Imagine you’re boarding a plane for a business trip, your heart begins racing with anxiety, your palms start to sweat and your whole body tenses up. Sounds like a typical scenario for someone afraid to fly, but what if that isn’t the fear at all. What if instead, you’re afraid you might not fit into the airline seat or nasty looks will be sent your way when you rub up against your neighbor during the flight. Unfortunately this is the way Georgia Theriot has felt most of her life. Plagued with anxiety and embarrassment about being overweight, Theriot remembers all too well the stigma and daily difficulties associated with carrying too many extra pounds. So she decided to make a drastic lifestyle change, and in doing so embarked on a weight-loss journey that is miraculous by anyone’s standards. During the last two and a half years, Theriot has dropped a whopping 167 pounds and 20 dress sizes (from a 28 to an 8), as well as boosted her confidence and improved her overall health. And according to Theriot, she owes this amazing accomplishment to hard work, dedication and continued guidance from her personal trainer, Claudia Medrano of Pinnacle Elite Fitness.

At the age of 35, Theriot decided she’d had enough with fad diets. But at 326 pounds, she also knew time was running out. If she wanted the chance to live a long and healthy life, dramatic steps had to be taken, and they had to be taken quickly.

So she visited a doctor to talk about her options. The first thing she was told was that gastric bypass surgery was the only way to lose the kind of weight she desired. Faced with that alternative, Theriot decided to give something else a try instead: she started visiting a nearby gym to get in better condition. That is when she met Medrano, who, despite some of Theriot’s lofty ambitions, agreed to customize a weight-loss regimen that would hopefully change her life.

By implementing basic dietary strategies and sticking to a straightforward exercise routine, Theriot lost an astonishing 100 pounds within the first six months of Medrano’s program. She recorded everything she ate, performed at least one hour of cardiovascular exercise each day and lifted weights for one hour, three times a week. She also had to cut out all fast food, and any type of fried foods, in exchange for more balanced, healthier alternatives. Theriot even started eating five times a day instead of three, snacking more often during the day to keep her metabolism primed. Needless to say, the results have been inspiring.

“The weight loss continued as I followed this regimen and by August 2002 I weighed 208 pounds,” Theriot explains. “A year later (August 2003) I weighed 171 pounds. Today I weigh a mere 159 pounds, and I feel like I’ve found a beautiful butterfly that was under the cocoon of my former self,” she beams.

In addition to losing more than half her body weight, Theriot also has noticed major changes in her mental health and overall outlook on life. During her dreary overweight days, Theriot admits to taking as many as 15 prescription pills every day for depression. But it’s clear now that she has a new lease on life.

“I feel fabulous most of the time, and as a result of her [Medrano’s] training and lifestyle recommendations, I’ve learned to make time for myself, and am less of a workaholic,” she says.

On the horizon, Theriot looks forward to having excess skin removed from her body, a costly procedure, but one that will make her feel even better about her achievements. In the meantime, she says would like to focus more seriously on bodybuilding and maintain her commitment to fitness. All in all, Theriot is certainly living proof that dedication, strong will and an unconditional support structure can defeat even the most insurmountable obstacles.