By Shamira McCray (Morning News)

Exercising, counting calories and working on a healthy mindset aren’t new to Marcy Emanuelli. She’s tried all three.

But struggling with weight loss is something she has experienced all of her life.

Emanuelli underwent lap-band surgery several years ago. After losing many pounds, she ended up gaining half of them back.

That didn’t stop her determination to live a healthier lifestyle.

Emanuelli said she saw an ad on Facebook for Florence’s Biggest Loser.

“I thought, oh, that sounds like something I’d be interested in doing,” she said. “I didn’t say anything to anybody else. Didn’t say anything to my family.”

She signed up for the preregistration and received all of the information she needed.

Days later, her husband brought home a newspaper showing her information about the same competition.

“I hadn’t said anything to him about it, so the fact that he was thinking about it and I was thinking about it at the same time kind of prompted me to do it,” Emanuelli said.

She and others affiliated with the competition had to push for her to be a part of the competition. A medical doctor was concerned that some of her health conditions might not let her fit in group settings. But Emanuelli wanted the camaraderie and to be a part of a team.

She has fibromyalgia, high blood pressure and high cholesterol.

Her initial intent in joining the program was to lose weight.

“Now I’m not really focused on how much weight I lose,” Emanuelli said. “I’m really focusing on how my body’s changing and how I’m feeling in my daily activities – just having more energy, improving my singing in the choir, it has made a difference.”

Emanuelli also hopes to lessen the amount of medication she takes by becoming healthier through the program.

Florence’s Biggest Loser combines the three aspects of a healthy lifestyle that Emanuelli has tried before: exercise, nutrition and, a healthy mindset. She’s never tried all three together, however.

“That is what I like about the program,” Emanuelli said. “They focus on all of the areas that need to be addressed. Hopefully, that’ll be enough for not just myself but for other people to be successful.”

Throughout the competition Emanuelli has experienced “mommy guilt.” She has three young children and sometimes feels guilty for taking the time to do something for herself.

“I’ve talked to other moms that are in the program, and a lot of people who aren’t in the program, about it just to reassure me that I’m doing what’s best for the family right now and in the long run,” she said.

Emanuelli said she wants to be healthier for her children and show them that it is important to be healthy. They are trying to work out ways to get the family involved in her workouts so she does not have to be away from them.

 

Read the story at SCNOW.com!