This page is dedicated to sharing success stories about reaching certain fitness goals. Maybe you lost a lot of weight or ran your first marathon, etc. Whatever it is, we want to hear about it. If you are interested in sharing your story, please contact us at MidwestFit@gmail.com. Please include your story and a picture or two (optional). There is nothing more powerful than people inspiring people…

(MidwestFit wants to thank all those who share their story with us and wish them the best in their life long journey to improve themselves)

Terry’s Story

“As a typical athlete growing up through grade school and high school, playing football, basketball, and baseball kept my body active and was always a skinny, healthy kid growing up.  Being active was always enough to overcome the poor eating habits which the teen-age years allowed.  Unfortunately the college parties eroded away the active lifestyle and slowly year by year pounds were added.  In fact, after a difficult 10 year marriage that failed I had ballooned to an unthinkable state of being.  Years of justifying with lines like, “I’m not as big as a lot of people” and refusing to truly look in a mirror produced a person that I truly didn’t recognize, sadly.  Whenever someone decides to truly take on a task they can only do it when they have “their moment” for me it was a photograph about to be put up on our company website, and that was it.  Immediately, I began eating healthier and lost weight.  But the real success began with the work of following simple workout strategies that wouldn’t allow the body to become complacent and that would fit into my heavy working lifestyle.  MidwestFit is awesome and has been a major part of my new healthier lifestyle.  And that is the key, when it becomes a lifestyle it is no longer temporary like a diet.  Quit going on fad diets that always end with gaining all the weight back and even more, change your lifestyle and save your own life with following MidwestFit and believing in yourself.” -Terry

Jess’ Story

“I come from a family riddled with obesity and I was no exception. I was obese my whole life topping the scales at 288 at my heaviest. I knew there was something better out there, I just didn’t know how to get it. I thought it was all about “being skinny.” When I get skinny….this will happen or that will come true. I tried and failed many times before starting my honest weight loss journey 3 ½ years ago. I see it as a blessing because I had a lot to learn. In May, 2007, I went to my doctor for a regular check up and found out that I was hypothyroid and probably had been for quite some time but it was never picked up before this point. My blood pressure was also high. I was 22 years old and 243 lbs at this time. It wasn’t high enough to begin medication but it was enough to make me want to do something about it since everyone in my family has issues with high blood pressure, heart disease and other preventable diseases. Combat this with the fact that my grandmother had her leg amputated due to diabetes shortly after I began my weight loss journey, and lost her life due to that disease later that same year. With a gentle shove from my doctor, I joined the local Curves club, belonged there for about 2 years and lost approximately 55 lbs. Then last May, I discovered Jillian Michaels, a trainer from the TV show The Biggest Loser. I have come to see fitness in an entirely different light because of her program and have learned so much about myself because of all it encompasses. I am proud to say I reached my goal weight of 142 lbs. in May of this year, just shy of the 3-year anniversary of my weight loss journey. I celebrated it by running my first 5k and taking 1st place in my age division. It’s not just about being “skinny” anymore; I strive to be healthy. I have maintained my weight within 5 lbs of my goal weight since May because of the permanent changes I’ve made to my lifestyle. Along with strength training, I’ve taken up running regularly and love it. It’s so good for clearing your mind! I don’t know now what I’d do without fitness in my life but don’t get me wrong, no one is perfect and I’ll be the first to admit that I’m not either. I still have good days and bad but it’s all in how you handle it. So many people have told me that I inspire them through what I’ve accomplished. I promise you, if you want it bad enough, you can do it – you can do anything. You are not defined by your past and you don’t have to be a victim to your genes. I’m proof of that.” – Jess

Myles Story

“I spent majority of my life in great shape, leading a very active lifestyle.  It wasn’t until the latter half of college when I found myself tipping the scale at about 190 lbs.  I honestly didn’t even notice I had put so much weight on and mainly justified it because I was still getting to the gym every day to lift.  At the time, I could max out on bench at about 275, but if you asked me to run a lap, I probably would have collapsed.  I was out of shape and I finally came to this realization once I began corporate training out in Norwalk, CT.  There were a lot of runners in my training class and after attempting to tag along with them on a distance run, what was once my forte, I knew I had to get it together.  I promised myself that I would complete the IU Mini Marathon in September 2007 and although I didn’t train as hard as I wanted to, I completed it and wanted more.  Since then, I have trimmed 35 lbs and have completed two marathons, nine more half marathons, and three 200 mile relays.  I’ve found that being in shape is not just a push in your life, it’s a lifestyle. .that you have to dedicate yourself to.” – Myles