off track with my workout routine. I attempted to stay motivated by walking a couple of days a week but it was just not enough.

I stumbled on a couple that forever changed the trajectory of my life both personally and professionally. I met Julius and Jeanette Jones and could not believe the drive and energy they possessed at every encounter. They introduced me to Herbalife Nutrition and that’s when things changed completely. I stepped on their scale and could not believe after all my conscious eating and attempts at keeping the weight off I had actually gained 28 pounds. Isn’t it funny how we always tend to call gaining 30 pounds just “picking up a little weight”.

So I began working out again but this time learning that all those years of the weight struggle were attributed to emotional eating and the lack of understanding the 80/20 rule of health. 80% is nutrition, like my eldest son LeBron (not James) told me a few years ago. He said I must control what goes in my mouth. The other 20% is fitness, so you must exercise to change your body.

I could not believe how the weight began to melt off one pound at a time. In fact, I began chronicling my progress and I’m creating a memoir called “One Pound at a Time”. To date I’ve lost those 28 pounds and more importantly I’ve dropped 3 more dress sizes. I’m shocked when I look at my strength and fortitude; the yo-yo dieting is finally over. I’m in the best shape of my life and my adult children actually look like my siblings now! I’m working out 4-5 days a week with cardio and weight training 3-4 days. My goal is to lose another 30 pounds. Yet, now I’m inspiring and encouraging people around the world that they have what it takes to gain control over their own flesh and train their body like an athlete. You don’t have to be perfect but you must perfectly pursue a better life.

My advice to others is to gain control over what you put into your mouth, as my adult son told me, then find a coach to help you. There are some results that will only come from a professional coach. I never imagined calling myself an athlete but the bible declares it (1 Corinthians 9:27): “I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should.”

What made you decide to lose weight?
My mom had multiple toes amputated from diabetes and I realized if I didn’t do something then I would be next.

What were the most important changes you made to lose weight?
Controlling what goes into my mouth. Getting fit and healthy is 20% fitness and 80% nutrition.

What was the most challenging thing you had to deal with during your weight loss journey?
Emotional baggage and eating to cover up pain.

How long did it take you to start to see results?
It only took 2 weeks. My journey has been back and forth for past 3 years but now it’s consistent and I’m trying to help others accomplish their goals.

How long did it take for you to reach your current weight?
I was back and forth so it took about 3 years.

How long have you maintained your weight loss and what are the most important factors for keeping it off?
The key for me is eating consistent meals, not starving my body and exercising without becoming compulsive.

What keeps you motivated to continue your weight loss success?
Living a healthier lifestyle without any danger of getting diabetes, heart disease or a stroke. Being a great example to my 4 children, 3 of which are adults, is also very important.

How has your life changed now that you have lost weight?
I have a greater lease on life! I love pursuing my goals and I have more love toward people and I no longer look for other people’s flaws.

Do you have any advice for others who are trying to lose weight?
It’s important to discover your “why” for wanting a better life. Use each day as a measure for the next day’s success.

How did ShapeFit help you reach your weight loss goals?
I’m inspired by other people telling their unadulterated weight loss stories (flaws and all) on ShapeFit.

Camille’s Weight Loss Tips!

Weight Loss Tip #1:
Move your body at least 3-4 days a week.

Weight Loss Tip #2:
You must plan your meals to ensure you stay on track. First, start with committing to eating breakfast and then make small changes every three weeks.

Weight Loss Tip #3:
It’s your journey so you must be your own advocate!

Weight Loss Tip #4:
Pair up with someone to help keep you inspired and motivated. Find a coach if you can because everyone needs a coach. Some results will be hard to reach without a coach.

Weight Loss Tip #5:
Be clear about your end goal! Life is too short to not run with everything you’ve got! Never, ever give up!

Camille’s Weight Loss Eating Plan!

What do you normally eat for breakfast?
1 Herbalife protein shake or bowl of oatmeal with strawberries and blueberries, or a protein pancake.

What do you normally eat for lunch?
4-5 ounces of chicken, 1/2 sweet potato, 1/2 cup of brown rice and broccoli.

What do you normally eat for dinner?
3-4 ounces of fish and asparagus.

What do you normally eat for snacks?
I have a choice of snacks which I eat twice a day. These include either an Herbalife snack beverage which is a great source of protein, peanut/almond butter, or a piece of fruit like grapefruit, strawberries or blueberries.

What type of nutritional supplements do you take?
Herbalife multivitamin, cell activator, fish oil, green tea.

Camille’s Weight Loss Workouts!

What do you do for weight training?
I love weight lifting! I train my arms, legs, back and I also do circuits for my abs.

What do you do for cardio training?
Kickboxing, walking, POP Pilates, step aerobics, rollerskating and stability ball workouts. I get bored easily so I have to change it up.

1. Prev:Weight Loss Stories – Sophia Lost 92 Pounds and 20 Sizes
2. Next:Weight Loss Stories – Rebecca Lost 108 Pounds and 18 Sizes