FOLSOM, California — Rachel Hallgren lost 175 pounds in a little more than a year. The Folsom native can even pinpoint the exact moment that she realized it was time for change — March 1, 2015, she was 350 pounds and decided to cut some carbs.
It wasn't a drastic change, but it was the start of something substantial. Now she’s sharing her story to show others that they can do it, too.
“It just made me feel like I was controlling something. And that's what I needed in my life because I felt like I was spinning out of control," Hallgren said.
Hallgren said the day she decided to cut carbs was seemingly random. She was feeling out of control, so she decided to do something.
"You always hear people cutting carbs, and I didn't really know what that meant," Hallgren recalled. "But I woke up that day and said [to my husband], ‘Mark, I'm cutting carbs today.’ And he said, ‘I'll do whatever you do.’"
During this time, Hallgren’s grandmother was getting sick. She said they were best friends. Then, her grandmother passed away.
"That day that my grandmother passed, actually, instead of going to fast food, I went to Chipotle," Hallgren said. "I didn't overeat and overindulge, and I was able to say that happened, and I'm so happy I had the time I had with her. But now I'm doing this."
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At first, Hallgren lost almost 50 pounds simply by eating healthy. Doctor's orders.
"To hear [my doctor] say ‘Oh, you lost 48 pounds since you were here last.’ blew my mind and made me so excited to keep going," Hallgren recalled.
So, she kept moving, literally. Hallgren and her husband Mark would explore all Folsom has to offer. Every walk or run got her closer to her goal.
"I would challenge myself to go a little bit farther. And then, over a period of 18 months, I lost 175 pounds doing that,” Hallgren exclaimed.
Hallgren is proud of her journey; one that started with energy and motivation to change.
"Once you start committing to something, you'll feel so comfortable in your own skin. When I was still 300 pounds, after I lost 50 I was like, ‘Look at me! I'm so skinny!’ because I was losing weight like crazy."
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