Donna Gillie was uncomfortable with her size. Her struggle with food began in her early teens. At 5’4, she eventually weighed in at 230 pounds.
“My turning point — when I really decided to make a change and get healthy — was at about the age of 22,” Donna told Caters News. “I remember sitting at my desk at work, at my new job — and feeling very uncomfortable.”
Donna decided to make small changes that added up over time, and the results are pretty amazing.
First she joined a gym, taking Zumba classes and other group exercises. Then she started running, eventually working up to 10K races. After that… she stalled.
“I guess you could say I hit a plateau,” Donna explained. “So I started to change the way I ate. I watched my portions and ate more fruits and veggies, less packaged food, more whole food.”
Nearly eight years later, Donna has now shed exactly half of her body weight. Today, she is a bikini competitor.
“I entered not because I wanted a plastic trophy or any recognition, but something for myself – to prove to myself I could shape my body. After all my hard work losing the weight, I wanted to build my body,” Donna said.
She credits the weight loss community for its constant support along her journey.
“So many people have come up to me and said I made them want to make a change. And they ask for advice,” she added. “I always tell them my path — and to keep a positive mindset, because that alone can work wonders.”
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