This 23-Year-Old Graduate Student Lost More Than 100 Lbs. — and Got Her Confidence Back: ‘I Feel Comfortable In My Body’ (Exclusive)

Cat Brooks described herself as the “anti-walker”: “I was the person who would circle the grocery store parking lot to try to get a spot in front. Now I happily park in the back to get in the extra steps!”

Brooks began her transformation in April 2021. At the time, she was 266 lbs, working in a cubicle, going to school online due to the pandemic and “sitting and eating and being sad,” she says.

A WeightWatchers ad popped up on her computer screen one morning. By that afternoon she had enrolled. In the past, I “struggled with overeating and portion control.” But the program’s application helped her stay accountable.

“I spend a lot of time on my phone, so it’s really easy to have a food tracking app,” says Brooks, who turns to it for recipes when she cooks on Sunday nights. “It pushes me out of my comfort zone with using vegetables and protein.”

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Brooks the cat.

Caleb Santiago Alvarado

PEOPLE Editor-in-Chief Wendy Naugle on Going ‘Outside the Box’ to ‘Significant Wins’

Before she started to embrace portion control, healthy food choices and more activity (Zumba and walking are favorites), Brooks hated being in photos.

“I would volunteer to be photographed. I was really uncomfortable in my own skin,” says Brooks, who frequently posts her meals, workouts and selfies on Instagram (@catgetsfitonww) to her nearly 15,000 followers. “Now I’m the first to say, ‘Let’s take a group picture.’ ”

See also  Ryan Lochte and His Wife, Kayla, Celebrate Their 5th Wedding Anniversary

Although she lost more than her 100 lb. goal and now weighs 148 lbs., her motivation “isn’t to lose weight anymore,” says Brooks, who gets up early to walk a mile on the treadmill every day. “I’m not afraid of fitness anymore. Exercise makes me feel good. I do it for the happy endorphins.”

For more “Off the Scale” stories this week PEOPLEpick up a copy on newsstands Friday.

Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education

Rate this post

Leave a Comment