Name: Marie Hallock-Sweet
Location: Eatontown, NJ
Age: 47
Height: 5' 1/2"
Beginning Weight: 235 lbs
Ending Weight: 134.5 lbs
Program: Body For Life
Starting BF%: ~48%
Ending BF%: 19%
Hobbies: Living like it is my last day on earth. Swimming, Training (Lifestyle), blowing bubbles, smiling.
Favorite Exercise: Deadlifts (Yes, I am a bit strange)
Favorite Food: Two: Shrimp and Cherries (fresh)
Favorite Supplement: Glutamine hands down
E-Mail: mzhallocksweet@yahoo.com

What motivated you to make this incredible transformation?

I was the walking dead. I was on so much medication and it was all self-induced. I found out I couldn't love the other people in my life until I learned to love me too. I don't mean that narcisstically; I mean it is as you have to be "True to YOURSELF". The better you treat yourself, the more you can learn about treating others with love.

What diet plan did you use to accomplish this change?

In the beginning I used Weight Watchers. By the way it was fine for a start out. As you can imagine at 235 pounds it is quite difficult to fathom walking much less training. Then I found Body-for-Life. And while Bill Phillips may not be everyone's cup of tea; he became my elixir of life. I was at 169 and plateaued like a beached whale. I got to meet Bill after my first challenge; I was down around 135-9, and that motivated me to continue. Porter Freeman was there, and for those that haven't had the pleasure of meeting this man; you haven't done it all. When Body for Life had given me a new frame to pursue further goals; I found an incredible person in Emma Stirling, who has tutored me into who I am today. I have never had the fortune of meeting her, but hope to make it to Austrailia soonest.

What exercise plan did you use?

Body for Life intially; now I train and am pursuing the bodybuilding physique. Five day split with cardio of course. I tend to hold flab.

What supplements did you use?

I used to be EAS, but over the years have realized that a good protein supplement, proper vitamins and minerals, as well as flax to balance out will help you maintain a healthy body; you don't have to spend a fortune on supps.

What kept you motivated and what challenges were hard to overcome?

My schedule is hard to overcome. I am a single mom that engages in activities with my kids, works full time, trains full time, managing to have a great relationship, and pursuing other outdoor activities.

What is your advice for others who want to make a change and improve their body?

Learn to believe in who YOU are and want to be. Don't focus on the pain as it is temporary, but look forward to what you can become. Use visualization techniques as well as mind over muscle. Remember that your brain is going to push you through everything, therefore focus, focus, focus. Feel every muscle in your being in your sets; embrace the pain and then change. Never give up; surrendering isn't the option. Push yourself, push your life!

Optional info: anything else you would like to add!

Thanks for asking me to put this up. My email is mzhallocksweet@yahoo.com; if anyone out there needs someone to voice off to or ask questions; please feel free to drop me a line. For any women out there that are largely overweight, please contact me and let's see what we can do for you.

Your strengths come from within...

Marie's Transformations Story: How she went from Top-Heavy to Top of the World!

I wasn’t one of those people that grew up particularly big, but rather scrawny in the beginning. I was a ballerina and my instructor closely monitored my eating habits. This mixed with the confusion of cleaning up everything on my plate, my parent’s directive, led to some serious eating disorders.

I grew up thinking bone-thin was the shape to acquire, and for a ballerina, that would work; but that stayed with me into my later life. Activity was what I thrived on in my lifetime, I couldn’t sit still, and I worked out, ran, danced, hiked and anything else; then I would eat and workout more, to burn the calories.

Where did I let it go?

I started a family and forgot about the person who was supposed to be taking care of her family. I stopped living for me, and gave everything I had to others. My sense of self left the building and with it, so did my physical and emotional growth; I stagnated and slipped into very bad habits. My excuse was always, “If they love me like this, they will love me skinny,” however, I never tried to lose weight; I let it go. I let it go so long in fact, I reached a top-heavy weight at five foot and 235 lbs. Sometimes I even used my weight to be the butt of jokes, and pretended to be smiling. What a lie...

There was a series of things that happened; my daughter was ashamed of my size for one, and other humilities such as not being able to get on an amusement park ride and having a hard time in an airplane seat. I began doing cardio at least six days a week, and diversifying my activity daily. I was running myself ragged at one point, and hit a complete plateau at 169 lbs. The woman who was taking care of my son, handed me the book Body-for-Life™, I found weightlifting and I took flight again. In the year 2000, I reached a nice weight of 135 at 19%, and was doing so well. A series of tragedies rocked my world the following year. My brother died, and then came 9/11 and I spiraled yet again. Losing hope and losing my focus; I went back up, up, up.

2003 became my time, and I seized the day, made healthy eating my lifestyle, looked back only long enough to make sure I was making progress. The single most important thing I did was drop the baggage, put my head to the sun and kept following the brightness that is in this world. Jeremy Likness had gifted me with a wonderful program, but I hadn’t implemented it properly. I decided to do it one more time and set the gears in motion. What a great thing: it took effect. The rest has been like a dream, the one I had in my head came to fruition. With the help of the wonderful and talented Emma Stirling from Australia, I am chiseling out a body I only thought of in the past. It is slowly becoming my reality. This year I continue on with my bodybuilding endeavors and continue to progress towards a ripped body.

Seize the Day!

If you are reading this and are someone who has yet to make the decision to change, don’t hesitate any longer, jump into the water feet first. You will never regret saving your own life; not one bit. One step at a time, one victory, then accomplishment and your world will never be the same. If you wish to ask questions or need a quick assist, please feel free to email me at mzhallocksweet@yahoo.com. Don’t wait another minute; don’t waste anymore of your precious time. “BE TRUE TO YOURSELF, IT ALWAYS SUSTAINS...”

Editor's Note:
Congratulations on your amazing transformation! Your story is truly an inspiration. Keep up the good work!

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