Hi, I'm DaNae Johnson Founder of Vibrant Lady
This is my story...
Growing up I had a wonderful, loving family. Since we homeschooled, we travelled all over America. I am so thankful for the convictions and care my dad and mom poured into me.
I was quite active in sports and activities. But when it came to food... we would jump from diet to diet. I remember trying Atkins, banana diet, juice fasting, clean, HGC diet, and the list goes on.
I never grasped how to have a healthy view of food. I recently found an old journal from almost 20 years ago. My past words broke my heart.
“Food has such a stronghold over me. Food is for nutrients and nothing else.”
In my years of experience and education, I now realize that I can enjoy food. You see... I was “crunchy” before the term “crunchy” was even invented. In 2005, I graduated as a Master Herbalist. I was taught that meat, flour, sugar, non-organic foods, & anything processed was bad. This training sent me down a negative path of labeling food into two categories... “BAD” or “GOOD”.
My challenge was that I still loved to eat the “BAD” foods... like hamburgers, fries, ice cream, chocolate, etc. I would have willpower and eat as clean as I could for a few days. But then I would binge on a Giant Symphony chocolate bar in one sitting or secretly pick up a meal at McDonald's for a “snack”.
In 2006, I gained 65 pounds from this unhealthy view of food during my first pregnancy. My energy levels remained so low. My 20 year old body felt like it was 50! Then smoothies influenced my life. In 2008, I was introduced to the green smoothie diet at a health food store, where a woman was offering free samples. Having previously worked at a smoothie bar, I had never considered adding greens.
Just 2-3 months into my daily green smoothie habit, people began to comment on how “radiant” my skin appeared and inquired about my weight loss.
Smoothie Handbook was born!
In 2010, I created handouts with tips and smoothie recipes for weight loss and increased energy to share with friends and family. I wanted them to experience this simple yet effective concept for themselves. Shortly after, I began teaching health classes on smoothie preparation. I had lost over 45 pounds and experienced a new surge of energy. My passion for this straightforward idea led me to establish my first website, Smoothie-Handbook.com. I even wrote 2 books on how awesome smoothies are.
Regrettably, life got busy. Plus, I didn’t fully grasp the concept of calories in versus calories out. Food was either "BAD" or "GOOD". I naively believed that drinking a healthy smoothie each day would shield me from gaining weight. I was eating a lot of the “BAD” foods... I gave up on trying. I also gave up on my daily smoothie habit.
Fast forward nearly 13 years, I had two more wonderful children. I found myself weighing 255 pounds. I felt undeserving of wellness. How can I teach others about health, when I couldn't figure it out myself. I avoided certain family activities. My self-esteem hit an all-time low! I got paralyzed be all the weight loss information available on the internet. So I ignored my reality.
My Turning Point
A pivotal moment occurred during a New Year’s celebration with another family. My husband took some photos that made my heart drop. By this time, I was avoiding scales and posing strategically to present my "best self" (often hiding behind my kids). That fateful night forced me to confront the harsh reality.
Looking back, I’m grateful for that experience. It pushed me to step out of my comfort zone and truly see the condition of my body and mind. I love that lady in this photo. Even though I am her... I feel like a completely different person.
It took me 12 months to lose 80 pounds, and a few additional months to shed a total of 96 pounds. My goal is to hit 100 pounds gone! I still eat chocolate, pizza, hamburgers, fries, and ice cream, but with a healthy mindset. No more "BAD" or "GOOD" food mindset.
I am thankful to be on this journey of reshaping my thoughts about myself and my relationship with food. I have dedicated myself to learning everything possible about weight loss transformations using simple, yet effective tools and accountability.
After losing those 96 pounds, I returned to school with Fitness Mentors to become Nationally Certified as a Personal Trainer and Nutrition Specialist, my goal is to help other women navigate the overwhelming sea of weight loss information and truly fulfill their potential as Vibrant Ladies.
Reach your potential with DaNae
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6-Week Vibrant Lady Transformation Course
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I'm creating a self-guided journey with weekly interactive lessons.
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