Gabriela Lopez

Athlete who gained weight due to poor nutrition

My name is Gabriela Lopez, I'm 41 years old, I'm Mexican and I live in Florida. As a child I was always very active. My time was spent in ballet classes, soccer and my favorite sport: swimming. I was always chubby and that never stopped me from doing something, but when I reached adolescence, I grew up, but I didn't get taller, I got wider! I was ashamed to put my bathing suit on, I looked like a poorly wrapped tamale! When I left practice, I thought that anything that I ate, I would burn off because I was moving, but no. Those nachos with cheese and sweet breads brought me up to 220 lbs! Unfortunately, I was forced to retire from the swimming pools out of fear of being rejected because of my weight and I decided to hang my gloves, as athletes say. My life went on, I got married and had children. I did not care much what happened with my body, I was defeated. One day my ex-classmates didn’t recognize me in my WhatsApp profile, they couldn’t believe that it was me because of the way I looked. That was when I said: this can't continue! One day I was watching TV and I found what I was looking for, Yes You Can!, my new lifestyle. I built up the courage, I called and that's how my transformation started! Today, I've lost 75 pounds, and I'm more active than ever. I wore my swim suit last summer and I look better than when I was 15! I want to create my Yes You Can! Movement Group to help other people! With all my heart, I say to those who do not dare to take that first step: Yes You Can!