Every once in a while, we meet a client whose story reminds us exactly why we do what we do. Today, we’re honored to spotlight Amy, a recently retired high school teacher who spent 32 years pouring into students before finally turning her attention back to herself. After trying GLP-1s and losing momentum, she feared regaining the weight she’d worked so hard to lose. But instead of giving up, she chose a different path — one rooted in sustainable habits, macro tracking, and compassionate coaching. Over the past seven months, Amy has lost nearly 20 pounds and 20 inches, but more importantly, she has gained confidence, joy, and a healthier relationship with food and her body. This is her story, and it’s an inspiring reminder that it’s never too late to start again.

Tell us a little bit about your story. Work? Family?

Amy: I live in Oregon with my husband, Ryan, and my one-year-old puppy, Opal.  I retired in 2024 after 32 years of teaching high school math.  While my job kept me active during the day, I tended to collapse in the evening and do homework in my recliner in front of the tv. I am ashamed to admit it, but with this semi-sedentary lifestyle coupled with unhealthy eating habits, I gained nearly 100 pounds in the last 30 years.  I tried a number of different diets along the way, but could never stick with anything long term.  So when my doctor mentioned using a GLP-1, I decided to give it a try.

Tell us about your journey using GLP-1’s.  

Amy: At the start, taking a GLP-1 felt like a heaven-sent solution.  It quieted some of the food noise, and I didn’t really have to “work” to lose weight.  I was thrilled to lose 40 pounds in the first 5 months!  But then things came to an abrupt halt.  The scale only dropped 3 pounds over the next 5 months, despite doubling the dosage.  I was obviously discouraged, and the hardest part was justifying the continued expense of the injections without seeing more results.  While I was debating what to do, I heard a statistic that on average, people who quit taking GLP-1’s gain back two-thirds of the weight they lost!!!  I was devastated.  I hadn’t changed my lifestyle at all, so I feared I would be one of those statistics.  I knew continuing the GLP-1 wasn’t the solution, but I didn’t want to throw away what I had already invested by gaining back the weight.  So I started looking for another solution that would help me create a new lifestyle to keep the weight off and hopefully continue my weight loss journey.  Enter Stay Fit Mom…

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

Amy: I came across Krista’s meal prep videos online, and fell in love with the simplicity of them, not to mention they looked delicious.  So I checked out the Stay Fit Mom website and then listened to the first season of the Stay Fit Mom podcast.  The idea of macros made a lot of sense to me, and the structure it offered was appealing.  But it was the podcast that clinched the deal.  Listening to Tracy, Krista, and their guests, I was drawn to the positive, supportive, sisterhood feeling.  I remember Tracy and Krista saying they hoped their coaches would be people their clients wanted to send a Christmas card to, and I loved that.  I was nervous about being vulnerable to someone else (especially considering how many times I had failed in the past), but this coach-client relationship sounded worth the risk. The 6-week coaching program cost less than one month of my GLP-1, so I decided to make the change, and I am soooo glad I did!

You’ve worked so hard and your transformation is inspiring!  Tell us how much weight/inches you’ve lost.

Linda: I have been with SFM for just over 7 months now, and I have lost almost 20 pounds and 20 inches.

How are you able to fit in Macro counting with your lifestyle?  Have you had to make any major changes?

Amy: I have a couple breakfast meals that I have on repeat (usually a SFM pancake bowl or a protein shake), so that makes it easy to get a lot of protein early in the day. The challenge for me is planning dinner (whose leftovers are usually lunch the next day) and sticking to it.  Because we have no children and I’m now retired, our plans/schedule change a lot.  We are able to do things on a whim, and what I had planned for the week on Sunday is sometimes “out the window” by Tuesday.  We used to eat out a lot, and that can do a real number on my macros, so I’m trying to limit that.  Some weeks I am right on my numbers, and some weeks I’m not.  This is when Coach Stacy reminds me that I am developing new habits to last a lifetime, so it’s not realistic to expect perfection.  (The old me had an “all or nothing” mentality and would have given up by now.  So it has made all the difference to be flexible and forgiving.)  I find hitting my macros is easier when I make time to track my meals in My Fitness Pal ahead of time, instead of “catching up” on it at the end of the day and realizing I was off, but I’m a work in progress and I’m ok with that.  Even if I’m moving slowly, I am moving in the right direction, and that makes all the difference.

How has learning to macro count shifted your thinking about “dieting”?

Amy: I have always equated diets with deprivation.  They restricted the type and quantity of food I could eat.  And while they might be successful in the short term, they were not something I could stick with long term, so even if I lost weight, I always gained it back, and then some.  Macros are at the other end of the spectrum.  To me, macros are the ultimate form of self-care.  I’m learning to nourish and fuel my body to feel and perform at its best.  I’m eating more than I was before and still losing weight.  The more I track my macros, the better I am able to make healthier food choices because I know how much better they make me feel.  I’m also learning how to include some of my favorite (less healthy) foods by working them into my macros; that is a very freeing attitude compared to the diet mentality.  I now have a system that puts me in control, so I truly believe I can stick with this for a lifetime, and that’s empowering!

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

Amy: I could list a lot of things (fewer medications, new wardrobe, able to keep up with my pup, …), but the biggest victory is how I feel.  I have a new relationship with food and my body.  I am stronger, more energetic, more confident, and more comfortable in my own skin.  To put it simply, I am a happier person, and that’s the biggest win of all.

What’s your most used, favorite SFM recipe?

Amy: I love the meal prep pancake bowls (especially the Lemon Poppyseed and Pumpkin Streusel).  My biggest weakness is donuts and any other breakfast sweet, so these bowls help satisfy that craving by giving me a little decadence with a good dose of protein.

Tell us about your experience working with Coach Stacy specifically.

Amy: Coach Stacy is AMAZING!!!  I feel like I won the lottery being matched with her; she is exactly what I needed. She is incredibly supportive and finds the positive in every single thing.  I am reminded of an old-time cartoon where the person has a little devil sitting on one shoulder and an angel on the other shoulder, both whispering in the person’s ear, battling to be heard.  In this picture, I was the devil … telling myself all the negative things (I would never lose weight, my workout could wait until tomorrow, I deserved a couple more donuts).  And Stacy is the angel … celebrating each tiny victory, reminding me the goal is progress over perfection, encouraging me every step of the way.  She makes me feel like a rock star after every weekly check-in.  It didn’t take long for me to start hearing her voice whispering in my ear throughout the week, and my own inner voice has picked up on her positivity.  I am now kind and encouraging when I talk to myself.  Because of Stacy, I have learned to be gentle and forgiving with myself and to recognize my growth along the way.  That voice has changed the way I see food, the way I feel about my body, and the way I think about myself.  As a result, I firmly believe this lifestyle is here to stay.  Stay Fit Mom and Coach Stacy have changed my life, changed ME!  For that, I am eternally grateful.

What Coach Stacy has to say about working with Amy:

Stacy: Amy joined SFM in May 2025, and at the time she was under-eating, especially protein. But over the past 7 months, she has completely transformed the way she fuels and moves her body. She’s increased her daily movement, added strength training, and celebrated huge NSVs—like climbing the dunes on vacation with a brand-new sense of pride!! Her clothes are fitting better, her cardio fitness has improved, and her average heart rate has dropped… such a beautiful reflection of her consistency. She’s down 20 pounds and loves being able to stay active with her beloved dog, Opal!

You can see the physical changes in her weekly photos, but even more powerful are the changes she feels—better energy, more confidence, and a new lightness in her day-to-day life.

And truly, Amy’s biggest accomplishment is her mindset!!

She practices positive self-talk, believes in herself, and radiates a joyful energy that lifts every part of her journey! She always looks for the bright side, never gives up, and still finds space to acknowledge where she can improve—while honoring how far she’s already come.

Amy is such a powerful reminder of what’s possible when consistency is paired with genuine joy! Her positive mindset doesn’t just support her journey—it fuels it, and it’s truly her superpower!!

If Amy’s journey inspired you, we’d love to support you on your own. Our 1:1 coaching program pairs you with a dedicated coach who guides you through macro counting, habit building, mindset shifts, and sustainable weight loss — without restriction or overwhelm.