Depressed, Overweight Woman Loses 80 Pounds and Gains Her Life Back

Back in 2014, Lydia Dziubanek felt a sense of “complete and utter hopelessness.” Not only was she feeling depressed and trapped in an emotionally abusive relationship while raising three sons, she also weighed 250 pounds at 5 feet 2 inches tall.

Dziubanek’s now ex-husband taunted her about her weight, among other things. As her situation worsened, she remained convinced she could never lose the weight. But one day she got into her car and found herself driving to a gym.

She bravely marched up to the Anytime Fitness trainer Mike Rike and confessed she needed help. And not only did he give her a much needed helping hand, he also told her he’d see her tomorrow.

“It helped me survive. It helped me get through the day. Someone was expecting me to be there the next day,” the elementary school teacher said. “Those were the first tiny steps that gave me to tools to help deal with depression.”

Along with going to therapy, Dziubanek began her first workout routine ever with Rike, losing 17 pounds in just the first month of exercising. Rike also recommended a nutritionist, who gave her diet of processed food and soda a serious makeover with lean proteins, vegetables, and fruit.

After that month had passed, Dziubanek finally left her ex-husband. But she didn’t stop her healthy lifestyle choices there. First, she dropped 94 pounds after a year of exercising and eating healthy. Then she made the choice to start building muscle — and now weighs 170 pounds as a result.

“You go through different stages,” she said. “It is very important to identify what goal you want to reach, hit that goal and constantly be changing them.”

And she couldn’t be happier with the changes she’s made.

https://twitter.com/AmberTriggered/status/890471887528230912

“I learned I was stronger,” she said.

In more ways than one! You go, girl.

h/t TODAY.com

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