We all spy on old friends on Facebook. Don’t lie, you do! One day, I noticed my childhood friend Jackie Calderon’s status update. She posted about her weight loss.  But what I noticed was her happy face. She seemed happier with every photo she posted. I love seeing people happy. Here is her story.

Epifania: When did you know you had to lose weight? Was it a bunch of little moments, or did you wake up one day and have a revelation? 
Jackie Calderon: Well, I graduated from college, San Jose State University, and was starting a new job. Things were good, but I was still sad. During training, I gained about 30 pounds and there was a point I was almost 300 pounds. 

E: Wow. So what was your first step?
JC: I started to go to the gym. Then in August 2014, my co-worker mentioned this boot camp and we signed up. I started going to this boot camp but she stopped going. Then the trainer approached me one day and said he noticed I was trying to lose weight and offered some personal training. So since then, I’ve been doing the boot camp and personal training.

©Jackie Calderon

E: When people start working out, there are times when they start losing faith and energy. How did you overcome that?
JC: Oh yeah. I had to fight that. So for two months, I didn’t lose any weight. I thought, what is the point? So I slowly stopped going to the boot camp and just did the personal training. My trainer gave me some perspective. He said, ‘so you’re not losing weight, so you stop working out?’ 

E: What were some of the mental barriers you had to overcome? 
JC: Yes. Well, when I first starting working out, I was depressed. I didn’t want to go to the doctors.
E: Oh yeah, a lot of people don’t huh?
JC: You know, I was crying every day. There is such a stigma against people with depression. People might feel like it’s their fault, or that they are weird. All I can say is don’t be afraid to get help and the medication helped me. 

E: That is so true. People need to realize it’s not their fault. Now, some people beat themselves up with their diet. Does that happen to you and what do you do?
JC: Well, it’s the holidays. Of course, I am going to binge eat. The thing is, know you are going to give in. Surround yourself with a strong support group and remember to work out more. Look I gained 5 pounds instead of 10 or 15 this holiday season because I continued with my workouts.

E: Now, let’s discuss food. Being Latina, and both having Mexicans moms, healthy eating is damn near impossible. What did you do?
JC: Well I would eat every day, so I had to stop eating pizza and burgers every day. Getting salads instead of fries. But really, what helped was just cutting my portions. Restaurants serve you more than you need. So my friend and I would share an entree. Some waitresses think we can’t share an entree, but we tell them it’s more than enough.

E: People tend to feel happier once they start working out and losing weight. Have you noticed any personality changes?
JC: I love shopping. But I couldn’t do it before. I could only shop at Lane Bryant and bigger girl stores which don’t always have cute clothes. Now I can shop. I have more confidence. I am more outgoing and want to go out more often. I even had to learn to accept compliments. 

E: Wait, what? Learn how to accept compliments?
JC: Yes, when people said I look good, I had never really felt that or heard that before. I had to learn to accept them.

E:  What else keeps you going now?
JC: Well I know I have come so far. I’m not going to stop. I have to keep moving. Because if I do, something will happen. If I don’t, nothing will happen.  

And that’s how you take back your health everyone.