Real Fitness Stories Misty Vaccariello
Nearly a year ago I began adding some lifting to compliment my running training. Little did I know how addicting seeing so many changes in my body could be. Fast forward to last Christmas (2015) when I was toying with the notion of pushing myself even more and considering a competition. I had spoken with several friends who had previously competed in different categories. One friend warned how it would mess with my metabolism and competitions are so hard to come back from. Another friend warned how boring the diets are but she thought I could get through it.
Imagine my happy surprise to see Julie’s nutrition plan for week one! Here I am 20 weeks later, so many amazing meals later, one show later, and 12 weeks out from next… I am eating more calories and food than ever, yet, I am the leanest I have ever been my whole life!
After my first show ever in April this year, I announced to my friends that I will be continuing on to train for a few fall shows. One of my friend’s who is a former competitor begged and pleaded saying “oh no, you can’t! You can’t stay on that “diet” for that long, you will make yourself sick!” I laughed and asked what in the world is she talking about? Apparently, she had been nearly starved down to 800 calories for her last week before her show. How horrible! I continued working out full force all week long before my show while eating a comfortable 1550 in calories.
It’s a little over 4 weeks later post show, I am now eating 2100 calories of delicious food that isn’t just fish, chicken, and brown rice. It’s flank steak in beautiful salads, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, and my fav, cookie dough muscle oats! mmmm!! They even have chocolate chips in them! The best part…I am only 2.5lbs up from my stage weight that day, and eating more than most of my friends. I would trust Julie with anything. She has taught me so much about nutrition and my body.
I turn 39 this year and just a few weeks ago, ran the fastest mile I have ever ran. This is big considering I have been a runner since 2009. I have been on cloud 9 since! This eating is the way life should be…full of taste, health, and happiness in everything you do! The second picture me a few weeks ago, right after I ran my fastest mile of 7:59 :). And the 3rd picture is me last week, 4 weeks post show, eating tons of calories, and leaner than I was the day of the show. My body just keeps getting happier and happier each week.
Having the body that I’m dreamed of having my whole life, and maintaining it with the most amazing food…. I’ve won. I truly have. I’m the luckiest person to have found Julie Lohre.
