"I Did It!" Meet Tracie Boyle

As you all may or may not know, I am a very visual person. I need to see things happening. I need to see the scale moving downward, I need to see a difference in the way that I look to know that I'm losing weight. Because of this need to see things, I am drawn to weight loss success stories. I read them in magazines, online, YouTube, anywhere I can find them. I get extremely motivated when I see the success of others. It lets me know that if they can do it... so can I!

It's great to see celebs like Jennifer Hudson, Janet Jackson, Kirstie Alley and others having success with their weight loss endeavors but we tend to write it off as not being realistic for us. They have money and therefore they can afford a personal chef to make sure they are eating correctly.   They can pay for a personal trainer to train them for as long as they need the training. Don't get me wrong, I'm not taking away from the fact that they, too, have to put in the work in order to have success but money makes it a bit easier...I mean really, who wouldn't want a personal chef to create nutritionally sound meals for us on a daily basis?  Heck, if all I had to do was sit down and eat  healthy meals and snacks prepared for me by someone else, I'd have this weight off in no time and I bet you would too.

It just means a little bit more when we see everyday people like ourselves embarking on this journey and rocking it. I figured that there are more people out there like myself that get motivated and inspired after a good success story so I thought why not highlight people who have rocked their weight loss in an "I did it" Series.

I happened upon Tracie by accident really and was thrilled when she agreed to be interviewed. Tracie is an amazing inspiration and not only that, she has offered to help me try to get my eating in order which I believe to be the crux of my inability to lose weight. So without further adieu..click the arrow to read Tracie's story.

Tracie Boyle
Height: 5’7”
Starting Weight: 210 lbs
Current Weight: 138 lbs

That Dayum DeeDee: Why did you decide to get fit? What was your “Aha” moment?

Tracie before:  May 17,2008

Tracie:  In May 2008, I went to an event in New York City and wound up meeting a guy who told me about the book, “Skinny Bitch” by Rory Freedman. At the time, I wasn’t happy with who I was or how I looked, so I decided to read it and see what it was all about. After all, I had been overweight most of my teenage and adult life and had tried tons of different diets but none of them seemed to work for me, so it couldn’t hurt to read it, right? It turned out to be best decision that I’ve ever made; that book gave me the kick in the ass that I needed to start doing my own research on weight loss, nutrition which helped me figure out exactly what I needed to start getting healthier. Initially, I went into this whole thing with the idea that I just wanted to be healthier – never in a million years did I expect that it would open up a whole new chapter in my life.

That Dayum DeeDee:  How did you lose the weight?
Tracie:  The big thing for me was learning portion control and how to read labels. I don’t think we realize how many calories we actually take in sometimes; a container that looks like it’s a single serving could actually be 2 ½ servings! It’s very deceiving.


That Dayum DeeDee:   What was the most difficult part of your fitness journey?
Tracie: I hit a plateau at around 160lbs and I just figured that that was it for me and that that was going to be my “happy weight” (the weight that the body finally settles at). I made a few changes to the way I was eating and about a month later, started losing weight again.

Also, exercise. I lost most of my weight by just changing the way I ate and doing things like parking farther away or taking the stairs instead of the elevator – but I’ve never been good at setting a consistent workout routine. That’s my goal for this year.

That Dayum DeeDee:  How long did it take for you to lose the weight?

Tracie After:  May 17, 2010

Tracie:  I lost a little over 70lbs in a year and I’m still maintaining the weight loss (almost 3 years later!)

That Dayum DeeDee:  What was the most important change that you made which you believe has had the greatest impact on your success?
Tracie:  Cutting back on portion sizes and learning how to eat was the most important change that I made but cutting out meat and dairy also helped out a lot. I know that it’s not for everyone, but even just cutting back (and increasing your green veggie intake) can make a world of difference.


That Dayum DeeDee:  Did/do you have a support system?
Tracie:  My family and friends were/are very supportive. While they might not have all followed in my footsteps, I do think that I’ve been a good influence on them. At gatherings, we have many more healthy options now than we ever did in the past. ☺

That Dayum DeeDee:  How did/do you stay motivated?

Tracie:  I think about the person I used to be; how unhappy I was and how much my weight had held me back from doing the things that I wanted to do. I love who I am now and I never want to be in that place again.

That Dayum DeeDee: How has becoming fit and healthy changed your life? 
Tracie:  It’s changed everything. Every aspect of my life has changed, for the better, because of my weight loss. I’m healthier, happier, connect with people better and feel like I can do anything that I set my mind to now.

That Dayum DeeDee:   Most important get fit/stay fit tips that helped you in your journey. 
Tracie:  Invest in a digital food scale and a pocket calorie counter (book or app). I don’t obsess about calories, but until you can eyeball the proper portion size, they’re a great tool to have around. Even now, I still use the scale to weigh out those tricky things - like a serving of peanut butter.

That Dayum DeeDee:  What could you not wait to do once you lost (started losing) weight?
Tracie:   When I began to lose weight, I had to go shopping for clothes that fit me. I soon realized that it wasn’t as daunting as it once was and that clothes shopping could be fun! Now I love to go shopping for clothes – and if you looked in my closet, you’d see I probably enjoy it a little too much!

Another big thing for me was trying new things and taking chances. I had been so worried about what others thought of me – or how I would look if I didn’t do something perfectly - that I rarely took chances. Now I try to say “yes” to as many opportunities as possible and don’t really care as much about what other people think. I learned that those experiences can be pretty rewarding and I rather take a chance and try something rather than let it pass me by.

That Dayum DeeDee:  Any advice for those of us still on the journey?
Tracie:  Do the best you can and don’t beat yourself up if you slip up every once in a while. Just acknowledge where you slipped up and then get back on your path. You may have to make some sacrifices, but it will be worth it in the end. But most importantly - don’t give up!

You can catch up with Tracie on twitter: @traciebee or her blog: Tracie Cooks

If you are interested in having your story featured in our "I did it" series..please contact me

Getting it right,

Posted in: I did It