“Be the Best You That You Can Be.”

Never Give Up

Cheryl Angelelli knows a thing or two about not giving up—even when the odds are against her. Having grown up as a competitive swimmer and diver, Cheryl had a dream of competing at a higher level one day. When she broke her neck at age 14 in a diving accident—and became paralyzed—Cheryl says that she wasn’t about to let that stop her from pursuing her dreams. She continued to work as hard as ever and went on to become a medalist in the Paralympic Games and even a World Record Holder.

But in 2014, when Cheryl retired from Paralympic swimming, she says she started gaining some weight. She felt the number on the scale was quickly “slipping out of control,” and it worried her.

“I put on about 20 pounds,” she says. “For someone who uses a wheelchair, 20 pounds is a lot of weight and makes it more difficult to do everyday tasks like getting dressed or transferring from a bed to a wheelchair.” Instead of letting it spiral out of control, Cheryl took action. Her father had had success with the Nutrisystem program, so she decided to give it a try herself.

“It was SO Easy!”

Perhaps the biggest surprise since beginning the Nutrisystem program was just how easy it was to lose the weight. Cheryl says it was a “shock” how much she lost in the first month—and it was ever simpler than she thought it’d be.

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“It was so easy, the food was really good, and the weight came off quickly,” Cheryl says. “Cooking and grocery shopping for someone in a wheelchair can be challenge, so I especially like how easy it is to simply heat up a delicious, portion-controlled meal in no time.”

Cheryl says that the fact that she was “on a diet but never felt hungry” was also surprising to her. She says that one of the best parts of the program is that the food “tastes great!”

“My confidence is back.”

Since losing 20 pounds*, Cheryl says that she loves how she looks and feels in her clothes—it’s given her confidence back. It’s also made pushing her wheelchair, transferring in and out of it, and getting dressed so much easier since she’s no longer feeling out of breath.

Her advice to others on the fence about trying Nutrisystem? Do it!

“Do it for yourself and your health,” she says. “Be the best you that you can be.”

For Cheryl, she’s now back to competing—but this time, in wheelchair ballroom dancing. She says that losing the weight has given her the confidence to feel beautiful in her ballroom gowns.

RELATED: Amanda’s Motivational Weight Loss Story >

You Can Do It, Too.

While one in five people in the United States lives with a disability, Cheryl says that it’s a population that doesn’t get talked about much—and she’d like to see that change.

“I want to inspire other people with disabilities to know yes, you can lose the weight!” says Cheryl. “Nutrisystem can help you reach your weight loss goals—just like it did for me.”

Ready to be the next inspirational weight loss story? Get started on your Nutrisystem weight loss journey today!

*Real success story and $10,000 Contest Winner. Expect to lose an avg 1-2 lbs per week.