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Posts tagged ‘Biggest Loser’

Healthy, happy & whole sans -200 lbs. More than a weight loss story — it’s an inside job!

Celebrating 5 years of Lori in the equation!

Lori in the equation 5 years – May 2017

I woke up today on the official 5-year anniversary of living with “Lori-in-the-equation” and hopped on the scale. A cheer erupted when I weighed -202 lbs LESS than I did at my highest weight, confirming that I’ve successfully maintained my 200+ lb weight loss for 5 years. YES!

My pants are still 11 sizes smaller than when I started my journey in 2010 (though a few things have shifted!). I feel strong, healthy and fit! I’m climbing mountains for fun. I’m living a WHOLE life, not just busy one. And, putting myself in the equation and taking care of me now comes naturally. It’s non-negotiable.

As I mark this five-year milestone, I am beyond grateful and even humbled by these incredible gifts that have now become my norm.

Most people look at me as a weight-loss success story. But, my transformation journey isn’t about weight loss. It isn’t about diet and exercise. It’s not about counting calories or macros. Nor is it about deprivation…or even willpower. And, it’s not done.

The greatest gift I’ve given myself is not the hard numbers — though it feels incredible to be healthy and have reversed my health trajectory. Rather, the greatest gift is how I’ve changed on the inside. This is what makes it an inside job.

Here are just a few things that are different on the inside. I’ve learned to push past fear and stop being paralyzed by perfection. I no longer self sabotage and beat myself up for being imperfect. I know that I’m enough, exactly as I am. I’ve proven to myself that I can do anything I make up my mind to do. I’ve learned to love and accept myself, imperfections and all. I’ve discovered that self-care is a non-negotiable, and acquired new skills like the “restart” to keep me on track. And I’ve learned to change beliefs and life-long thought patterns that were keeping me stuck and stalled.

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Five years ago, my new life began

And I simply could not have predicted this!

Lori_Before

My weight loss boot camp BEFORE shot taken five years ago today!

Five years ago today my personal transformation journey officially began. On Nov. 28, 2010, I arrived on the North Shore of Lake Superior to participate in a two-week, live-in weight loss boot camp (Think NBC’s Biggest Loser style camp).

I was terrified, nervous and hopeful.

Frankly, there was a tie for my biggest fear going into the camp. Topping the list was: Climbing mountains, working out to the point of throwing up, and crying in front of others. (ALL of these actually happened and I survived!)

Oh, and of course we can’t forget the intense fear of failing. I was so afraid that I’d quit when it got really, really, really hard. Read more

Guess who’s on the NBC Biggest Loser Finale?

I’ll give you one guess!

It’s true. I’m in LA with LoriSchaefer-After-BigPantsmy mom getting ready to tell my transformation story on the live finale of NBC’s Biggest Loser, Season 16. I’m thrilled to be here and meet everyone. And, I’m excited to share my story.

Tune in to your local NBC channel from 8-10 p.m. ET (7-9 p.m. for all my peeps back home in Minnesota) and watch the amazing two-hour Biggest Loser finale. You can see me share the story of how O’Neal Hampton and the Biggest Loser inspired me to a -200 lb weight loss, and watch all the amazing transformations from this season. Read more

Half their size

People Magazine Half Their Size 2014I picked up a copy of the new People Magazine Half Their Size issue yesterday (Jan. 2014) anxious to see who was featured, and how old they were. I look forward to it every year but this year with new anticipation.

It’s probably not surprising that I have renewed interest given my personal transformation and passion to help inspire and motivate others to get healthy and transform their lives.

People Magazine Half Their Size features “regular” people who have lost half their body weight through diet and exercise, no surgery or gimmicks. And, while I am inspired every year, I also note that the vast majority of people featured are younger — namely in their 20’s, 30’s, and 40 at best.

Of the five people in the main feature this year, ONE was over the age of 40. Her name is Debbie Lazinsky, age 58, from Wheatley Heights, NY. She lost a whopping 185 pounds — well over half her body weight. (Yay – Debbie, that is awesome! You go girl!) Read more

Putting the weight back on

Those of you who watch NBC’s Biggest Loser know that one of the challenges they put contestants through toward the end of their journey is to don the weight they have lost while participating in a form of strenuous exercise or physical challenge. My friend and mentor, O’Neal Hampton, was one of those contestants on Season 9’s Biggest Loser and we have discussed what this felt like and how truly difficult it was – physically and emotionally. Read more

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