WALKING A THIN LINE

Adriene Tolliver, 36, is living large these days—and it’s all because she made the decision to downsize. Since committing to a lifestyle change Sept. 7, 2013, she has lost more than 160 pounds. That’s quite a feat, especially considering she used to become winded walking through a mall and shunned going to the beach because she was ashamed of her body.

Today, she frequents a gym and eats wholesome, nutritious meals. She also completed a 5K run and is preparing to compete in a 10K run next February. “I made a decision to become healthy and as a result, I’m loving life,” says Adriene, a 1998 graduate of Leesburg High School. “I look at life in an entirely different way. Before, it was hard for me to love life because I was so limited in what I could do.”

Adriene’s life transformation came following an uncomfortable visit to her doctor. Because her cholesterol and triglyceride levels were high, her doctor wanted to prescribe medication. “My doctor told me I probably had about 10 years to live at the rate I was going. I fell apart. I didn’t want to be on pills, so my doctor gave me 90 days to make a life transformation or else she was going to put me on medication.” Since other diet plans had previously failed, Adriene strongly considered gastric bypass surgery. However, she instead opted to try Beachbody, a company that sells at-home workout videos and programs. She saw instant results with a once-a-day meal replacement shake. “That first week I lost seven pounds even though I still drank sodas and did not exercise because I was so big I thought I’d injure myself.

I was amazed with the results.” When Adriene had a follow-up visit with her doctor 90 days later, she had lost 28 pounds, and her cholesterol level had dropped 100 points. “My doctor was ecstatic and couldn’t believe how much progress I made in that amount of time.” Adriene has since faithfully followed other Beachbody exercise and diet programs. “Healthy living is my main focus in life,” she says. “Each day, I strive to be healthy from the inside out.”