How 1 Woman Was Finally Able to Get Those Last 15 Pounds to Drop http://ift.tt/1NvUkJ0

Sam was working out five to seven times a week, teaching class at her blossoming studio Cycle & Row in Michigan, and prepping to compete on Jillian Michaels's new show Sweat Inc. Still, she couldn't shed the last 15 pounds she'd be holding on to. "You know your body better than everyone else, and I knew I was bigger than I needed to be. I was thicker than I needed to be," Sam recalled.

Sam had little success with dieting in the past and decided not to go at it alone this time. Instead, she linked up with Ricki Friedman, health coach and creator of Break the Weight, to determine what was holding her back. Since Sam was already incredibly active, her major lifestyle changes needed to happen in the kitchen. In a little over three months and without making a single change to her workout routine, she lost 15 pounds.

A self-described "good eater," Sam dealt with quantity and portion-control issues, often finding herself feeling stuffed after mealtime. "It is especially hard when you are used to being really fit, really active, and you are burning a lot of calories, and you feel like you can eat whatever you want, just like when you were 15 or 16," Sam said. "Our metabolisms are not what they used to be when we were younger." Sam began taking a short walk during and after meals, and health coach Ricki determined the amount of calories Sam needed to eat to support her active lifestyle. Sam also began journaling her food with MyFitnessPal to keep her choices in check.

In her new program, Sam did not have to cut out entire food groups or say goodbye to her favorite treats forever. "If I go to a party and all they have is pizza, I have one piece instead of three," Sam explains. "I am a partier, and if there is a pizza party, I am not going to be the girl who says, 'no, I don't eat that.' I had to learn if I am going to have the pizza, how am I going to correct it in other areas?" For Sam and so many other women who want to see a change in their shape, it is all about finding this balance with food. As much as we wish an extra workout session would make up for a ton of indulgent choices, the truth remains: even when you're working out like a badass, abs are made in the kitchen.

from POPSUGAR Fitness http://ift.tt/1jU2KND