After completing seven years of service in the United States Marine Corps and becoming a new mom, Jess Wilson had a lot to be proud of. Instead, her gradual weight gain since giving birth left her feeling uncomfortable in her own skin and even a bit depressed. She was also managing some health conditions, including hypothyroidism, which makes it harder to lose weight; insulin resistance; and, back and joint pain resulting from degenerative disc disease. This pain made regular exercise (and thus, weight loss) harder for Jess.
“I had always been really healthy and lean before my pregnancy,” explained Jess, now 33 and a native of Pittsburgh, PA. “But after my son was born, I stopped exercising and started gaining the weight. I got depressed in my life and just didn’t feel like myself anymore.”