The Not So Average Triathlete: How Deb Lost Over 100 lbs

Deb Waldo was diagnosed with Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) when she was 19 years old. Since then, she's tried every diet under the sun and never let her illness get the best of her. It wasn't until Trifecta came around that Deb has nailed down portion controlling with our Meal Prep, keep reading to learn more about Deb's story. 

"I’ve been overweight forever. I have a syndrome called Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) which makes it really difficult for me to lose weight, but I’ve always been active nonetheless. At my heaviest weight, I did mud-runs, 5ks and 10ks and all that stuff. I had weight loss surgery in 2014 which started me on my journey. I’ve lost around 114 pounds from my highest weight. I have a crazy schedule, I’m a full-time student and a part-time fitness trainer so I have a lot of things going on.

I started about 2 months ago with Trifecta and in the first month I was astounded by what a difference it has made. It makes having healthy food so easy and not have to spend an entire day cooking. - Deb Waldo, Harvard, IL

I was looking for a company to help me with my meal prep and I like that Trifecta has meal prep options because then I can mix & match items. I can only eat smaller portions because of my surgery, so the 4 servings already portioned are super helpful for me and I can cut them in ½ and make more meals. I started about 2 months ago with Trifecta, and in the first month, I was astounded by what a difference it has made. It makes having healthy food so easy and not having to spend an entire day cooking.

Discover your perfect meal plan today! 

No Such Thing as the Easy Way Out

I really fought the idea of weight loss surgery. I used to think it was the easy way out, but it's not, it is one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. It changes everything about your life, and it changes your relationship with food and people. Up to that point, I had tried everything because no matter how good I ate or worked out I just couldn’t get my body to let go of the weight. I had the surgery, and that got me rolling & then I just kept going. It’s not giving up, because I refuse to give up on what I wanted.

Life as a Personal Trainer

I love working out honestly, and I enjoy it, and I want to be able to help people like me who struggle. I struggled for years, my doctor & I tried supervised diets, dietitians, pills and my body was just working against me. She finally sat me down & we discussed weight loss surgery, and I went, and I would do it again in a heartbeat. It was a great tool for me to get my weight loss started and it has made a huge difference. What most people don’t understand about weight loss surgery is that, once the first year is up, it’s all up to you. That first year they call it the honeymoon phase and once that’s over it's not very easy to lose weight and it becomes even harder because your body has adjusted to the new regiment. I had a vertical sleeve gastrectomy where they just removed a part of my stomach.

I do triathlons, and I’m training right now for a half-iron-man in Grand Rapids. It is a 1.2 mile swim, 56-mile bike & a half marathon. The pictures I sent over are only a 1.8 lbs difference, but a 9-inch difference in waist circumference. Since I’m lifting, I’m changing the shape of my body. I couldn’t believe it; I changed the batteries on the scale. I tried weighing myself in a different area of my house, I was just shocked. Because of this, I live by the statement that the scale is not everything.

It Wasn't Always Easy

I wasn’t always in love with working out. I was always overweight, but in 2009 I did my first 5k, and that’s when everything changed. I’ve done some crazy fitness classes from wake-board lessons, to pole dancing, and I never let my weight stop me. 

My best friend since I was 12 does marathons, and she told me to join her. It was a 5k to Wrigley field. It took her 27 minutes to run it, and it took me 57 minutes to walk it. That was my first time doing organized running, and I’ve been hooked since then. Now I’m on a great team with an amazing group of people, and I have a great support system. I'm on an amazing team called Trimafia racing for Velocity Sportswear where is more than a team it's a family.  

Screen Shot 2019-04-24 at 10.04.32 AM

Meal Prep

I’ve been looking for a company for a while, but with most companies, you have to buy meals. You guys have that option of the Meal Prep, where I can order my protein, veggies, and carbs and split them up. I’m so thankful I found Trifecta, I work with a nutritionist every week who helps me make sure I’m taking in enough food. I’m much more focused on food than I ever was. Before, if I was hungry, I just ate, and I ate whatever I wanted.

Now, I have to be really conscious of what I’m putting in my body to make sure I’m getting my carbs, fat, protein, vitamins, minerals. This makes it easier for me because I can’t eat a full meal because I have to split it up. It’s easier for me to portion control and spread the items into my meal prep containers and take them with me and go. My schedule, it makes life so much easier for me. I have about a 3-hour commute every day, and it makes life so much more convenient for me to take my stuff & go. 

I count my macros, and Trifecta has helped me be more on point with where I want to hit my goals. I love all the options Trifecta offers for Meal Prep, the bison, venison, all things I enjoy.

I count my macros, and Trifecta has helped me be more on point with where I want to hit my goals. I love all the options Trifecta offers for Meal Prep, the bison, venison, all things I enjoy. I have a gluten allergy, so things like quinoa and rice are exactly what I need. Otherwise, it’s hard to hit carb goals when you aren’t able to wheat and rye.

 I like being able to do meal prep because I can pick and choose what I want and what I don’t want. Sometimes I’ll order vegetables, and sometimes I’ll pass on them and get some fruit instead from the grocery store, and I can do that. I’m not locked into individual meals, and I like having the mix and match options."


Whether your goal is weight loss, muscle gain, or a little bit of both let Trifecta help get you started on the right track. 

Learn More