Get inspired by these Daily Burn success stories, which showcase real people who committed to fitness and saw results that were way beyond average.
Nicole Schuman never enjoyed working out. In fact, exercise hardly crossed her mind until 2015, just before getting pregnant. She realized she had gained weight, tipping the scale at 190 pounds on her 5’1” frame. But she lacked the motivation to actually make a change.
During her pregnancy, Schuman’s weight crept up to 220 pounds. And even though some post-baby pounds fell off a few weeks after giving birth, the number on the scale stuck to around 215.
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Finding Workout Inspiration in her Family
As soon as Schuman became a mother, her mindset about getting healthy began to change. “I wanted to be able to play with [my daughter] at the park — and really play with her, not be worried that people were looking at me,” she says. “I just wanted to be confident and have the stamina to keep up.”
Even more than that, Schuman wanted to set a strong example. “I wanted my daughter to know she can do anything and if I can’t prove that, who’s going to?” she says. “[That would be like saying], ‘You can do anything you want to, but mommy can’t lose weight.” That’s when Schuman decided a lifestyle revamp was in order.
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Giving Exercise a Chance
As a new stay-at-home mom, Schuman discovered Pinterest, where she found her initial inspiration to get moving more. She’d copy exercise routines she found on the social site and occasionally participated in week-long challenges. It was on Pinterest that Schuman discovered ads for Daily Burn and realized she could stream workouts right at home. “I thought, ‘That looks really fun, but I hate working out,” she recalls. Then she spotted an offer for a free trial and decided to give it a shot.
Discovering a Love for Fitness with Daily Burn 365
Schuman initially tried Daily Burn’s Cardio Sculpt program, but quickly decided to take it back to basics with True Beginner. She also quickly got hooked on Daily Burn 365 — a live show that provides a new workout every single day. And she hasn’t stopped doing the program since she signed up more than 10 months ago. She says it was the energy and mix of workouts that kept her going back for more movement. “I was like, ‘Ok, with all of these workouts, there is something I will like. I just have to find out what it is,” she says. Thankfully, Daily Burn 365 offered various trainers and workout styles she enjoyed — and she could get in a good sweat in 30 minutes, right in her living room.
Another draw for Schuman: Daily Burn’s upbeat and motivating community. “[Daily Burn 365] is just fun to watch — it’s like reality TV, but not,” she says. “You know the people in the background and the trainers. My husband even knows most of the trainers because I talk about them all the time,” Schuman laughs. Success stories in the Facebook community group are also a source of inspiration for her. Just hearing stories like, ‘I never thought I could do this or that and I did’ — I love hearing that.”
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Taking Her Healthy Pursuits to the Kitchen
In addition to kicking up her step count and sweating more, Schuman also revamped her diet. She stopped drinking soda, limited her snacking, swapped fried foods for baked, cut out pastries and cookies, and started cooking more frequently. She now loves eating roasted chickpeas and edamame instead of bags of greasy chips. And her new favorite meal to start the day: a whole-wheat English muffin with peanut butter and banana slices. That’s replaced her previous go-to of donuts or breakfast sandwiches from 7-Eleven.
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Weight Loss and Mental Gains
Schuman’s successes haven’t stopped at a more than 60-pound weight loss. Despite suffering from depression and anxiety since puberty, the now 26-year-old says she’s happier than ever, sleeps better and feels less stressed. “I check every morning to see if there’s something social for me to do in my community,” she says. “And I wasn’t even a social person before. But I go out more, I’m more socially active and I’m not depressed... Life in general is better than it’s ever been.”
Thanks to exercise, Schuman also says her body just feels better. She used to wake up with stiff joints and sore muscles, but she doesn’t have pain any more. And even though she had hated running most of her life, Schuman recently started going for a jog two to three times a week when she takes her dog out. “I’m more positive and I have endurance and more energy during the day,” she says. “I can even get my house clean because I have the energy to do it.”
At the top of her list of achievements since getting active and eating better is more self-confidence. “Today, I woke up and looked in the mirror and thought ‘wow,’” she says. “Not because I spent hours getting ready, not because my hair looked good and not because I put makeup on. I stood in my mirror with no makeup, normal clothes, no shower (I have a one-year-old now!), and I just thought ‘wow.’ For the first time in my life I love my body, I think I look amazing and I feel so good about what I have accomplished."
To try Daily Burn 365 for yourself, head to dailyburn.com/365. Start a free trial today!
Note to reader: The content in this article relates to the core service offered by Daily Burn. In the interest of editorial disclosure and integrity, the reader should know that Daily Burn owns and operates this site. Always talk to your doctor before beginning any exercise or weight loss program. Daily Burn users who worked out for 30 minutes or more at least five times a week for 60 to 90 days reported an average weight loss of about one pound per week. For those seeking to lose weight, keep in mind that extreme weight loss can be harmful to your health if done improperly or too suddenly. Always talk to your doctor before beginning any exercise or weight loss program.
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