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This is not an easy decision. “Leaving school is tough because my profession is my identity,” she says with tears rolling down her face. “I have always been a people pleaser, and sometimes I don’t know how to say no. My family is still a priority, but this decision is about focusing on me.”

“He has been playing in a league for years, but I never went because I was so overweight and did not want people to know I was his wife. I did not want to be around people because I was afraid of them judging me. Going there wasn’t nearly as bad as I thought it would be.”

Traci’s family is enjoying one of her former favorite snacks, chips and salsa. Traci picks up a chip and bites off the corner.

“I could instantly see fear in the faces of my husband and girls. They looked at me as if I was about to lose control or something. The only reason I bit into the chip was to see if it was still fresh. The chips had been in the pantry for quite some time. I have not bit into a chip since then. My daughter relayed this story to my nutritionist, Lori Esarey. Lori told me it was okay and not a big deal. Nobody is perfect.”

Traci and her family attend a Tampa Bay Rays baseball game. During the drive, Traci silently maps out a plan on how to avoid sitting next to a stranger and becoming embarrassed. The plan fails.

“A man sat right next to me and had a lady friend with him. As soon as they sat down he whispered something to her, and she looked directly at me. I thought, ‘Yep, this is what I was afraid of.’ I insisted that Chad switch seats with me.”

Traci takes supplements and energy pills as part of her healthy lifestyle change. She washes them down in the morning with a tasty energy drink.

During a fiveday vacation to Ponce Inlet, Traci and Chad jog 3.4 miles each day on the beach.

“This is big for me because I always felt uncomfortable on the beach. Last summer, I walked Panama City Beach and felt totally gawked at the entire time.”

The family ends their vacation by eating at Crabby Joe’s Deck and Grill. Chad orders orange cake, a longtime favorite dessert of the Olivers.

“They brought it out, and it looked amazing. I told my husband to just let me smell it and I would be fine. I have discovered that smelling food can satisfy my craving.Plus, I’ve eaten so clean since January that I probably would have been in a diabetic coma had I taken a bite.”

Traci takes up a new exercise — swimming. She and her 15-year-old daughter, Bailey, swim 70 laps each morning at the Leesburg City Pool. Traci, a former middle school and high school swimmer, combines breaststroke, backstroke, butterfly, and freestyle.

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Traci begins running 1.4 miles each afternoon with Bailey. She says it is the first time she has run in nearly 12 years.

“Bailey has been so supportive of me throughout this process. She is my lifesaver.”

“I’ve always loved swimming, so for me it felt wonderful to be back in the pool.”

Pictured: Even though her husband enjoys pancakes for breakfast, Traci consumes egg whites and a chocolate diet shake. Once she excuses herself from the table, she writes down everything she consumes. In addition, when she finishes her fitness routines — which now include making waves in the pool and pounding the pavement with her brand-new running shoes — she journals how many sets she performs.

Coming In October

Check back with us to find out about Traci’s latest progress, challenges, and obstacles. If you are unfamiliar with Traci’s amazing journey, you can read her stories in our April and June issues online at lakehealthyliving.com.