I am 30 pounds lighter than I was last year
As many of you know I’ve been working with a nutrition coach through a company called MetPro for the past nine months. At the time of this writing I’ve shed 30 pounds, have amazing energy, and am starting to see improvements in my marathon times! Many people have inquired about my journey so I thought I’d share more of the details.
My Weight Loss Story
In 2015 I started to notice that my energy levels were low and that something wasn’t right with my health. But it had been a big year for me with lots of traveling and races (including running the Boston Marathon). I was also busy with a full load of coaching clients, podcasting, and the demands of being a mom to three boys. Unfortunately my two grandmothers both passed away within three months of each other so that added to my stress. I hoped that with the passing of time things would get better. But it didn’t.
I started gaining weight despite my normal training schedule of running, strength training, and yoga. Cutting back on sugar and processed foods didn’t help. It was all very discouraging. My energy levels and motivation continued to decrease and I knew it was finally time to seek help.
I got some blood tests that revealed I was dealing with a hormonal imbalance. Working with my doctor I started taking thyroid medication. I also took steps to decrease my stress level, work on my nutrition, and increase the quality and quantity of sleep. I also took a year off from doing races (and that was HARD)!
After about a year all these interventions helped and my energy levels started returning to normal and I was able to go off my medication. But I had gained close to 40 pounds during this time and the weight wouldn’t budge. This made running a lot more difficult, a few of my joints ached all the time, and my confidence level was low. I just didn’t feel like myself anymore.
Over the next two years I tried everything I could think of (within the realm of health) to drop fat and feel good again. I was feeling very stuck (and hopeless) with my weight when I began working with MetPro. I was honestly a bit skeptical at first but I was willing to give the program a try and do my best.
Working with a Nutrition Coach
Natalie, my nutrition coach
Following MetPro’s system took all the guesswork out of how much and how often I should be eating to support my fat loss goals. Natalie gave me a specific amount of macronutrients to eat broken down into breakfast, lunch, dinner, and two snacks. Despite my initial skepticism I was committed to the process and started seeing results (even over the holiday season).
Up-Adjusting and Down-Adjusting
I checked in with Natalie over the phone once a week and tracked my meals and workouts in the MetPro app. As the months unfolded she took me through up-adjust and down-adjust cycles in my macronutrient intake.
The big key to this program is the principle of contrast.
- Angelo Poli, the founder of MetPro, says contrast is a strategy that they use once your body adjusts to your new nutritional intake and the weight loss stalls. It is in the up-adjusting and down-adjusting that revs the metabolism and sheds the pounds. Your metabolic rate is a moving target, constantly adapting to your environment (as the body seeks homeostasis). And no two people are alike! Your body will eventually adapt to whatever eating plan you’re using which is why it’s important to strategically change your intake.
The MetPro app keeps the process of tracking your weight, meals, and workouts very simple.
These results have continued for the last nine months and I honestly feel like a new and improved version of myself. Being consistent with my nutrition and the resulting fat loss allowed me to unexpectedly run a Boston qualifying time (3:39:25) this summer at the Charlevoix Marathon, and win 1st place in my age group.
Let’s run! Thanks MetPro for giving me my body back and helping me feel amazing at age 40! Now to even out my tan! 😂
Seeing my marathon times drop after so many years has been so exciting. Having structure and consistency with my nutrition has made a big difference in helping me lose fat, have consistent energy, and achieve my running goals. I’m so thankful for the difference that MetPro has made in my life!
To see if MetPro’s nutrition coaching is good fit for you head over to metpro.co/mta and schedule a free 30 minute consultation. I couldn’t recommend them more!
Happy running,
Angie Spencer, RN
Congrats to you Angie! You look so happy. I feel as though I could have written this myself. Despite running more and more miles, I have been gaining weight. It is very frustrating. I was inspired to complete my free consultation with metpro but unfortunately the coaching is more expensive than I can afford right now. If you are looking to do additional podcasts on other mararthon runners and their weight loss journey, I would be a happy volunteer for the chance to work with a metpro coach! Thanks for sharing your story.
Thanks for sharing your perspective Diane! From what I hear they’re working on a less expensive option that might make the program fit into more people’s budgets.
Hi Diane, we know the balance between losing weight and running can be quite difficult, we invite you to follow us on our social networks as we are always sharing helpful tips and tricks to living a healthy lifestyle. We look forward to keeping in touch with you as we work on an option that can fit all budgets. We would love for you to experience MetPro when our new product is on the market!
Hi Angie, great results, very inspirational. Can I ask, are the meals fully prescriptive in that they tell you exactly what to eat and when, or is a bit more general with you having a choice of options but within the calorie limit you’ve been assigned?
Great question! The MetPro app gives you a choice of foods to eat within certain categories (protein, carbs, fats). It’s prescriptive but easy to modify based on your tastes and what foods you have available. For example, my current mid-afternoon snack is 2 snack carbs, 1 protein, and 1 fat serving. I then go into the app and look under snack carbs (and choose 1 apple which is 2 carb servings) and then choose cheese for my fat/protein combo (I get 2 oz). We use a food scale and measuring cups/spoons on a daily basis to portion out ingredients.
Hi Angie.
This is just amazing! I was so inspired by your story when I first heard you mention it on your podcast. I, too, found myself in the unhappy position of having weight creep on until I realized it had gone beyond my normal winter extra. I joined metpro on May 1 and have lost 18 pounds since then! My running is stronger and faster and now the way I feel inside and see myself matches the way I look on the outside. Thank you for sharing your story so honestly. I know it can be hard and very humbling to openly discuss weight struggles. I was embarrassed I had let the weight creep on even though I was still running and active. It really took paying attention to to my body and nutrition in a way I had never done before to “right the ship!” Thank you for inspiring me but also being real enough that I could identify with you and feel able to make the change in my own life.
Thanks for sharing your experience Amy! It’s wonderful to hear that you’ve had such good success with weight loss by working with MetPro. Way to work hard and tune into what your body needs. Running without the extra weight does feel absolutely amazing 🙂
Amy, you are an inspiration as well! You are doing amazing and we are so happy to join you on your weight loss journey!
Thanks for sharing, Angie! You look amazing! I see strength and confidence which I can imagine is the best gift of all this program has brought you! I’m intrigued by the up-adjust down-adjust cycles approach; makes a lot of sense to me as an information junkie reading up on and studying nutrition science like a geek lol
Congrats on your success!
Thank you Donna! Feeling strong and healthy again is 100% more valuable than any number on the scale. The up adjust/down adjust concept was completely new to me as well. But it’s worked great and is helpful when you’re balancing fat loss and performance.
Hi Donna, thank you for showing interest in our program! If you want to learn more about our up-adjust and down-adjust strategy along with our other approaches to weight loss and your metabolism, please feel free to schedule a call with one of our experts: https://metpro.co/schedule
We look forward to hearing from you!
Angie! Congratulations! I feel like your story is a mirror image of my story with the exception of the thryoid issue. I was so excited that MetPro woujd be the answer for me as well. I was so inspired after the podcast last week to completed my consultation call with MetPro. Like the other readers of this blog, the $500 a month was totally outside my budget. I see that you stated above that the company is working on a more affordable option. Is there anyway that we could leave when that option is available? I would be more than interested. Thank you and Trevor for all you do!
I’m sorry to hear that you’ve been struggling in this area too! I don’t have any information as to when the other option will be available (I believe it’s still being beta tested). At this point I believe that the 3 month commitment for one-on-one nutrition coaching is still what they encourage. I’m guessing that after a person completed that time period they’d be able to transfer over to the other option if it was available.
Kudos to you Angie! You look fabulous and happy. When you end your coaching with MetPro, what does maintenance look like to keep the weight off?
Thanks Debbie! One of the things I like best about MetPro is that by going through multiple up adjust (the maintenance phase) and down adjust (weight loss phase) cycles you get a good idea of how to manage nutrition for the long term. The coaches are great about giving you the knowledge you need to keep the weight off for good.
Angie, I’m so glad you shared your story. I have enjoyed hearing bits and pieces on the podcast, and reading this post realized that my own story is similar to yours. I had a consultation this afternoon and decided to make the commitment and sign up for three months. With some upcoming travel (work and fun), as well as the holidays, I figured I would just give it a go. I’m also recovering from an injury, so I think that nutrition is one of the few things I CAN control. Any tips for making the most of this program?
Hey Abby, I’m glad to hear that you’re going to commit to the program to dial in your nutrition. It will definitely be a valuable use of your time and energy as you continue to recover from injury. And you might notice like I did that eating this way helps you recover more quickly.
I have a couple tips for making the most of your time with MetPro. 1) The more consistent you are in tracking your food and workouts through the app the better off you’ll be. 2) Use your nutrition coach as a resource and ask any questions you have. They’re great about providing the “hows” and “whys” behind their method. 3) Eat all the food within your level of macros. Some women chronically under eat and sticking with a regular schedule of meals and snacks will be the best thing you can do for your metabolism. 4) Set up your environment to succeed. Remove as many of the tempting/non-plan foods from sight as possible and stock up on foods in the app. Buy a food scale and use measuring cups/spoons (because we’re often not very good at estimating amounts). 5) Plan your meals and snacks in advance. It’s often when we get too hungry and aren’t prepared that less than stellar choices are made.
Okay, that was more then a couple of tips 🙂 Hope that helps!
You look incredible, Angie! Hearing your interview with Natalie motivated me to sign up with MetPro in late June. I love my coach, Polly, and she has helped me lose 15 pounds so far! It’s still a process, but we’re getting there.
Keep up the awesome work! You are a great motivator!
Thank you Sara! It’s awesome to hear that you’ve been able to lose 15 pounds so far. It definitely takes hard work and patience but it’s 100% worth it. Keep up the amazing work!
Sara, It definitely is a process but you are making amazing progress! Great job!
Angie, I was quite compelled by your story. I am going through perimenopause these days. I can see that, despite my most vigilant efforts in diet and exercise, I am holding lots of extra weight in my belly and not building the kind of muscle I expect to get from my regular gym workouts and marathon training runs. I am wondering if making a change in my eating will help me hit those marathon goals to which I aspire. I have scheduled a consultation with Met Pro. Will keep you posted.
Hi Shira, I’m sorry that you’ve been dealing with unwanted abdominal fat despite all your training. I definitely think that dialing in your nutrition and fueling will get you better results. Let us know how it goes 🙂
Angie, I was so impressed by your work with Met Pro that I actually just signed up. I wanted to do it a year ago, but had to hold off for a year for various reasons. I am glad to say I set up the appointment and am just beginning my journey with Met Pro and Coach Jesse. I have a goal to run a half marathon in April and a full marathon in October and want to be fit and strong when I do. I am the mother of triplets, am about to turn 45 this year and not only want this to be my best year yet, but I want to be a role model for my 3 daughters who will be turning 7. I want them to know that they can accomplish anything when they put their mind to it.Thank you for sharing your journey and for being an inspiration! I also love the podcast and listening to both you and Trevor!
Hi Jackie, Thanks so much for being a listener! It’s awesome to hear that you’ve decided to work with a MetPro coach and dial in your nutrition this year. I know it will pay off for you in terms of running stronger and being the best version of yourself. Let us know how it goes!
I like that you mentioned that even if you’re working with a nutrition coach, you still get two snacks a day. I’m consider to hire an online weight loss coaching services soon because having a makeshift home gym isn’t helping much in making me lose weight. Perhaps having someone who will help me develop some discipline will be the best course for me.