{"id":2699,"date":"2024-06-16T21:02:58","date_gmt":"2024-06-16T21:02:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/high-end-life.com\/?p=2699"},"modified":"2024-01-04T16:12:05","modified_gmt":"2024-01-04T16:12:05","slug":"career-driven-mother-transforms-through-training","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/high-end-life.com\/?p=2699","title":{"rendered":"Career-Driven Mother Transforms Through Training"},"content":{"rendered":"

Sarah Grant grew up poor, but once she got her first job, she quickly discovered the joys of a disposable income \u2014 and decadent food. Grant became a fine-dining foodie who reveled in eating for pleasure and didn\u2019t really notice that a few extra pounds had begun to stick. But once she had kids, she also stopped being active and the weight became an issue. \u201cUnfortunately, exercise is one of the self-care things moms tend to take off the schedule when life is busy and we prioritize other things,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n

In 2005, Grant had a lot of changes in her life: She went back to work full time, her son was diagnosed with high-functioning autism and her daughter was diagnosed with Type I diabetes. \u201cFood was my coping mechanism for the grief and guilt you go through as a parent when your child received a tough medical diagnosis,\u201d Grant says. And though her coping mechanism meant continual weight gain, Grant still did not see her health as being important. \u201cI felt like it would be selfish or vain to prioritize myself when I had a family and a career that needed attention,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n

Shedding the Guilt<\/h3>\n

A few years later, a friend got into strength training and Grant saw a transformation in her that was inspiring. She sat down with her friend and learned about macronutrients, energy expenditure and basic strength-training splits. Because she was not confident enough to join a gym, Grant bought her own barbells, weights and equipment and built a home gym in her garage. She started with very basic lifting and began eating a well-balanced, whole-food diet of lean protein, healthy carbs and healthy fats.<\/p>\n

Slowly but surely, Grant whittled away at the layers of stress and grief, and a little over a year later, she emerged 57 pounds lighter. \u201cA whole new world of possibilities opened up at that point,\u201d she says. \u201cI got down to 118 pounds and went from over 40 percent body fat to around 20 percent.\u201d<\/p>\n

Unexpected Gains<\/h3>\n

Though she didn\u2019t think it would, Grant discovered that taking care of herself by getting healthy and fit has been one of the best things she\u2019s done for her family. These days, she trains six days a week and is still working on adding lean muscle to her frame.<\/p>\n

However, muscle isn\u2019t the only thing she has gained from her experience. \u201cOne of the really remarkable things about the strength-training community is the sense of family and friendship,\u201d she says. \u201cEveryone welcomes you with open arms, and it\u2019s very special in today\u2019s world to see that kind of connection and community. My lifting family is by far one of the best \u2018gains\u2019 to come out of this experience.\u201d<\/p>\n

Stats<\/h2>\n

Sarah Grant\/Jupiter, Florida
\nAge:<\/strong> 42
\nOld weight:<\/strong> 175+ lb
\nCurrent weight:<\/strong> 118 lb
\nOccupation: <\/strong>Chief financial officer<\/p>\n

Sarah Says:<\/p>\n