After years of trying different diets, exercising consistently, and feeling defeated by weight gain, Meredith Welbes wondered whether living with Hashimoto's meant she'd never reach her goals. But through the VIP Weight Loss System, she discovered a new approach to nutrition, strength training, and self-confidence—and a transformation that went far beyond the scale.
Today, Meredith is celebrating nearly 30 pounds lost, more energy, and a newfound sense of confidence.
She's lifting heavier weights.
Enjoying her daily walks.
And inspiring her daughter to build healthier habits.
She even completed an entire week of RAGBRAI, Iowa's famous cycling event, and discovered that the hills she'd once dreaded had become something she could enjoy.
But her greatest transformation?
She no longer believes that feeling stuck means she has to give up.
Meet Meredith: The Woman Who Felt Like She'd Tried Everything
Meredith's weight struggles began in her twenties.
That was when she was diagnosed with Hashimoto's, an autoimmune thyroid condition.
Over time, she experienced significant weight gain.
She also struggled with joint discomfort and feeling physically uncomfortable.
And she tried everything she could think of to feel better.
Whole30.
The Autoimmune Protocol, or AIP.
Food sensitivity testing.
Eliminating certain foods.
And different approaches to nutrition.
Sometimes, those changes appeared to help initially.
She remembers losing 25 pounds during one round of Whole30.
But the results didn't last the way she hoped.
When she moved away from the restrictive plan, the weight began returning.
It was frustrating.
Because Meredith wasn't someone who avoided exercise.
She walked.
Biked.
Ran.
And practiced yoga regularly, something she'd done since her twenties.
She was active.
She believed she was making healthy choices.
And yet, she still wasn't seeing the lasting progress she wanted.
When Hashimoto's Made Her Feel Like Change Was Impossible
As the years passed, Meredith began wondering whether her thyroid condition meant she would always struggle with her weight.
She was tired of trying new approaches.
Tired of getting her hopes up.
And tired of watching the progress disappear.
Eventually, she started asking herself a difficult question.
What's the point?
She wondered whether she simply needed to accept that this was how her body would always be.
But that acceptance didn't bring peace.
Looking in the mirror was difficult.
Seeing pictures of herself was difficult.
And deep down, she still wanted to feel different.
She wasn't ready to give up.
She just hadn't found an approach she felt she could maintain.
One More Try
By the time Meredith discovered the VIP Weight Loss System, she was skeptical.
She'd already tried so many things.
And each time, she hoped the next approach would finally be different.
VIP felt like one more attempt.
One last thing to try.
But as she began participating in the program, she discovered that the difference wasn't one magical trick.
It was the combination of several things working together.
Nutrition education.
Accountability.
Food journaling.
Mindset work.
Movement.
And support from coaches who helped her navigate challenges.
For Meredith, those pieces began to create something she'd been missing.
A sustainable approach she could understand and continue.
The "Secret Sauce" Wasn't Just One Thing
When Coach Katie asked Meredith what made VIP different, she laughed.
There were too many things to name.
"I don't know if I can pinpoint the secret sauce because there's so many secret sauces."
She compared it to a soup.
Everything was working together.
Before VIP, Meredith believed she was eating healthy.
She chose whole foods.
Paid attention to ingredients.
And tried to avoid foods she thought weren't right for her.
But she began recognizing patterns she'd overlooked.
Mindless eating.
The balance of protein and carbohydrates in her meals.
And the difference between knowing which foods were healthy and building a routine that supported her goals.
The education helped her become more intentional.
And the accountability helped her keep going.
Nearly 30 Pounds Down
As Meredith continued practicing her new habits, she began seeing progress.
And by the time she sat down with Coach Katie, she had reached a milestone that once felt impossible.
Nearly 30 pounds lost.
She was incredibly close to that number.
And while the weight loss was exciting, it wasn't the only thing she wanted to celebrate.
She felt better.
Had more energy.
And was beginning to trust herself again.
Instead of wondering whether she could make progress, she had evidence that she was capable of changing her habits and working toward her goals.
The Mindset Shift That Changed Everything
Before VIP, Meredith had a difficult relationship with the scale.
If she gained even a small amount of weight, it could ruin her outlook.
She might feel discouraged.
Question everything she'd been doing.
And decide that if the scale wasn't moving, there was no point in staying consistent.
But through VIP, she began thinking differently.
She started using a five-minute journal.
Reflecting on her thoughts.
And practicing a more positive mindset.
Instead of constantly telling herself something wouldn't work, she began allowing herself to believe that progress was possible.
And as she saw results, that confidence grew.
She no longer felt like every weigh-in determined whether she was succeeding.
When the Scale Goes Up Half a Pound—and It's Okay
One of the clearest examples of Meredith's transformation happened on the morning of her interview.
She stepped on the scale.
And she was up half a pound.
In the past, that small change might have upset her.
She might have questioned her progress.
Or decided to abandon her routine for the weekend.
But this time?
She wasn't worried.
She understood that weight fluctuates.
And she didn't need to turn one number into a judgment about herself.
She could keep following her habits.
Stay consistent.
And continue working toward her goals.
For Meredith, that was freedom.
Learning to Trust Herself Through Plateaus
Meredith's journey hasn't been perfectly linear.
She's experienced plateaus.
Including one around the time of her interview.
For approximately two weeks, her weight hadn't changed the way she'd hoped.
But unlike previous experiences, she wasn't panicking.
She knew she had support.
Her food journal coach.
Coach Katie.
And the rest of the VIP team.
If something needed to change, they could work together to evaluate her habits and explore options.
She didn't have to figure it out alone.
And she didn't have to assume that a plateau meant failure.
For the first time, she could approach a slowdown with patience instead of fear.
More Energy—and the Desire to Keep Moving
One of Meredith's favorite changes has been her energy.
Before VIP, she remembers feeling sluggish.
Heavy.
And uncomfortable with everyday movement.
Now, she feels more energetic.
And she wants to stay active because she enjoys how she feels.
She continues walking regularly.
But sometimes, when the weather is beautiful, she finds herself going out for an extra walk simply because she wants to.
Movement has become something she looks forward to.
Not just something she does because she believes she should.
And that shift has helped her continue building confidence.
Discovering Strength Through VIP Fit
Meredith has also embraced VIP Fit.
Through the strength-training program, she's been lifting weights and gradually challenging herself.
She admits that she hasn't seen all the muscle definition she'd like yet.
But she can see changes.
And more importantly, she can feel them.
She's lifting heavier weights.
Feeling stronger.
And noticing improvements in her physical capabilities.
For Meredith, strength training has become another way to measure progress.
Because the scale doesn't tell her everything.
But the weight she can lift?
The hills she can climb?
And the energy she has throughout the day?
Those changes matter.
The RAGBRAI Experience That Proved How Much Had Changed
One of the most exciting moments of Meredith's journey happened during RAGBRAI.
RAGBRAI is an annual bicycle ride across Iowa.
Meredith had participated in the event before.
But she'd never completed the entire week.
This time, she did.
And the experience was different from previous years.
She remembered how much she'd struggled with hills in the past.
In fact, she had a small accessory near her handlebars that said:
"Shut up legs."
It was a reminder to keep pushing when the climbs became difficult.
But during this year's ride, something had changed.
She felt stronger.
More capable.
And more confident.
She hadn't even trained as much specifically for the event as she normally would.
Yet she found herself enjoying the hills.
"I loved the hills this year."
For Meredith, that moment was incredible.
She could feel the difference her training and consistent movement had made.
And she got to experience it alongside her mom.
That made the achievement even more meaningful.
Her Daughter Is Watching—and Learning
Meredith's transformation has also had an impact at home.
Her daughter sees what she eats.
How she moves.
And the habits she's building.
And she's becoming interested.
One day, her daughter even joined her for a strength-training workout.
It was only one workout.
But for Meredith, it mattered.
Her daughter has also become interested in the foods Meredith keeps at home.
She's curious.
She's participating.
And she's beginning to see healthier choices as part of everyday life.
Meredith hopes that example will have a lasting impact.
Breaking the Cycle of Negative Self-Talk
One of Meredith's biggest goals is to help her children develop a healthier relationship with themselves.
She remembers years of negative self-talk.
Feeling frustrated with her body.
And allowing her weight to influence how she saw herself.
She doesn't want her children to carry that same burden.
She wants them to understand that their bodies are not their identities.
And that health is about more than appearance.
By changing the way she approaches food, movement, and self-confidence, Meredith hopes to model a different mindset.
One built on self-respect.
Consistency.
And the belief that challenges can be worked through.
Choosing What Makes Her Feel Good
Meredith also describes a change in how she makes food decisions.
Before VIP, she sometimes felt like she was resisting temptation simply because she was supposed to.
Now, she thinks differently.
She chooses foods and habits that help her feel good.
Not because someone is forcing her.
But because she likes the way she feels when she follows her routine.
She doesn't want to return to feeling sluggish.
Or uncomfortable.
And she recognizes that the choices she makes each day influence how she experiences life.
For Meredith, that sense of ownership has been empowering.
Finding Freedom Instead of Restriction
When Coach Katie asked Meredith to describe how she felt, Meredith struggled to find the perfect word.
But she knew what it wasn't.
Restriction.
She no longer felt like she was constantly pushing against a locked door.
Instead, she imagined a door that would eventually open.
Even when progress slowed, she believed she could keep working toward her goals.
And she knew she had people to help her along the way.
Her faith also plays an important role in how she approaches challenges.
For Meredith, patience and trust are meaningful parts of her personal journey.
And those values have helped her continue moving forward.
Her Message to Women Who Feel Stuck
Meredith knows what it's like to feel defeated.
To try different diets.
To experience setbacks.
And to wonder whether a health condition means your goals are out of reach.
But her message to other women is simple.
"Don't give up on yourself."
She believes there are often different approaches worth exploring.
Different forms of support.
And new things to learn.
She wants women to keep asking questions.
Keep advocating for themselves.
And keep searching for a path that works for their individual needs.
Because feeling stuck today doesn't mean you have to stop trying.
Today, Meredith Is...
✔️ Nearly 30 pounds down, after years of frustration with weight management.
✔️ Feeling more energetic, with a renewed desire to stay active.
✔️ Building strength through VIP Fit, including gradually lifting heavier weights.
✔️ Celebrating physical accomplishments, rather than focusing only on the scale.
✔️ Completed an entire week of RAGBRAI, something she hadn't done before.
✔️ Enjoying hills on her bike, after previously struggling with them.
✔️ Continuing to walk, bike, and practice yoga, activities she has enjoyed for years.
✔️ Feeling more confident, with a more positive view of herself.
✔️ Managing plateaus with less frustration, rather than abandoning her habits.
✔️ Using journaling and mindset practices, to support her consistency.
✔️ Making intentional food choices, based on what helps her feel good.
✔️ Sharing healthier habits with her daughter, who is beginning to participate.
✔️ Working to break the cycle of negative self-talk, for herself and her children.
✔️ Feeling supported by her VIP coaches, instead of navigating every challenge alone.
✔️ Committed to continuing her journey, even when progress isn't perfectly linear.
Meredith's story is about a woman who spent years believing that her Hashimoto's diagnosis might keep her from reaching her weight loss goals. After trying different diets and staying active without lasting success, she found herself frustrated and discouraged. Through VIP, she began building more intentional nutrition habits, developing a healthier mindset, and embracing strength training. Today, she's nearly 30 pounds down, enjoying more energy, and celebrating accomplishments she once found difficult—including an entire week of RAGBRAI and hills she actually loved riding. But her greatest transformation is the belief that she doesn't have to give up on herself. She's learning to trust her progress, celebrate her strength, and inspire the next generation through the example she's setting at home.
Individual results vary. Meredith's weight loss, energy changes, and exercise experiences are self-reported. Hashimoto's is a medical condition requiring appropriate clinical management. Meredith's experience does not establish that VIP treats, reverses, or cures Hashimoto's or other thyroid conditions. Dietary restrictions and medical treatment should be individualized with qualified healthcare professionals.
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