Client Testimonials & Reviews

---

 I have always struggled with my weight. Yo-yo dieting was my life…lose weight, regain weight, repeat. When menopause hit, I found it harder and harder to lose weight and the belly fat set in—something that I thought was just an inevitability for a woman in her 50’s. Couple this with a new job that was much more sedentary than my previous job as an elementary principal, and the weight just kept creeping on, along with the loss of any muscle tone I once had. So, I made a New Year’s resolution (for the umpteenth time) to lose weight. I started with my typical approach of crash dieting—eating very few calories, skipping meals, etc. The scale did not budge. And then, one night while scrolling through Facebook, I ran across an ad in one of those swap sites from a personal trainer offering a New Year’s package of strength training and macro/nutritional coaching. Enter Brannan Steele Mirr into my life! Little did I know then just how much she would impact my life. 

Brannan started our journey together with a one-on-one coaching session learning a little about me, my eating, and my non-existing exercise habits. She created a personalized nutrition plan that balanced the macronutrients - fats, carbs, and proteins. Since I was already not eating much, she started me at 1300 calories. After a week, no weight loss. We dropped to 1200, and no weight loss. Brannan was not comfortable with me eating any less and concluded that my metabolism had adapted to the low calories I had been eating for so long which is why I was not losing weight. Time to reverse diet. Eat more?! That sounded absolutely nuts to me, but her mantra, and now mine, is “trust the process.” I put my complete trust and faith in Brannan as she gradually increased my calories, always balancing the macros in just the right proportions. Along with this reverse diet, I was strength training with Brannan 3 times a week. Keep in mind, I had never lifted a weight in my life! To my amazement, I began to lose weight! As crazy as this sounds, Brannan kept increasing my calories every week, AND I kept losing weight! Before long I was eating 2,000 calories a day and had hit my maintenance level. During this reverse diet, I lost 15 pounds, yet I was literally eating all the time. Brannan kept me at 2,000 calories long enough for my metabolism to be restored. She then later dropped my calories to 1500 where I lost another 10.5 pounds for a total of 25.5 lbs in a years time. But the scale does not tell the full story. Because of the weight lifting 3 times a week and HIIT cardio mixed in, I have gained a tremendous amount of muscle and have lost a total of 24.75 inches (arms, thighs, waist, hips, and bust). Now, this journey still requires work, but I have been able to eat pretty much anything I want, as long as it fits within my macros. I have learned how to fuel my body with the right nutrients, instead of using food as either a reward (binge eating) or a punishment (starvation), which was why I was always caught in that vicious yo-yo dieting cycle. I decided to make a commitment to myself, my health, and my emotional well-being. And in doing so, I have gained self-confidence, clarity, energy, and focus. My journey is not yet complete, nor will it ever be because this is now my lifestyle.

 I started my journey at 55 and my "after" photo was just before turning 59 years old, proving it is never too late to start! I lost a total of 35 pounds, but also gained muscle. I did three reverse diets in total to reach my goal. I now sit at my goal weight eating just over 2000 calories. I can honestly say that I am in the best shape of my life, both physically and mentally. I have put in the work, and I am proud of myself. But, truth is, I would not be in this healthy, fit, and happy place without Brannan. This girl knows her stuff! She treats each client as an individual and truly cares about you as a person. She will work with you to create a customized nutrition plan and workout plan that will help you reach your goals. But don’t expect easy…she will push you to levels you never thought possible. And through every phase of your personal journey, you will hear her say, “trust the process!” I did, I am, and I will!