In this post, I’m sharing how to lose weight as a single mom. I’m going to be sharing the inspiring story of how this single Army mom was able to lose 12lbs and 5 inches off her waist in 5-Weeks, with my help.
I know what you’re thinking. The 5-Week Super Shred Challenge must have been easy for her because of the nature of her job. Heck, with all the tough physical tests that she has experienced throughout her career, she could’ve done it on her own, right?
But you might be surprised to know that she is just like you—she has to devote time for her daughter, her job, and everything in between. In short, “lack of time” can easily be the #1 excuse for not incorporating physical fitness into your lifestyle.
I have been a fitness coach for nearly 15 years, and working particularly with moms for several years now, and I totally understand her need for proper guidance, sense of community, and of course, accountability.
While I continue to inspire MOMS to be in their best shape, every now and then, I am also inspired by stories like the one from this US Army Officer.
So today, I present to you the story of Heather Alfaro from Anchorage, Alaska.
How to Lose Weight as a Single Mom
How this Army Mom Could Lose Weight (and feel good in her old clothes again!)
Heather is a recent participant in my 5-Week Super Shred Challenge.
She is a single mom with a 5-year old daughter and works full-time in the US Army as a Warrant Officer in the Intelligence Field.
Being active in the US Army for 15 years now, she has (mostly) been very fit.
Prior to having a daughter, she would always ace her physical fitness tests, as she’s always been motivated to go above and beyond with her routines to maintain a healthy lifestyle.
When she got deployed to Afghanistan in 2018, her rigid work-gym routine enabled her to maintain her ideal weight…
But just like how it is with everyone else, life happens.
Just in the last couple of years, she has gone through
- A divorce
- Transition to becoming an officer (which meant she had to go through continuing education, leaving her daughter with family.)
- Big move from Texas to Georgia.
- The pandemic in 2020 and all the familiar jazz that rocked our normal lives.
On top of life’s curveballs, her weight also gradually went up, reaching a maximum of 173lbs.
That was the breaking point! She was no longer happy with the way she looked.
In her own words, she said “I was disgusted in myself. I didn’t take photos anymore because of how I looked and felt.“
Ouch! Doesn’t that sound familiar?
This was the last photo she took to document her “before” state.
As an Army Officer, it’s a given that she has a strong sense of self-discipline. She was so sure that she could lose the weight on her own, applying “extreme measures” and fad diets like Keto and Fasting.
Kudos to her, she was able to lose 20lbs after that photo.
But the big problem was (as it often happens with all fads), SHE WAS UNABLE TO KEEP THE WEIGHT OFF. (sigh). Bit by bit, she gained back all the weight that she lost.
She had to do something—this time, with external help.
It was then that Heather realized she needed help knowing how to lose weight (and keep it off!) as a single mom, with such a busy schedule.
That’s the time she decided to join my 5-Week Super Shred Challenge, starting at 163lbs.
In 5 weeks, Heather was able to lose 12 pounds and 5 inches off her waist.
She cheerfully shared, “I have been able to find a sustainable plan and get into a solid routine of working out again. I not only lost inches and pounds but I gained my confidence again. I’m feeling much better in my clothes again and I am motivated to continue!”
You’d think being in the army for more than a decade, nothing would challenge her anymore. But she was surprised at how this 5-week challenge improved her strength and endurance.
You see, I designed this to be a result-driven program that fits around busy moms’ lives!
True enough, Heather said that “By the end of the program I noticed I could get through certain exercises without the struggle I initially had.”
For example, she admitted that she initially had difficulty performing “side to side leg raise” (which is one of the core exercises), but she was already performing it with ease at the start of week 5.
She was also able to run her 2-mile run three minutes faster in her latest Army Combat Fitness Test! This is a huge improvement from her previous test! Amazing!
Overcoming the challenges outside of the 5-WSSC
Heather’s case is not an isolated one. I double salute her for having 2 of the most difficult jobs any woman can have: being a MOM and serving our country as a US Army officer.
Her typical day would be: Attending her daughter’s needs in the morning, sending her to school, going to work, picking her daughter up, dropping her to Jiu-Jitsu class, occasional extra time in the office…and so on.
How was she able to squeeze in the routines of the 5-WSSC?
Time management and a ton of grit.
Although it was difficult at the beginning, she scheduled her workouts at 4:30 am. This was the only way she could comply with her cardio and weight lifting routine, go through a normal workday, and still have quality time to spend with her daughter at the end of the day.
So, what is the real secret?
I designed the 5-Week Super Shred Challenge to be a perfect balance between “challenging” and doable.
I am also a busy mom, so I know firsthand how seemingly hard it is to squeeze in a fitness routine in an already busy life.
But really, all you’ve to do is make a strong decision to start the journey.
Take it from Heather:
“The 5 week Super Shred challenge was easy to follow. It took the thinking out of it and you just needed to apply yourself. Being such a busy single mom, it was so convenient to have every day planned out. It saved me time and I could get straight to the point… workout, meal prep, track, and stay motivated”
The real secret is YOU.
When you finally decide to give attention to your physical health and kick excuses to the curb…I GOT YOU COVERED!
About the 5-Week Challenge: How to Lose Weight as a Single Mom
When I created this challenge, I did it with moms just like you, in mind. I know what it’s like to be a busy mom wanting to lose weight. And I know moms are capable of doing BIG things. But I also know that moms are frequently maxed out. I wanted to make it a no-brainer. Just show up. It’s all ready for you, workouts, meal plans, and accountability.
Once you start prioritizing your health, you’ll notice improvements in more areas than just fitness. You’ll likely have more energy, sleep better and just be in a better mood in general. The more positive changes you see, the more motivated you’ll be to keep going. It’s going to be a win-win for you, I promise.
Moms putting in the work to achieve results they didn’t think were possible, give me the motivation to keep pushing toward my own goals. Watching our tribe accomplish hard things is beyond motivating.
When you join the 5-Week Super Shred Challenge you not only get my years of trial and error experience, you get moms just like you. Your new fitness besties will keep you pumped up and hold you accountable.
I’m going to leave you with a little nudge from Army mom, Heather:
“If you are thinking about doing this challenge just go for it! If you apply yourself it will work! You will look and feel different in the best way possible. It may be a challenge to get through your day-to-day at first, it may feel impossible to get it done… There is ALWAYS a way. You just have to prioritize yourself. Give yourself 1-1.5 hours a day for your workouts and prepare your meals.. everything else is laid out for you. DECIDE TO MAKE A CHANGE! I highly recommend you try this challenge!”
Heather is one of the thousands of busy moms wanting to lose weight that I’ve worked with.
If you’re wondering how you can lose weight as a single mom… look no further.
The good news is, I’ve got something coming up in time for the holidays and it has the same insane results in much less time! Are you ready???
It’s the 21-day Mini Shred: Holiday Edition!
Yay!
This is the power vault of tried and tested methods to give maximum results in a minimal time!
Join over 2000 women who have demolished body fat even in the season of family reunions and year-end corporate parties.
💪🏽 How to lose weight as a Single Mom – Share this post!
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