I Lost Weight: Erica Perna Set Short- And Long-Term Goals And Lost 100 Pounds

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Name: Erica Perna
Age: 36
Height: 5'8"
Before Weight: 240 pounds

How I Gained It: I spent most of my childhood and early adult years overweight. I never watched what I ate nor cared to, and it showed. When I started college, I began to take an interest in exercise and weight lifting. I admired the physiques of natural bodybuilders, but I never believed that I could ever be in that kind of shape, simply because I had always been quite the opposite. I blamed it on my genetics.

Nonetheless, I started reading books and magazines about weight training, yet I never quite believed that I could go all the way with it. I was just too far gone, I often surmised. I continued to dabble in exercise, making progress here and there, but usually gaining back most of what I had lost. Then, I got pregnant. I took this as an excuse to eat anything I wanted, a free-for-all. In nine months, I gained 70 additional pounds on top of the 30 or so that I already needed to lose.

Breaking Point: Two weeks after my son was born, at a follow-up doctor's visit, the nurse asked me to step onto the scale. As the numbers glared back at me, I faced my first reality check. Two hundred and forty! Is that a joke? It was no joke. It was all me. I somehow naively expected all the weight to drop off after the baby was born. After all, he was the reason I had gained it all, right? My family kept insisting I was fine, and they kept reminding me that I had just had a baby. But I refused to use my baby as yet another excuse in the long line of excuses I had been rolling out my entire life.

How I Lost It: Right around the time of my reality check, I had another realization. I had never been able to complete my weight loss journey because I had never set clear goals for myself. In addition, I never fully believed that I could succeed. I decided to change all of that. I set short-term and long-term goals, in writing. My short-term goals were 10-pound milestones, and I always planned a non-food reward for each time that I achieved one of them. My long-term goal was to compete in a natural bodybuilding competition within the next two years. I took my "before" shots (this is a very important step -- you will be glad you did this). I took progress pictures once a month, in the same pose. Since I had a C-section, my capacity to exercise was limited at first, but I started with small walks, just to the end of my short driveway.

In addition, I began following Tosca Reno's Eat-Clean Diet. After three months, I began to see results. I started taking longer walks, and I joined a gym. I tried a Spinning class, and I was absolutely hooked. At first, I did two Spinning classes per week along with short walks. After a month or so, I went to three classes a week. After another month, I was up to four classes a week, and I decided to try some weight training a few days a week as well. Before I knew it, my new way of eating and moving had become a daily habit, and it didn't feel like a struggle anymore. I know it's trite, but it's true; it is a lifestyle change. It is a mindset change.

In September 2010, two years after setting my long-term goal, I competed in the INBF Cardinal Classic natural bodybuilding and figure competition. I placed fifth in my class, but most importantly, I felt that I belonged on stage with those other amazingly fit women, whose physiques I had admired from afar for so many years. Now it was me up there. This is a sense of accomplishment that I can't even describe in words. I will say that it was worth every ounce of sweat and every drop of discipline that I put into it. Not only is my body transformed, but my entire life is transformed as well. I can't imagine going back. Ever. I credit so much of my success to Spinning that I became a certified instructor. I have also been honored to appear in a national commercial for the Spinning program, as well as a TLC network program called "How I Lost 100 Pounds."

My best advice: Set goals, and believe that you can achieve them -- no matter how lofty they may seem. It may sound like common sense, but it took me decades to realize and internalize this simple truth. Also, what you do every day does count. Certain behaviors and habits have gotten you where you are today; you will get to where you want to be by changing those behaviors and habits, replacing them with new ones, starting now. And I cannot overstate the importance of taking progress pictures. Sometimes it is difficult for ourselves or those who see us every day to truly perceive the changes that are taking place. Finally, look to those closest to you for moral support. Explain to them how important your goals are to you, and hopefully they will jump on board. The worst that can happen is you will get into the best shape of your life and maybe even save your own life!

After Weight: 140 pounds

The Huffington Post publishes photographs as they are submitted to us by our readers.

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Comments

[JRLM Beats]

08:57 PM on 10/03/2012

Now go out there and conquer the world? LMAO... You could have always done that sweat heart.

[JRLM Beats]

08:56 PM on 10/03/2012

Here... take this here cookie with a grain of salt.

[henry1964]

09:29 PM on 09/19/2012

YOU GO GIRL!!!! not only do you look great but you are healthy also..!! great job

[heatherox]

06:04 PM on 09/19/2012

It's not about the body transformation, it's about the transformation of the mind. When one is healthy, carries less weight, it's easier to breathe. There's nothing more rewarding than looking in the mirror at a body you barely recognize as your own and saying, "Wow! I did this!" And, you begin to feel as if you can do anything. 100 lbs. is hard. I'm down 85 pounds from a year ago.

I haven't done fad diets, no gimmicks, just working out- cardio at least 4 times a week, counting calories in and out and weight training to build muscle to keep the fat off later. It's hard. Sometimes temptation is all in your face, have another cookie, but you swear it off and you feel better for it because you know that you can do anything. Your mind is stronger than your body, and when you lose weight you learn that. And when you learn that, you can keep the weight off.

[Popopnano]

05:29 PM on 09/19/2012

Congrats! Ignore the critics, you look hot!

[Chris7781]

07:08 AM on 09/19/2012

I don't care that this woman lost weight. I don't consider one body a "success story" implying that another body type is a "failure story". I am commenting for all of you who really think that the whole world should be a size 2, or a size 8, or a size 14. Nobody's body is any of your business. Media needs women to feel less-than-perfect because then we'll continue to invest in diet programs, "skinny jeans", and make up that will make us look 7 again. Every time you see a news story, an article, a magazine cover, a commercial that has anything to do with how women are SUPPOSED to look - turn it off, turn the page, refuse to participate. I don't know about you but I'm sick of being cattle. All women are beautiful. Period.

[TheZestyOne]

07:47 AM on 09/19/2012

I agree with you in principle. What we should be celebrating is the adoption of healthy eating and fitness habits that will keep our body vibrant, energetic and strong throughout our lives.

[Chris7781]

09:22 AM on 09/19/2012

Exactly!! Thank you!! I know women who have curves - some even called **gasp** "FAT" and they have healthy eating habits and are physically active. I HATE that media is trying to train me to see myself as better than someone else because of their, or my, body type. Women are socialized to compete with one another and I find it absolutely reprehensible. Love ALL body types and support ALL women - not because you pity them but because you respect them.

[catmagnet]

05:08 PM on 09/24/2012

That is why I'm focused on eating healthy and exercising every day, and trust that my body will do the rest.

Down 93 pounds, about 15-25 left to go, though I'm basing things more on fat content than BMI (Initial goal is to hit 32%, which gets me out of the overfat category...not much more to go until I reach it!). We'll see where I end up, though my aim is to just be able to have a healthy body and live normally for the first time in my life, not be a fitness model.

[jib jab]

02:06 PM on 09/18/2012

Erica looks very, very nice in her before photo, I won't comment on her after photo except she went way too far the other way, that's not healthy.

[Allie17]

05:14 PM on 09/18/2012

Here's a fun fact, at her height and weight her BMI is 21.1, right in the middle of the NORMAL weight for a women her size. How is exercising and eating well not healthy? She didn't say she used diet pills, got surgery, or did any other terrible "fads". All she did and is most likely still doing is eating clean, unprocessed food and exercising....something the majority of American's should give a try.

[RileyRides]

07:26 PM on 10/25/2012

Your comment is exactly backwards.

[danag5167]

01:18 PM on 09/18/2012

She looks great. But why didn't you watch what you ate during the entire pregnancy. I don't understand pregnant woman. How can you allow yourself to gain so much weight.

[MJinCanada]

02:51 AM on 09/19/2012

I think that was a combination of naivety (first baby) and the short circuits hormones can cause in the brain during pregnancy.

Some people who start out overweight lose a little weight during pregnancy because they start eating really healthy for the baby. That drives doctors bonkers.

[Chris7781]

07:02 AM on 09/19/2012

Seriously?! Why don't you take your judgy pants off and realize that YOUR aesthetic is not the ONLY aesthetic. You know what pregnant women don't understand? Gits like you who believe you have the right to judge them.

[Ken Holden]

12:07 PM on 09/18/2012

100 pounds is not baby weight !

[piedraazul]

11:38 AM on 09/18/2012

All talk about exercise and nothing about what she eats now.

[Chris7781]

07:03 AM on 09/19/2012

And you have a right to know what she eats, why?

[piedraazul]

07:34 PM on 09/19/2012

The story is senseless , unless one is told what not to eat, in order to lose weight.

[RileyRides]

07:28 PM on 10/25/2012

You do know this article is about weight lose, right?

[TheZestyOne]

07:45 AM on 09/19/2012

She refers to the Eat Clean Diet and alludes to it as her "new way of eating."

[piedraazul]

07:40 PM on 09/19/2012

I read that but it is meaningless. What the heck has she stopped eating? Bread, milk, potatoes...???

[Theuglytruth07]

11:04 AM on 09/18/2012

To all the people posting negative comments...maybe it's just not a flattering picture? In the top picture she looks young, and you cannot really see her face in the bottom. Could none of you just say 'congrats on living a healthier lifestyle?' many people do not have the will power and determination to do what she did. She did this not only for herself but for her son.

[midnga]

11:00 AM on 09/18/2012

I hate to say it but she looked MUCH better in the "before" picture. "After" looks like a concentration camp survivor with makeup on.

[brutony]

10:04 AM on 09/18/2012

Good lord-she lost TOO much weight!

[Gabrielle Rossi]

10:01 AM on 09/18/2012

She has done a great job losing weight but for some reason she looks older now that she is thinner. It may be that she has lost too much weight.

[mlasjc]

09:43 AM on 09/18/2012

She may be thinner, but it made her look a lot older.