Today I want to share with you the inspiring story of my long-time client Carla. Carla has been on an amazing health and weight loss journey, overcoming a lifetime of struggles with her body image and self-confidence. Growing up overweight and insecure, Carla tried endless diets and programs in an attempt to lose weight, but nothing ever seemed to work long-term.  Finally, in 2006 she made the drastic decision to undergo gastric bypass surgery as a "last resort." Amazingly, Carla reached her goal weight of 150 lbs within a year and a half after surgery, and has managed to maintain it ever since.  This surgery was not a simple fix - it required Carla to make major changes to her lifestyle and mindset in order to see lasting results.  Today Carla is focusing more on her psychology and personal growth than just nutrition and exercise. She still battles the voice inside telling her she's "not good enough," a remnant of her difficult childhood and adolescent experiences. But Carla is dedicated to her continual improvement and showing up as the best, most positive version of herself in all areas of life.  Carla has now decided to become a certified nutrition coach herself! She wants to pay forward everything she has learned on her journey and help others who are struggling with their weight and self-image. Carla is starting the process of nutrition coaching certification training to be able to impact and transform lives. At the end of this episode I put out a call-to-action for any listeners who may be interested in receiving free coaching from Carla over the next couple months as she goes through the certification program. This is a great opportunity to both help Carla complete the required practice coaching hours, and also get personalized guidance and support for your own health goals entirely for free. If you are interested, simply send me an email (at coach@silveredgefitness.com) briefly explaining your background and goals, and I’ll forward it along to Carla. Carla's story reminds us that sustainable health and weight loss requires a mindset shift above all else. Her journey demonstrates the incredible power we have to take control of our lives and become the person we wish to be. As you’ll hear, I’m clearly very inspired by Carla's perseverance and personal growth, and I’m certain she will make an amazing coach herself. This episode provides a motivational and uplifting story about overcoming the odds to achieve our dreams.