Member story

James's story

James describes how a coach who believed in him, and who focused on what he enjoys eating instead of what he couldn't, changed how he sees his journey.

About this story

Before Embla, James was doing everything the hard way. He worked long overnight shifts at an airport, barely slept and pushed himself to keep moving all day. He was running himself down, and he felt it.

"It didn't make me feel good at all."

All that effort, and very little to show for it. He didn't count it as a win, and for years he wasn't sure change was possible for him at all.

Someone to talk to

The first thing James noticed about Embla was simple: he had a coach. Someone he could actually talk to. And the conversations started from a different place than he expected.

"At no time did we ever talk about what I couldn't eat. It was just, 'Okay, what do you like? Okay, so let's work with that.'"

Instead of a list of foods to cut out, his coach built on what he already enjoyed. For James, that made the difference between a plan he had to fight and one he could live with.

A cheering section

James was never short on determination. What he was missing was support.

"I need somebody that believes in me. If you have a cheering section, you can do anything."

A message to his past self

Today James describes himself as positive and optimistic about the road ahead. At the end of his story, he speaks directly to the person he used to be, and thanks him: all that struggle laid the foundation for where he is now, and for what comes next.

What stood out

Coaching built on the foods James likes, not on restrictions.
Having someone who believed in him mattered as much as his own drive.
He now sees change as possible, after years of doubting it.

Transcript

Just my thinking alone. I'm so positive and optimistic on the outlook of this journey, and just knowing that it's possible. For years, I thought it wasn't, and now I'm just like, "Wow, this is really possible. This is happening."

I was working in an airport, long hours. At the time, I was working overnight, and I would just work around the clock. I was really sad. I was depressed. I was starving. But I would just run. I would run all day. I would just work and just sleep. It didn't make me feel good at all. I'm like, "Okay, I did all this work, and I only lost one pound?" I didn't count that as a win.

So the first thing that I noticed about Embla was just having a coach, somebody that's just able to talk to you. And at no time did we ever talk about what I couldn't eat. It was just, "Okay, what do you like? Okay, so let's work with that."

I knew I wanted to lose weight, and I was determined to do it. I just need some help. I need somebody that believes in me. If you have a cheering section, you can do anything.

So to my past self, I say, "Hey, past self, I want to tell you that you did good. All of your struggle was to make me better. And you did. You did make me better. And now I've achieved what you've been trying to do for a long time, and I'm going to take it from here. And I just want you to know that what you did laid the foundation for what I'm about to do right now. Thank you so much for doing that."

Individual results vary. Results depend on many factors, including engagement with the program.

Testimonials reflect the individual experiences of Embla members, shared with their permission and edited for length. Individual results vary. Medication is prescribed only by an independent licensed clinician when determined appropriate. Not all participants will qualify.