Toni
Hanson
“I was unable to climb a flight of stairs without pain due to arthritis. I knew something had to be done to turn my life around.”
Age: 40
Height: 5'7"
Heaviest Weight: 140
Current Weight: 110
My Journey:
Dear Tosca,
I have been a “skinny-fat” girl my whole life. Since I never considered myself overweight, I rarely monitored what I ate. A normal day for me would be fast food for breakfast, a “healthy” frozen meal for lunch, chips and salsa for an afternoon snack, and Mexican or pizza for dinner.
Years of eating poorly caught up with me when, at the age of 38, I was diagnosed with pre-diabetes and I was unable to climb a flight of stairs without pain due to arthritis. I knew something had to be done to turn my life around.
On January 18, 2010, I decided to compete in a figure competition that was coming up that following May. I knew there would be no greater motivation to stay on track than standing on a stage in a suit so small that it could fit into a Ziploc bag.
When I started training, I came across Clean Eating magazine in a local grocery store. I found the recipes fit with my competition diet, and loved reading the stories of women just like me making their lives better through good nutrition. I also fell in love with your story and discovered The Eat-Clean Diet®.
I found a trainer (who told me I was close to 30% body fat) and took my beginning pictures. There was no turning back! For 18 weeks, I weight trained three times a week, packed my cooler every day and ate Clean 100% of the time. I didn't want to have any regrets when I stood on that stage.
By my May 25, 2010 competition, I was down to 13% body fat, had no symptoms of pre-diabetes and no more painful knees! This accomplishment has kick-started a whole new healthy life for my family and me.
Since my first show last May, I have competed in four more figure competitions (placing 2nd in the Master's category, 2nd in Novice and in the top five in the other shows). I continue to Eat Clean and over the past few months I have subscribed to Clean Eating magazine, read several of your Eat-Clean Diet books and joined the Eat-Clean Diet community.
My husband has also been Eating Clean with me since last January. Over the course of the year, he has lost close to 80 pounds and even started competing in bike races. We are definitely an Eat-Clean couple!
We are competing in a triathlon this summer and I am planning on pursuing my nutritionist degree within the next year. I attribute this all to Eating Clean. I am so thankful for the support and inspiration provided by the Eat-Clean Diet community. I could not have done it without you.
Toni Hanson
Temple, GA