Meet Nkem Obianyor who spoke to me a while back about the first few weeks of her time in the April Laugh community. A mother of three, she shared the way she started, her struggle with self esteem and her growth into the best version of herself as she turns forty. 

How did you come across our program? 

So, I was talking to my sister in law about my weight and how I wasn’t comfortable with where I was and how my efforts weren’t working. She then gave me a 12 week plan as a Christmas gift and I was a bit overwhelmed by it because I hadn’t even heard of April Laugh before. I decided to do some research and then joined the group. 

The first days, how were they for you?

They were quite difficult, I won’t lie. When the coaches asked us to share pictures of ourselves and our current weight, I refused to do it because it was such a sensitive subject for me. I then requested a private session with our coach, who was so kind enough to give me the time and space to work my way to finally sharing my photos in the group. 

What do you think is the most important thing in this program that kept you going? 

Definitely the accountability. I am accountable to myself, my partner, the group and the coach. That’s a lot of people I don’t want to disappoint. Anytime I’m feeling down or stressed by the routines, I just share it in the group and everyone is so supportive and encouraging which helps me power through whatever issues I’m facing. 

What has this program given you over these few weeks? 

I have a much better understanding of the way my body relates with food and that makes me really happy. I no longer have to finish that box of pizza or eat without portion control and if I get emotional about something, I just go for a run instead of eating my feelings away. I didn’t know how unhappy I was till I started this program. I was looking for pictures from before I started to post on the group and I couldn’t find any because I never took any. Now I’m more excited and more comfortable with my body. 

What do you think the future holds for you on this journey? 

I’m so excited because I know I’m not where I want to be yet. Once I saw that I could lose weight like this, I decided to buy another 12 week plan so I can continue this journey till I reach a stage where all I need is maintenance. I even bought a bikini for the first time! That’s how much growth I’ve experienced in this short time. 

How has your family responded to these changes in your life? 

My husband is big on fitness so he has been my biggest supporter on this journey. He’s always ready to take care of the kids while I work out, always checking in on me and always giving the best compliments. My daughter recently told me that she’s really proud of me and even asks to go on walks with me. So I’m really happy they’re happy, I do this so I can be available for them.

What do you think about the live sessions? 

Oh, I love them. They’re so engaging and the coaches are encouraging, they know everyone and push them to their limits. The sessions also progress slowly so that by the end of the week you’re doing way more work than you did at the beginning. 

What advice do you have for anyone thinking of starting this journey? 

Start now. The breaking point will come but you don’t need to wait till then if not you’ll be dealing with more issues. You don’t want to be the cause for worry in your family, so start now so you can even be a role model for others. 

Any words for your sister in law? 

I just want to tell her a huge thank you. She’s my biggest cheerleader and this wouldn’t be possible without her so thank you so much, Ngozi! 

Nkem was able to go from 120kg to 98.6kg in 12 weeks and by the end of her program she’ll come talk to me again and I’ll share her progress with you so you can see that it’s always possible as long as you put your mind to it. 

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