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Local woman drops 155 lbs - no gimmicks
By: Benita Zahn
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"I get up in front of people and dance now. I mean, people who know me, knew me before, would never believe it."
At 41 years old Melissa Mace has come into her own. This mom of 2 battled obesity her whole life.
"I went to fat camp, Weight Watchers, Medi-fast; I did everything."
After her first child was born she decided she had to make a change - to be a better role model. An endocrine disorder had made losing weight difficult, but she was determined, albeit fearful. For two weeks she went to a Zumba class at the local Y but stood outside.
"I didn't want anyone to look at me. I didn't want to stand out I felt that I couldn't do it."
She was 356 pounds when someone in that class invited her in. After taking that first step she was exhilarated. Even her second pregnancy couldn't derail her. And she more closely tracked what and when she was eating. Her transformation was in full swing.
Melissa dropped 155 pounds with 40 more to her goal weight. And this one time wall flower is now a Zumba instructor, encouraging other women to find an exercise that gets them pumped.
"It has to excite you, you have to be passionate about it because you won't stick with it if you don't love it."
Melissa isn't worried that she'll back slide because she's not only tackled the food and exercise - as she says, she's changed her head.
"Tune out all those voices in your head and listen to your heart and do what you want to."
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