Laura Hyman is proof that it's never too late to make a change.
After losing both her mother and mother-in-law in short period of time, the 54-year-old grandmother decided it was finally time toĀ lose weight.
āMy mother was only 70 years old [when she died] and I was 50 years old. I got scaredĀ and I did not want to miss out on my kids and my grandkids,ā said Hyman, who was used to ātaking care of everyone else but myself.ā At her heaviest, she weighed 264 lbs.
RELATED:Ā 12 weight-loss secrets from Atlantans who shed 100-plus pounds
A self-described "emotional eater," Hyman started theĀ Isagenix weight loss program with her husband Myron in September 2015. Swapping fried foods and carb-heavy meals in favor of organic foods like chicken, quinoa and vegetables and enjoying the program's shakes helped the retired Indio, California-based coupleĀ lose 100 pounds each in less than a year.
ā[Isagenix] gave us a time schedule for our meals and snacks,ā says Hyman, who now weighs 161 lbs. and eats five times a day: two shakes, two snacks and one full meal. āThis system taught us that not only the food we are eating counts but the timing of when we are eating is so important.ā Now after dinner, Hyman says, āthe kitchen is closed.ā
RELATED VIDEO: 5 small diet changes that can help cut calories
The couple also started theĀ IsaBody Challenge, a 16-week body transformation program, at the beginning of their weight loss journeys.
āIt became a great support system through the Isabody Facebook page,ā says Hyman. āI could go on there daily and get workout ideas and meal ideas, and when I put my first before-and-after pictures in there, I could not believe how much love and support I got. It was unlike anything I have ever experienced.ā
RELATED:Ā Here's one weight loss tip for every day of the week, according to Atlanta dietitians
Since October, Hyman has also amped up her workouts, hiring a trainer and going to the gym 3 to 4 times a week. āIāve gained 8 lbs. of lean muscle, which is different because Iām used to the scale going down,ā she says. āBut now itās going up and Iām seeing where it is, in muscle. Iām still able to get rid of the visceral fat with the system and itās amazing.ā
Now on her sixth IsaBody Challenge, Hyman was just picked as a finalist out of more than 30,000 applicants Myron received an honorable mention, and she feels better than ever.
RELATED:Ā 9 things no one tells you about weight-loss surgery
āI fuel my body and donāt eat for emotional reasons,ā she says. āI feel better than I did in my 20s.ā
And being able to do it with her husband has made it even more rewarding.
āWeāve both invested in each other, cheered each other on and never let the other feel like a failure,ā says Hyman. āAccomplishing this weight loss together has made our relationship so much stronger.ā
RELATED:Ā 4 things to do first thing in the morning to lose weight
Keep Reading
The Latest
Featured