Clark Bartram Turned Callie's Life Around

By Callie Johnson

It all started when I was looking for something to watch on TV and stopped on The Biggest Loser. I saw the contestants and noticed I was similar to them. And I was shocked, I weighed the same or more than the women on the show.

I thought, "How is that possible? Do I look like that? How could this be?".

My heart knew I needed to make a change, but my mind knew I had no clue how to start, let alone stick to it. I started searching for solutions.

I noticed an ad on Facebook by Clark Bartram asking for volunteers participate in a pilot training program. Thinking to myself, "What do I have to lose but weight?", I quickly volunteered. This ISSA trainer and nutrition coach made all the difference.

Starting weight: 230 pounds.

At first, it was a struggle! Losing weight wasn't as fun as gaining it, or was it? The first 4 weeks were tough because it takes 4-6 weeks to break old habits and create new, healthy behaviors. I wasn't alone, there were others in the group farther along in the process and had already gone through this first phase.

Once the first 6 weeks were under my belt and I could start to see results, I was unstoppable. For the next 6 months, I followed the meal plan 85%-90% of the time. It was designed to motivate, teach, and keep me on track. I learned what to eat and what NOT to eat. I dropped 30 pounds in 6 months without an intense cardio or strength training program. I was getting results through eating only, it was amazing!

Then my boyfriend proposed to me. All I could think was how confident I wanted to feel before walking down the aisle. The challenge was on, and I added cardio and strength training to get to my goals and make things happen.

Eating healthy finally became a natural thing for me. I no longer craved fast food or junk food. In fact, it's been over 2 years since I've been to a fast food restaurant.

I weighed 179 pounds when we got married. I lost 51 pounds the healthy way, which means you can too!

You may fall off the wagon, but remember, you can jump right back on and start your day one all over again. You can make it work for you.

I work hard every day to stay on plan. Be encouraged: none of us are alone in this battle.

If you're ready to change lives in the same way Clark Bartram helped Callie, check out ISSA's online certifications. As a personal trainer you can help clients build better habits for a healthier life.