Jane Hale
35 year old mom of 3 (Helen-7; Newell-5; and Peter-2), Connecticut

Official Stats

Height: 6ft
Starting Weight: 236 lbs, Current Weight:214.4 lbs, Change= 21.6 lbs of fat GONE!
Starting Body Fat %: 47%, Current Body Fat %: 43%, Change= 4% !
Starting BMI: 32, Current BMI: 29, Change= 3
Starting size: 16, Current size: 14 (or lower?)
Starting Natural Waist: 41 inches, Current Natural Waist: 33.75, Change= 7.25 inches!
Starting Waist at belly button: 44, Current Waist at belly button: 38 inches, Change= 6 inches!
Starting Bust: 46.5, Current Bust: 41.75 inches, Change= 4.75 inches!
Starting Biceps: 14 inches, Current Biceps: 12 inches, Change= 2 inches!
Starting Thigh: 24, Current Thigh: 22.25, Change= 1.75 inches!
Total Change= 21.6 lbs and 21.75 inches GONE!

I suppose that, in order to understand how far I’ve come, I’ve got to consider where I had been when I started. You see, I’ve believed that I was heavy for most of my life. I remember being in third grade staring down at my yellow-shirt-clad torso thinking, “Why am I so fat?” I remember, in high school, even as captain of the cheerleading squad, wondering why I couldn’t be as thin as the other girls. In college I decided that my weight was a lost cause, and that it was time to focus on something that didn’t make me feel so ashamed. Interestingly enough, when I look back at photos of myself during those times, I realize that the person that I see in them, was NOT the person I thought I was then. I had a beautiful body, but just couldn’t see it.

I also have held a lifetime belief that “I can’t” do physical activities, that other people just have better, more “active,” and “stronger” genes than I do. I had severe asthma as a child (before there were effective asthma medications) and whenever I would try to play tag in gym class or play kickball at recess, some teacher would scurry up to me and brush me off to the side lines, reminding me that “You can’t play these games” for fear that my lungs would seize up. When you hear that enough, you start to believe it… whether it is a teacher or your own voice that is telling you you’re not capable.

After my beautiful baby girl was born, I remember needing to eat whole bags of chocolate to ease the sleepless haze that constantly surrounded me, the whole time berating myself because I “couldn’t” control myself. I was ashamed. I was frustrated. I felt intrinsically weak.

It was around that time that I actually started reasoning that there had to be something genetically wrong with me. I tested my thyroid, my pituitary, my adrenals… you name it! I was sure that there was something else to blame… it was just too painful to keep blaming myself. But, not surprisingly, all those tests came back normal.

Fast forward seven years and three babies later. I had a wonderful marriage. I was a great mom to three great kids. I was actively involved with our community food pantry, arts organization, church, the kids’ school, you name it! My schedule was as full as I ever could have imagined it, and I liked it that way. Being that busy, I was able to write-off my body as a casualty of not having enough time to eat right and exercise enough. I’d tried Weight Watchers and personal trainers to ease the guilt and do what I “thought” I should be doing, but as a perfectionist, I always started with such intensity that I found that I wasn’t good enough at sticking with the rigidity and huge time commitment that the programs demanded. Just as quickly as I’d started, all my efforts would fall by the wayside, once the “I can’t” voice hollered loud enough. Why bother getting back on a train that you keep falling off of?

So I’d throw myself into even more activities… again, ones that I knew I could accomplish. Run a Teen program? Check! PTO Director? Check! Enrichment Coordinator? Check! Lead a Brownie Troop? Check! Social Service Agency Board of Directors? Check! I was happy to reason that I just didn’t have enough time to take care of myself because I was so busy taking care of others…. Deep down, however, I could always hear that malicious voice telling me that the real reason that I wasn’t taking care of myself, was that I couldn’t take care of myself.

And then my mom got Lymphoma last April. My mom and I have always been as close as close can be. She went downhill with great speed, and I almost lost her. She’s another beautiful woman who takes care of everyone else in a way that doesn’t leave time for her self-care. I thought about my husband and children losing me, because of choices that I was making and because of faulty beliefs that I held…and realized that I HAD to take responsibility for myself and my health… but how?

Luckily, at that very same moment, I discovered Holly and FYM! As I nursed my mom back to health (she is now healthy and cancer-free!), I read through the program, and when I got the notice that the New Year’s Transformation Challenge was starting, I decided to jump on board at the very last minute. It’s been one of the very best decisions I’ve ever made in my life!

At first, my plan was to treat the challenge like any one of my other projects. As a highly-motivated perfectionist, I reasoned, “I CAN do anything for 12 weeks!” And I truly wasn’t sure where I would go from there, since I had always believed that it was too hard to maintain an exercise and healthy eating plan that would last for the rest of my life.

Now, as I look at the photo that took SO much of myself to post on-line 12 weeks ago and compare it to my final picture, I can see the dramatic physical changes that have transpired over the course of this challenge. These are the changes that have my parents and husband asking (only half-jokingly!) if they can join FYM.

These are the changes that people are noticing when they announce, “Jane, you look fabulous! You’ve lost so much weight!”

These are the changes that I thought that I had joined FYM for. My mommy tummy is much flatter, my face is thinner and I can actually see my jawbone(hooray!) I have definition in my arms again (after all these years!), my posture is better, my skin is clearer, my whole wardrobe is way too big!

I’ve lost 21.6 lbs of fat, 21.75 inches and at least one dress size! (My wardrobe hasn’t been able to keep up! I went through size 14 so quickly, that I don’t want to update my wardrobe again until a size is going to stick for a while!)

This is honestly the physical proof that I had joined the challenge to accomplish; I had originally wanted to look different. And while I’m thrilled to see those very changes reflected in these photographs, I’m actually most surprised by all the changes that I can honestly say I’d never dreamed were possible; and those are changes that you can’t see in this picture, but rather, they are my new reality.

First, we can start with how strong I feel. I went from being the elementary school kid who couldn’t even do one push-up (and spent at least 30 subsequent years believing that was the truth) to the mom of three who can do 30! I went from doing body weight exercises in Week 1 of the Challenge (because I thought that was all I could do) to using 30lb dumbbells in each hand for most exercises! I went from being winded going up the stairs to rocking my elliptical machine and flying up the stairs holding a 45lb kid without missing a beat! I am in awe of what my body is capable of!

Then there are the changes in how I the food I’m choosing makes me feel! By planning my meals, eating supportively every 3 hours and religiously keeping a food journal (for all but 2 days of the challenge!), I have been able to completely eradicate my sugar addiction and steer clear of stress-eating (both MAJOR accomplishments!!) In fact, I feel so much more in control of what’s going on in my life, and despite how busy I am, the simple act of caring about what I eat, is enough to ground me. My body is responding beautifully. My hormones have stabilized, and my body is working as it should! I’m a much kinder, more attentive and loving mother and wife, and I have a sense of calm (even in the midst of chaos!) that gets me through, without sugar, without binging, and, without beating myself up!

And then, there are the changes in my commitment.

I look forward to my workouts, all six of them, during the week (and I’ve done them all for the last 12 weeks!) I feel an incredible sense of accomplishment in my day when I know that I have both challenged myself AND taken care of myself, before my day gets going! I’ve also been amazed at how natural journaling feels now! I keep track of my planning and supportive food intake on my iPhone, so I can carry my journal with me everywhere I go… and it automatically and instantly tallies the calories and nutrition information so that I can continue to make good choices. It is incredibly empowering to know that I am capable of navigating any situation and that I am always responsible for and capable of making the very best choices for me!

And this leads me to, perhaps the biggest, most transformative turning point that I had during this challenge.

During the 4th week of the challenge, I went, with my family, to Antigua.
Historically, I’ve been ashamed to be in a bathing suit on the beach, and there’s a lot of anxiety that has gone along with that on our yearly visits. Briefly, before this trip, I had the added anxiety of worrying about whether or not I could stay on the program while I was away from home. But I reminded myself that this was a challenge, and that I had latched on to the motto “I can do anything for 12 weeks!” so I decided to suck it up and stick to the plan.

But when I got to Antigua, something dramatic, yet surprisingly simple, happened: as I consciously continued to take care of and respect my body, despite my perceived obstacles, I felt a strange sense of pride coming on!

Suddenly, for the first time in the challenge… and in my life, the game changed.

 It was no longer about beating (or the fear of losing) a challenge, it was about treating my body like it was, indeed, worth something! I suddenly found myself wearing my bathing suit with pride, and people that I see once a year were noticing that I looked “so healthy!” Those perceived obstacles that had once seemed so threatening, rapidly faded away, and I discovered, that: when you treat yourself like you are worth something, you discover that you actually are worth something!!

It was on that vacation, surrounded by my beautiful family, that I squashed that nasty, negative voice that had taken up residence inside my head for so long. The “I can’t” of my past, turned into the “I CAN” of my future.

This realization has dramatically shaped the rest of the challenge for me, and I believe that it is the key to success for the rest of my life. Understanding my own inherent worth, and believing that my body and my life are gifts to be enjoyed and cherished and respected, has completely changed my paradigm. I am confident, I am sexy, and I have actually started to think of myself, for the first time in my life, as a thin person! I now realize that THIS is what makes this self-nurturing way of life one that will stick with me as the journey continues. By understanding and believing that I CAN truly do anything I set my mind to, and that I CAN take care of my body, and that I AM truly worth it, I set myself up for success every time. Where 12 short weeks ago I had been shying away from my true needs, I am now proud to stand up and be counted! I am worth it! I CAN do it!

Life goes on no matter what choices I make, so I might as well make the very best choices I can, forgive myself when I make a mistake, and get right back on track! This life is too rich and wonderful to spend on negativity.

As Robert Frost wrote, “I’ve got miles to go before I sleep,“ and that’s true for me, too; although I’ve made great strides in the right direction (and blown my ambitious challenge goal of shedding 15 lbs out of the water!), I’m not yet near my ultimate goal weight or measurements. But this isn’t really about the end result, anymore. It’s about enjoying and learning from the journey.

I am so blessed to be on this journey with so many beautiful , strong, intelligent and supportive women. I can’t thank you all enough for guiding me, through your wisdom, your trials, your encouragement and your love, to the place I am today. And, you’ve all helped me to see today for what it truly is… not a singular part of a challenge that’s come to an end, but rather a FANTASTIC first day of the rest of my life!
And I would, of course, be remiss, if I didn’t give a shout out to one very special person: Holly! Holly, you’re like the Fairy Godmother who points out to Dorothy (after the long hard, sometimes scary journey) that the power to "get there" was really inside her all along!

All these things are such gorgeous gifts that I will carry with me for the rest of my life. With a little help from my friends, I now know who I really am, I know where I’m going, and I know, with 100% certainty, that I can get there! I can’t thank you all enough!

(p.s. I bought my first bikini!)