Marlo Signoracci:
A Weight Loss Journey to Triathlete

I loved food from the earliest memory I have but unfortunately, I also enjoyed too much of it. The first leg of my weight loss journey started in the 10th grade when my mom took me to Weight Watchers for the first time. While I had some weight loss success during high school, the pounds came back when I went to college. When I got married in 1995, I was over 200 pounds and with my continued love for food and a husband who was a Restaurant Manager with a hobby of cooking, I continued to gain weight during our first 8 years of marriage.

I also proclaimed myself the “drive-thru queen.” I did not cook, and although my husband Paul was in the food service industry, he became busy at the restaurant where he worked — so I just ate what I could easily pick up.

With weight loss always on my mind, then thinking it was better, I turned to frozen processed “diet” foods because they were also easy to grab and go. Of course this did not help, since these items are packed with sodium and artificial ingredients that do not assist with weight loss.

my Struggle to lose weight

When we decided to start a family, my doctor suggested I lose weight. Once again, I turned to Weight Watchers. Although this was another successful step in my journey, during my pregnancy I gained 80 pounds. I just ate whatever I wanted and used my pregnancy as an excuse.

After William was born, I weighed 270 pounds and decided to turn back to Weight Watchers — and tried going to the gym. I started to lose weight slowly and I lost 30 pounds, but it continued to be an uphill climb.

Finally, the pivotal moment happened in early 2010. My workplace started a “Biggest Loser” Contest. I re-joined the gym and took spin classes, did aerobics, weight trained and watching what I ate to win the contest for the NY division and come in 2nd in the company. At the start of the contest I was 240 pounds and at the end contest 210! This was the significant successful weight loss I needed and was hooked — now wanted to keep it going.

Timing was on my side now — it was May 2011 when I was the Executive Director for a Senior Living facility. I had a working relationship with the owner of the Physical Therapy Company that provided services to the residents. We struck up a friendship/work-out partnership when I mentioned that I seemed to have plateaued after the 30-pound weight loss. I was desperate to figure out what to do next.

discovering what worked for me

This is when I turned to running. I went for my first run that May and it was a disaster. I could not even run one block. But I was determined and in September (4 months later) I ran my first 10K (6.2 miles). I then ran another one in November 2011 and then a 10-mile run in January 2012.

That was it — I was on my way. In March 2012 I completed my first 1/2 Marathon and then another one in January 2013 in Disney World. In May 2013 I completed the Long Island 1/2 Marathon and took 30 min off my time (since Jan)! My weight loss kicked in and the pounds started melting away.

In between the ½ Marathons, I was asked if I wanted to try a triathlon. I have been swimming most of my life, now had running under my belt — so all I had to do is figure out the bike part.

regaining my health

Ready for this next challenge I started training and my first triathlon was planned for August 2012. Realizing I needed more structured training, I joined the Long Island Triathlon Team and found new inspiration and many resources from nutrition to workouts. I also joined the LI Road Runners Club. Soon after I was asked to join the Long Island Road Runners Club Women’s Racing Team where I run designated road races and help score points for the team. I completed a total of six Triathlons and with all this activity and newly learned eating habits –I lost the additional pounds that lead me to reach my goal of losing over 100 pounds!

From September 2013 till present, I have completed (6) 1/2 Iron Man and (5) Full Ironman Races — with of course an ultimate goal to be able to compete in Kona’s Iron Man Triathlon!

It’s thrilling to be considered an inspiration to others. My advice is to never give up and take one step (swim or ride) at a time. As a full-time working woman, a wife and mom — the trick is to NOT feel guilty for making time for yourself to get healthy. Most important is that I know I am being a good role model for my son William. When I told William, I was going to participate in an Iron Man Triathlon, William said “Mom you already are an Ironman!”

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