Overcoming Depression: How Fit Mother Megan Took Her Life and Health Back

Overcoming depression and overeating is never easy, especially when you're a busy mom.

But with the right plan and the proper support, it can be done!

Megan is a 38-year-old mother of four who, after a lifetime of bad eating habits and having four babies, found herself not where she wanted to be health and fitness-wise.

Like many women, she tried losing weight at different times, but nothing seemed to stick or truly work for her.

Depression led to overeating, and the negative cycle continued.

But, after her husband saw incredible results in a short amount of time on the Fit Father Project, she decided to give the Fit Mother Project a try.

When she wrote her mission statement, something just clicked, and she was off and running!

Gaining Weight … and Bad Habits

During her younger years, Megan never had to worry about staying fit or maintaining her weight. However, she started gaining weight after pregnancy.

“As soon as I started having babies, the weight just kind of started piling on. I never lost it in between having babies. I had a lot of nasty habits too. I was very self-indulgent. I believe that you only live once and must enjoy your life.”

She’s also a big foodie.

“I love food. I love cooking. I love baking. I kind of share my love through food, and I feel like that’s an important part of family time and togetherness. So a combination of all of those things had just really packed on the pounds.”

Megan and her husband tried different weight loss techniques to shed the extra pounds; however, their efforts hardly bore fruit. 

“My husband and I both tried to lose weight, but never really lost more than maybe five pounds at a time. It never lasted more than three months.”

Moreover, after quitting, she would fall back into her old habits. 

At the end of 2019, Megan’s husband joined the Fit Father Project, and he achieved quick and incredible results.

During the same period, Megan began exploring different fitness programs for herself but couldn’t find a suitable one.

“I had just gotten to this really low point, feeling pretty hopeless that nothing was going to work for me. I thought that it was working for my husband because men always lose weight fast and women don’t.”

Around the same time, Megan ran a 5K but was unhappy with her performance. 

“I have a very fit sister who is also a personal trainer. I ran the 5k with her, and I’ve never been more embarrassed. I did it. I finished it, but I was trapped in this place of comparison and just stuck and unhappy and feeling like there was nothing that I could do.” 

That’s when her husband suggested she join the Fit Mother Project program.

“I had reached the end point where I couldn’t fit in my life jacket anymore. I didn’t have the endurance that I used to have. I couldn’t keep up with my family on hikes anymore. I was always in the back and had to take lots of rest. I couldn’t do the things I wanted to do anymore. And that hit me hard. And I thought anything was worth trying at this point. So that’s when I signed up for the Fit Mother Project.”

Depression and overeating disorders can make for a challenging weight loss journey as a busy mom. See how Megan overcame it all!

Finding Her Mission and Motivation

According to Megan, her mission statement (something everyone has to write when joining FMP) was a big eye-opener for her.

“It’s like taking a real honest look at yourself in the mirror when you write that mission statement. If you’re honest with yourself about it and you allow yourself to be vulnerable in that, it takes you to this place of like almost desperation, like I’m doing this.”

She began working out and started with Apex 10. She started with five-pound weights but soon had to drop them and continue without the weights. It was challenging for her. 

Luckily, her husband was there for her.

“I was fortunate that my husband had been doing the Fit Father Project. He was a major support to me, and the fact that we could plan our meals together was exciting. He was cooking more. I’ve always done all the cooking, but he had started cooking so that he could eat the food that he knew he needed to eat.”

Her kids were also big supporters.

“My kids were there watching me working out, which was a big motivation. They would sit there and watch me do the workout, and nothing pushed me to get through to the end of the workout more than this. Having your children watching you and your husband there cheering you on was great.”

Still, Megan struggled with depression and a lot of negative self-belief.

There were weeks and days when she didn’t feel like doing anything.

So she started considering herself lazy and worthless.

Nevertheless, the Fit Mother Project program changed the way she looked at herself and paved the way to positive self-belief.

“I was starting to schedule my day and make time for things, which was huge. It was huge for me because that was never a possibility in the past. I typically work out around 9:00 or 9:30 in the morning. I’m able to plan my weeks ahead now. That’s one of the skills that the Fit Mother Project has taught me. Now I plan.”

At one point, Megan was so determined and motivated to achieve her goals that she started working out at 6:30 am, after waking up at 4:30 am. 

“I’m sure I shocked the world when I did that because 4:30 is a rough hour. It was dark outside, but I just was determined, and I had seen so much growth that there was no way I was going to give it up. I love it, and it makes me feel good.”

According to Megan, nutrition is by far the most critical element of weight loss, and exercise is crucial for exerting personal power and building determination and emotional momentum. 

“I feel like our whole shopping has changed. What I have in my fridge and pantry has changed drastically and become a habit. I feel like we have a lot of quick, good things to grab easily now. I used to eat a lot of fruits and vegetables before, but now when I go shopping, my car is loaded even more from the produce section.”

Before starting the Fit Mother Project program, Megan and her family often ate out. Not so much anymore.

“We ate out a lot and drank a lot of soda when we ate out. We were getting treats every week, a couple of times a week. We realized we were making baked goods. I was letting my kids bake almost every day. So those I think were the biggest habits that changed.”

Now, she feels like the proper nutrition has cleaned up her system and removed all the background noise. 

“I am doing the right things for my body, and my body does speak to me. And I love eating this way. I don’t need the junk.”

And she always reminds herself that slow and steady wins the race, and now her weight loss is maintainable and sustainable. 

“As you continue to cycle through the next several phases, they build on each other mentally more than anything. The last phase was hard, but I did it. I gained this mental toughness and confidence. I would hit roadblocks, but I learned how to get around them.” 

According to Megan, her Fit Mother Project journey was indeed a transformative process.

“I feel like, for me, the biggest and most important transformation happened within myself, within my mind. I asked God for help because I want to be there for my children. I want to be a better mother and a better partner to my husband. I want to be a better community member. But my body was holding me back. All of the choices that I was making before were taking away from my life.”

According to her, the Fit Mother Project gave her a structure to work with and guidelines to follow.

“It’s definitely been a very spiritual journey for me. I had a lot of negative self-talk before and did not feel good about myself. That affected my relationship with my husband, family, and friends. Once I started the Fit Mother Project journey, I flipped that around and was taking care of myself.”

So what would Megan say to someone looking to join the Fit Mother Project?

“You become the person that you want to be by your actions and your efforts. You can become anything if you just put that work and effort into it. It doesn’t mean you’re meant to be heavy and lazy for the rest of your life simply because it’s in your genes. Your daily actions and efforts over time will determine what you become.”

CHECK OUT THE PROGRAM THAT MEGAN USED »

Key Takeaways From Megan's Journey

To summarize, here are two key lessons you can learn from Megan’s successful health and fitness journey:

Lesson 1: When You Accomplish Something Difficult, There’s No Better Feeling in the World

If you are determined and willing to succeed, nothing can stop you from achieving your goals.

You can overcome even the most challenging of barriers.

And when you do, you feel more confident and proud.

Honestly, there’s no better feeling in the world than accomplishing something difficult.

Megan’s story is an excellent example.

By achieving her weight loss and fitness goals, she overcame depression and became confident.

Lesson 2: The Right Nutrition Is Extremely Vital

Proper nutrition is critical to maximizing athletic performance.

It is also the key to losing weight.

Good nutrition can help you shed excess pounds — without feeling hungry or having food cravings!

Healthy foods such as protein shakes, salads, and more are packed with nutrients, unlike processed foods, which are typically loaded with sugar, salt, and fat.

What is FM30X?

FM30X is a simple, sustainable, and specific weight loss program that is designed especially for busy women over 40. With short metabolic training workouts, an easy-to-follow meal plan, and an accountability team that is there for you at every step, FM30X can help you lose 30, 40, or even 50+ lbs — even if you’ve never picked up a weight in your life.

Click here to see what you get when you join the FM30X program today!

*Please know that weight loss results & health changes/improvements vary from individual to individual; you may not achieve similar results. Always consult with your doctor before making health decisions. This is not medical advice – simply very well-researched info on overcoming depression.