What was the biggest turning point when you decided to make a significant lifestyle change?
When we were younger, we tend to live the YOLO philosophy. And while we empower ourselves by not minding what others say, we also must recognize when it is time to change our lifestyle.
Actress Maddie Baillio had that realization and shocked the internet with her new look.
When people last saw Maddie, she weighed almost 300 pounds. She had the talent and the confidence that landed her major projects like Hairspray Live!, Dumplin’, and Cinderella. You can say everything was going well for Maddie.
However, her role in Cinderella gave her the turning point she needed.
“There was a scene that didn’t make it in the movie, where me and the other stepsister led a group of like 300 girls — fantastic dancers, slender, they had it going on — down this 50-yard pathway to the castle singing ‘Single Ladies’ and dancing,” she said in an interview with People.
And while she was always confident with her body, shooting those scenes woke her up.
“I couldn’t keep up with the choreography, and I kept losing my breath. We’d have to start reshooting the scene over and over for me,” she added. That was the beginning of a healthier journey for Maddie.
She decided to “increase her stamina,” so she started working out.
Maddie decided to start working out during the COVID-19 lockdown. With the entertainment industry looking bleak, she went back home and used the time to improve herself.
It all started with a routine, and she never looked back.
She started doing 30-minute walks outside. For her, the simple exercise also helped her mental health especially being out in the sun. She soon increased her time from 30 minutes to an hour until she could walk for up to two hours.
Maddie stepped on the weighing scale and saw the difference in her weight.
She told People that stepping on the scale made her realize that right there was something she had control over – and she wanted to do more. That made her also decide to cut back on meat and turn vegan.
She posted a photo on Instagram early last year, and you could already see the difference.
Photo after photo, Maddie showed how her hard work paid off. Fast forward to today, she has already lost over 150 pounds which she said was “more than half of what she used to weigh.” That’s discipline and dedication right there!
More so, Maddie loved how her transformation gave her stamina and confidence.
Although she had opportunities given to her before, she was limited to roles based solely on her size. Despite being confident in her old body, Maddie loved herself more after working to be better in all aspects of her life.
Maddie also sent a beautiful message to those who struggle with their self-image.
“We have to feel good about ourselves. It can’t come from outside sources,” she said. “I refrain from commenting on people’s physical appearance… because you never know who’s struggling with what, how they got to that point.”
Watch Maddie’s story below, and be inspired in pushing yourself to be better at everything you do!
