Mother Loses 135 Lbs After Daughter’s Classmate Calls Her Fat

Rachel Saintfort lost more than 100 pounds in less than 12 months. She did not lose weight because of a challenge, or because of a new year’s resolution that she wanted to keep, but she did it out of love for her daughter.

Rachel’s weight loss transformation began in January 2017 while picking up her daughter after school one day. Saintfort was partaking in the traditional parent-child post-school day debrief session when her young daughter told her a harsh truth- one of the kids at school had called Rachel “fat.”

In life, we often need mirrors to show us who or where we are. Sometimes, we don’t get to pick and choose who holds up those mirrors to our faces and which moments we are forced to change.

The catalyzing comment forced her to view her situation with full clarity

Rachel had developed lymphedema in her legs, a condition that causes a build-up of lymph fluid resulting in swelling. She had reached 200 lbs in high school, and then put on an additional “freshman 75” during college. After that, she gained even more weight after her daughter’s birth in 2007. At her heaviest, Rachel weighed 291 lbs. That whole time she was confident as a person but couldn’t see her situation with full clarity. Then her daughter’s classmate made that mean but catalyzing comment.

your kids are your world, and the last thing you want to see is your child being down or sad, especially over something you have the capabilities of changing...so when I saw her face when she was telling me, it’s like, ‘but, it’s okay mom’ and I’m like, uh, you know, we were kids once upon a time.

Rachel Saintfort for Goalcast

Rachel told Goalcast of that hurtful day, “your kids are your world, and the last thing you want to see is your child being down or sad, especially over something you have the capabilities of changing.” Her daughter claimed that it was no big deal, but Rachel could tell that was far from the truth, "so when I saw her face when she was telling me, it’s like, ‘but, it’s okay mom’ and I’m like, uh, you know, we were kids once upon a time…”

Relating to her daughter’s emotional state, Rachel goes on to reveal her transformative train of thought by saying, “so it’s like, imagine when someone said something about your mom, or your friend, or your dog, or whatever, and how you felt… and it’s like you know what, it’s really no excuse, it’s hurting her now. It’s one thing if it only hurt me, but now that she’s affected, whether she wants to admit it or not… I just knew I had to do something about it.”

Rachel found her 'why' and refused to stop fighting for it

A mother’s love led Rachel to cut out fast food as well as soda and begin incorporating daily exercise into her routine.

Rachel speaks on the importance of mental health on such an arduous physical journey. Saintfort explains, “I always tell people, it starts with your mentality, right? I never understood how important mental health was, and how distractions really deter you from your goals.”

On how she found the discipline to cut out the junk food and incorporate daily exercise, Rachel says, “You just have to do it, it’s not easy. But, I always say, when you’re sick and tired, of being sick and tired, of being sick and tired. You’ll do something about it.” She adds, “And it was literally like hey, I know what are the main things that cause the weight gain, just stop! And I don’t know how I did it, I just did it! And it worked!”

According to Rachel, “primarily finding your ‘why’, and vowing to never stop fighting for it” is essential to making this type of lifestyle change. She clearly knows that in her situation her ‘why’ is her daughter, and that is where she finds her motivation. It has been her motivation from the start during that January 2017 post-school conversation in the car, and it is to this day.

She says it is okay to mess up- being kind to yourself is the most important thing

Rachel describes the moment that she found out that she lost 100 lbs in less than a year as “surreal.” Saintfort says that “it was like I was walking on air,” and that “it felt amazing.” An accomplishment so immense is one to be celebrated, even in the seemingly smaller moments, and who better to celebrate it with than her daughter.

When Rachel speaks about her ‘why’ she lights up. She describes playing a game of water polo with her daughter and a friend when her daughter stopped her to point out how long she had been playing with them for. She realized that Rachel is now able to do things like that because she doesn’t get tired like she did before the weight loss. For Saintfort, moments like those are priceless.

When we realize that our decisions have an impact on our loved ones, sometimes we can be pushed into taking action for our own benefit. In Rachel’s case, her health was on the line. The motivation may have stemmed from a cruel comment from a child but at least Rachel recognized the need to make a very necessary change in the end.

I always tell people, it starts with your mentality, right? I never understood how important mental health was, and how distractions really deter you from your goals.

Rachel Saintfort

Rachel is now a personal health coach and an all-around weight loss transformation warrior. She emphasizes the importance of “just realizing that if you mess up it’s okay.” It seems like a simple thought; however, in reality, so many of us are hardest on ourselves while embarking upon serious life changes when we should be kinder.

Rachel says of her lifestyle overhaul, “this whole weight loss journey is forever.” Being proud of herself has been the highlight of the journey so far. Saintfort lost the weight and gained herself. She recognized that there was a problem that needed to be addressed and faced it head-on.

Her future plans involve releasing R&B music and helping others achieve their dreams

Rachel has plans for the future. On top of being Ms 100 Lbs, down 135 pounds and counting, Rachel is a talented R&B singer with a motivational approach to music. The world could possibly see a fitness album in the future from Rachel Saintfort, so keep an eye out for music with the potential to put our workout playlists to shame. If anyone can make dreams into reality, it’s Ms 100 Lbs.

We all have the willpower inside of us to change the things that need changing, it is just a matter of looking in the mirror and finding your 'why'. Rachel found her mirror in a cruel comment, and she discovered her ‘why’ in her daughter. Ultimately, a mother’s love for her child is unparalleled in strength and the end result of finding yourself is a beautiful thing. Self-belief and willpower are within us all, sometimes we just need to look outside of ourselves to gain perspective on what’s important to us on the inside.

Never underestimate the power of love to create necessary change. If you’re looking for your ‘why’, sometimes you just need to look in your backseat.

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