02/02/2026
Congrats on your amazing transformation Amy Winter.
Here is what she has to say about her experience at CFS:
“When I found CFS, I had just turned 49, had gained 20+ pounds going through perimenopause/menopause, though I have struggled with weight my whole life. I think I did every diet known to man at some point. Recently I had gone back through everything that had worked before trying to get the needle to move, but nothing seemed to work anymore. I was so confused - is oatmeal OK? Can you eat bread? What about fruit? Fasting? It was a blur. I decided on my 49th birthday that I would spend the next year making changes to be in better health when I turned 50, and I signed a 1 year contract with Lisa.
Lisa was patient with me - which I am sure was a real challenge in the beginning! I expected to see results every week, and if I wasn’t seeing the scale number going down, then clearly we needed to change the plan! That’s what I was used to doing. Lisa told me - “It’s my job to worry about this now” She told me that my job was to stop stressing about it and to just stick to the plan that she put out for me. Even the weeks that I did “all the things’ I would ask - OK, what else do I have to do? “Do it again next week”.
It wasn’t hard or complicated, but it wasn’t easy. I had to make a commitment to myself and keep it, even on the days I didn’t feel like it or I was busy. As my consistency improved, the perceived “small progress” started adding up. I remember on one of my check in forms telling Lisa, “it’s not sexy or fast, but I’m showing up and doing it!” And it started compounding - the results started becoming noticeable to me, and then to others. The people who had been giving me grief about what I was doing - they were starting to ask me questions.
I had to take an honest look at myself, my habits. Lisa didn’t tell me that I needed to change or give up anything - that was all up to me. She would point out things and ask questions. You see - NOTHING is off limits. This isn’t some “program” that you do for a year to reach your goals and then go back to life as usual. It truly is lifestyle. This year with Lisa helped me really craft a lifestyle that fits the life that I want to live. It made me take an honest look and really decide for myself - “is this habit something that is getting me closer to my goals?” I want to not only live long, but I want my years to be active and full of health.
I learned so much - I learned that I can eat bread, and oatmeal and that I actually need to EAT, not eat LESS. Lisa gave me tips and tricks every week. She gave me real time feedback, answered questions as they came up, provided gentle guidance and accountability. I didn’t have to do it alone and try to do whatever trend was coming up on social media (not that I wasn’t tempted!). I had my plan. I just had to check the boxes.
Looking back at myself when I started with Lisa is emotional - I remember the pain and how much my weight occupied my thoughts, it was constant. Today, I have shed not only the weight, but I have opened the opportunity to focus on other things. My goals are no longer to get smaller, or to be skinny, but to continue to work on body recomposition and to go into my “older years” as strong as possible. I did lose around 40 pounds this year, but I gained the ability to prioritize what makes me feel good, lots of muscle (look at those biceps!), and much more control. And that finally gives me peace. I am so grateful for Lisa and for CFS for guiding me on this journey.”
