Meet Katie, Who Lost 50 Pounds and 3 Sizes With Every Step
Katie S. spent much of her life — from eight years old until her 20s — in the water as a synchronized swimmer. “I loved it!” she says. She even performed in Las Vegas. But when she went through a divorce and became a single mom in her 30s, the pounds understandably started to come on.
“I stopped exercising and ate a lot of fast food because my boys and I were busy playing sports,” she says. “I also got a desk job and took on the head coaching job of a team of young synchronized swimmers. Basically, my needs went down to about third or fourth in line.”
As a result, her weight yo-yoed for a few years. Katie dropped about 50 pounds on a weight-loss program in 2013 but then plateaued and injured her foot, leading to a 60-pound gain. When she remarried in 2018, she lost 20 pounds, but she eventually hit another plateau before gaining 30 pounds. “While the programs had meetings, they didn’t have trainers motivating you to keep going,” she says.
Between lower-back issues and taking medication, Katie decided that she wanted to lose weight and become healthier for good.
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Finding the Right Program at the Right Time
Things began to change in July 2020, when her company sent an email saying free subscriptions to Openfit were available through their wellness plan. Katie signed right up. “I was so tired of feeling crappy,” she says. “I also work from home and thought it was a good time to start an exercise and healthy eating plan, so if we ever do go back to work, I have good habits set in place.”
It took until the fall, however, to get serious because she had to care for her oldest son, who broke both of his heels in June. But come September, Katie joined Every Step, a live walking workout program.
“I am 56 years old,” she says. “I thought the Every Step program was the best place for me to start it. It’s low-impact, I could go at my own pace, and I wouldn’t get discouraged if I couldn’t do all of the moves. I also didn’t need to buy any equipment; all l had to do was walk out my front door.”
With one class, she fell in love, she says. “It was with Trainer Gowrie [Hayden]. I love that the voice always tells you if you are being passed or you’re passing someone. It speaks to my competitiveness.” Both the trainers and the challenges help keep Katie accountable, a key component missing from past programs that she tried.
She also enjoys the range of classes. “The interval classes are challenging and rewarding,” she says. “Trivia walks are so much fun; you learn something new each time. And I love the music. My jam since day one has been 2 Legit 2 Quit. It came on during my first walk class, and it’s been my mantra ever since. When it comes on in class, I always think about my first class and how far I have come since September.”
Doing This for Herself
Just how far has she come? “When I first started walking, my lower back would hurt,” Katie says. “I am still not a quick walker, but I have definitely improved my speed. The trainers are so valuable in this program. I cannot sing their praises enough.”
She has also lost 50 pounds — halfway to her weight goal — and went from a size 18 to a size 12. “Since I’ve lost weight, the simplest tasks are easier now, like tying my shoes and getting out of the bathtub,” she says. “It’s the little things in life. I feel so much better and more confident.”
Katie now walks every day and plans to keep going with Every Step. “Like many people, I’ve been working from home for a year now,” she says. “It’s nice to get out of the house every day and walk with a whole bunch of people from around the country. I get cranky when I can’t walk. I love getting outside and doing something for myself. It’s my time.”
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