Meet Lauren McElyea | Weight loss transformation

We had the good fortune of connecting with Lauren McElyea and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Lauren, what habits do you feel helped you succeed?

When I first started my weight loss journey, I was a little over 300lbs, I was depressed and had gone through several traumatic events. I found the motivation after my son said to me one day “Mom, I wish you would smile more” and this lit a fire in me that I did not know existed. I hired a nutrition coach and met my trainer at a boxing gym. There are several habits I have formed along the journey.

Primarily, daily healthy choices have helped my success and choosing my life over unhealthy habits. The main thing that I had to discover to help my weight loss journey was to trust the process and stick to a routine. We may not always make the healthiest choices every day, but not giving up and seeing the progress of not only my physical appearance but the mental health growth helped me succeed in becoming holistically healthy. Now I am down to 171 and feel amazing!

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?

I am a Registered Nurse with a master’s degree in nursing education. I have three degrees in the nursing field, and I am currently working on my Doctorate in Education with a specialty in nursing education at the University of Alabama. #RollTide. I never though I wanted to be in education as a nurse, but I jumped into it and fell in love with watching student’s growth. There is so much change I want to make when it comes to nursing and our healthcare systems, and it stems from the proper education a nurse acquires. It gives me so much joy seeing that I have impacted so many lives and that I also get to experience growth with them.

Becoming a nurse was not easy and I went through several obstacles. I am a single mom, who worked several jobs and went to school full time to achieve my RN degree. After working as a nurse for one year, I decided to go back and continue my education all while working full time as a new nurse and being a mom. When I decided to start my weight loss journey, I had just started my master’s program and then the pandemic hit, and we were working all online from home and homeschooling my son. The pandemic was a curse and a blessing as it made me realize how unhealthy I was, and I was slipping into a depressive state.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?

Houston is the most diverse, multi-cultural, and amazing cities in this country. I am proud to say that I was born and raised in Houston. There are so many places I am still discovering and have lived here my whole life. Here are a few places I would take someone who is visiting for the first time:

1. Houston’s Farmers Market
2. Roman Empire Gym
3. The Blossom Hotel – Plum Skybar
4. Five Central – live music every weekend
5. The Rodeo (during the spring)
6. The art district – the graffiti walls
7. Memorial Park
8. The water wall
9. Turkey leg hut
10. The color factory
11. Discovery Green 
12. The Gallaria

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?

My story would not be a success story without several individuals that have helped my transformation. My first appreciation will be to God for blessing my life in so many ways. 

The first two people I would like to acknowledge are my nutrition coach and my trainer.

Joseph Guandolo with Facts over Fads is the first person to get me started on my health goals. He and his team has not only transformed my relationship with food but has also given me the tools and education on nutrition to help others in my career. Most of my weight gain was due to an unhealthy relationship with food and Joseph taught me that I can still have things that I enjoy and be healthy at the same time. No fad diets or crash dieting needed!

Marvin Rutley with iamLIFT LLC. I met Marvin when he was a boxing instructor and was just starting his trainer company. I became a client of his in November 2020 and have been with him ever since! He is an overall trainer who not only helps with transforming someone physically but believes in the holistic approach and cares about his client’s dreams, their mindset, and their mental health. The whole iamLIFT family has really been in my corner these past 3.5 years and I would not be the person I am today without them.

I also want to acknowledge my family, friends, colleagues, and students. They give me the support and drive that I needed to accomplish these huge milestones in my life. Without the right support system, I would not have completed some of the goals I have accomplished over the past 3 years.

Website: www.iamlift.com

Instagram: @misslo_thefitnessrn

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lauren.mac.75?mibextid=dGkdO6