Amanda underwent a major weight loss, and because of that she spent years afterwards constantly chasing being small with calorie deficits and cardio. Although she would try to build muscle, each time the scale went up she would freak out and cut calories again - effectively wiping out her progress. When she finally embraced training hard, reducing cardio and eating enough to fuel muscle growth, her body started to change.

Ironically, even though she was afraid of eating more and gaining weight, she ended up leaner than she ever had been by adding muscle mass - AND able to eat an extra 1000 calories a day! She has a healthier relationship with food and exercise, she feels better, and she has more dietary flexibility.

She learned that although there is a time and a place for weight loss, being smaller doesn't always mean being healthier and building your dream physique often requires doing just that: BUILDING.