Meet Victoria—a dedicated wife, mom, and educator who has transformed her life through consistency, determination, and the support of Stay Fit Mom and Coach Brooke. From teaching middle school math to inspiring teachers as an instructional coach, Victoria is a natural at helping others grow. But in 2023, she decided to prioritize her own growth, taking on the challenge of macro counting and fitness with a goal to reclaim her health and confidence. What started as a search for meal prep recipes on Instagram led to a complete lifestyle change, 33 pounds and 30 inches lost, and countless victories—both on and off the scale. Victoria’s story is one of hard work, faith, and the power of community, and we’re so excited to share her incredible journey with you.

Tell us a little bit about your story. Work? family? What’s a typical day in your life look like?

Victoria: I am a 39-year-old wife and mom. My husband and I have been married for 8.5 years and we have a 7 year old son. I am from and currently in Columbus, Ohio. I had the pleasure of teaching middle school math (7th grade, 8th grade, & Algebra) for 13 years before transitioning into the role of instructional coach. If you ask my son he says ” Mommy teaches teachers “. For the last 4 years, I have been supporting math and science teachers grade 6 through 12 in that capacity & I love every minute of it. In my role, I also get to attend and present at educator conferences across the nation. I find joy in helping teachers perfect their craft. 

A typical day for me means up by 5:00 a.m. (sometimes 5:15 when snooze is involved) to pray, walk, & spend time in God’s Word before waking up my son at 6:10am. Then we both get ready, grab some breakfast, and out the door by 6:50am. After dropping my son off to school, I head to work. After work I go to the gym at least twice a week. My third gym day is on Saturdays. The other days during the week I try to do something at home to move my body. In the evenings, we have dinner, I select clothes & pack lunches for the next day. Then get ready for bed to start it all over the next day.

How did you find Stay Fit Mom and what made you decide to take the leap?

Victoria: I found Stay Fit Mom in 2022 by scrolling Instagram one night. I stopped on Krista’s Chicken Pesto Bakes. Then a couple weeks later I came across the Maple Salmon Bowls. I was trying to be more consistent in meal prepping and my goal at the time was to eat to support my fertility so I needed more protein than traditional meals. So I immediately began following her account. In January of 2023, I was at my heaviest and I did not like myself. I had been going through some challenges in my personal life and food was a comfort for me. It made me feel better. But one day my son asked me to race him and I couldn’t do it. I ran like five steps and had to stop because my knees hurt, my back hurt, and I couldn’t breathe. I wanted to cry. I needed to do something. I started working out and doing this restrictive diet where I had success but that was not sustainable for me. I found myself having cheat days and eating all the foods that I was restricting. Finally, I gave in and decided to try this macro thing by registering for the 2023 Bikini Bod Challenge. I was slightly successful but not to the level I wanted to be. I could not figure out how all these challengers were seeing such great success. So I tried again during the 2023 Back-to-School Challenge. But this time I upgraded to the custom macro count and I purchased the meal prep cookbook. About halfway through the challenge, I knew that I needed more support so I took the plunge and signed up for the October 2023 Coaching Group. I became a client and I was assigned to Coach Brooke. It was the best thing that I could have done for me.

You’ve been with Stay Fit Mom and Coach Brooke for over a YEAR! Tell us about your losses and GAINS from the past year and then also how you’ve managed to balance living a full life while macro counting for this entire duration?

Victoria: So far I have lost 33 lbs and 30 inches which is amazing. I am very excited to see the scale move down. However I’ve gained so much more… I’m stronger. I’m more confident. I look in the mirror & like what I see. I sleep better. I enjoy working out & moving my body. Most importantly I can play tag, kickball, and race my son when he asks and that brings me so much joy. I gained so many healthy habits that my son is witnessing. He talks about packing a “healthy lunch” and we talk about what foods have protein in them and why it is important.

I’ve tried many diets and they weren’t sustainable for me. But I can make macros match my life. I truly believe that macro counting is not diet, it’s a lifestyle change. Through macro counting I’ve learned how to fuel my body properly. Prior to macro counting, I definitely was not eating enough which led to lack of energy. I love that now I can still have the sweet treats or the takeout as long as I plan for it. I don’t know about you but my mind is constantly going and making lists and thinking of to do’s. So planning my meals ahead of time has made my life 10x easier because it takes the stress out of “what’s for dinner?” in the moment. Present Victoria is always so grateful for the hard work that past Victoria put in. 

You’re an ALL STAR contributer in the Ninja Facebook Group and we all look forward to your posts in there! How do you think the community helps with reaching your goals?

Victoria: Community is everything. My family and friends don’t always understand why I may pass on a treat or pack my lunch instead of going out. I often hear “ugh I forgot you’re on a diet?” or “you can take a break sometimes, can’t you?”. So it’s nice to have the ninja Insider group to know that I’m not doing this alone. I feel like my posting keeps me accountable. And I love the posts from others that allow me to interact with my fellow ninjas.

What’s your most used, favorite SFM recipe?

Victoria: This is a tie between the Pastrami BLT and the Pumpkin Protein Muffins. I always keep the ingredients for these two in my kitchen.

Besides shedding pounds and inches, what are some Non-Scale Victories that you’ve experienced?

Victoria: I get so excited when I can lift heavier than I did the time before. I can lunge and squat lower now than what I could a year ago. Wall sits and renegade rows suck but I can do them now without dying. I can play outside with my son without getting winded as soon as we start. My clothes are not tight, in fact some are too big.

What makes the “hard” of macro counting worth it to you?

Victoria: At first, macro tetris was so hard for me because I did not understand the macros of foods (especially which foods contained the macros I needed) so it took me what seemed like a while to figure out what to eat. But once I learned, I thrived! I’ll be honest though, I sometimes still have questions but that is when my coach and the NI group come into play. I am such a “type A” personality that I am a planner at heart. I spend time on Saturdays planning what I’ll prep for breakfast and lunch and what we’ll have for dinner the upcoming week. I will either go to the grocery store or order online. And on Sundays I meal prep. Then the night before I add my meals and snacks into MFP. It actually simplifies my life. I do not have to think about food during the day because I already made the decision. It is so worth it because I have learned so much about my body and what it needs. There are weeks that I am traveling, or busy, or sick but I know my body and I know what I need to prioritize (focus on protein & movement or stay hydrated) in order for it not to be a complete disaster of a week. With macro counting, it doesn’t have to be all or nothing. It is indeed a lifestyle change and a mindset shift. I love it!

Tell us about your experience working with Coach Brooke specifically.

Victoria: Coach Brooke is absolutely awesome. I am a firm believer that people are brought into our lives for a reason and God knew exactly who I needed at the time I joined Stay Fit Mom. I look forward to all of her responses to my check-in every Friday (my check-in day is Thursday). Coach Brooke speaks the hard truth in love. She is so encouraging and supportive but at the same time she will push me outside of my comfort zone. But everytime she challenges me, I rise to the challenge because I know I need it. And her belief I can makes me want to prove her right. I have shared a lot of hard things that have happened in life with Coach Brooke. She not only helped me navigate my nutrition and wellness during these times but she has taken time out of her busy day to pray for me. It is always good to have prayer warriors in your corner and Coach Brooke is one for me. I know I put in the work but I would not even know where to start (getting outside, improving step count, increasing fiber, eating more veggies) if it wasn’t for her. I am beyond grateful and so blessed to have Coach Brooke in my life. Words cannot express how much I appreciate this woman.

What Coach Brooke has to say about working with Victoria:

Brooke: Victoria joined SFM coaching in October 2023, already having lost 30 pounds on her own with a custom count from SFM. Since then, she’s dropped an additional 30 pounds through consistent effort and a slight caloric deficit. Victoria’s dedication to weightlifting and exercise classes, even on tough days, has been remarkable, and she’s built healthy habits that benefit both her body and mind. She’s also significantly increased her daily steps, leading by example for her son with outdoor activities and nature walks. Despite facing challenges, Victoria remains accountable, embraces her journey, and stays focused on her long-term health. Her weekly check-ins are thorough and inspiring, and she’s now set to achieve her dream of going zip-lining on an upcoming trip—a testament to her incredible hard work and perseverance!

Victoria’s story is proof that with the right tools, guidance, and determination, life-changing results are possible. Whether you’re looking to lose weight, gain strength, or simply feel better in your own skin, 1:1 coaching can provide the personalized support you need to reach your goals. Ready to take the first step toward your own transformation? Click HERE to learn more about our 1:1 coaching program and get started today!