After a tragic car accident, a woman from North Texas became wheelchair-bound for 17 years and gained 455 pounds (approx. 206 kg) over time. However, everything changed when she commenced an incredible weight loss journey. With hard work and determination, she was not only able to shed those extra pounds but also started to walk, and now is a certified personal trainer helping others.
Her injuries were so severe and she had lost quite a bit of blood that even medics weren’t sure she'd survive. “The EMTs said that if there was anything that I wanted to tell my family, they would write it down for me,” Carter added.
Luckily, she survived the horrific ordeal but had to spend the following 17 years in and out of the hospital and in a wheelchair.
Within months, Carter decided to take the gym owner up on his offer and commenced a training routine. “I was amazed and so excited for her, knowing that this could change her life if she wanted it bad enough,” Leyva explained on the blog.
As for Carter, she was grateful for the incredible support she received. “I owe that man my life. If it weren’t for that man opening up his doors to me and my family, I wouldn’t be where I am,” she told NBCDFW. “I wanted it bad enough. It was a mindset. He gave me an opportunity, so I was going to take it.”
Carter started a high-rep weight training, a new diet, and was on her way to a healthier lifestyle.
After losing about 60 pounds (approx. 27 kg), she then underwent surgery, and after years of healthy nutrition and training, she was able to walk on her own. According to Leyva, “Vicki did the most important thing when it comes to weight loss. She made a change to her mindset! She wanted a better life for herself, and nothing was going to get in her way.”
Leyva explains that Carter had to go through several surgeries, including skin removal and knee replacements, but she was able to walk after spending nearly 17 years in a wheelchair.
Through all these years, Carter lost 300 pounds (approx. 136 kg). In 2018, Carter was the recipient of the NPC Iron Warrior at the Texas Legends Championship.
Carter currently works as a barista at Starbucks and is a trainer in the same gym where she started her weight loss journey. She uses her own journey as a source of inspiration for her clients. She said, “If I can do it, you can do it! I did it from a wheelchair, so there is no excuse.”