TERRILYN BRUMFIELD,

Dallas

Shortly before the onset of COVID-19, Brumfield interviewed for a new job in HR. She landed the gig, but after nine months of lockdown, the dress she’d worn for the big interview no longer fit.

The mom of one piled on the pounds and went up two dress sizes while working from home due to eating french fries and her 5-year-old daughter’s candies, as well as leading a more sedentary lifestyle.

“I avoided the scales,” she recalled. “I’d wear sweatpants that had room to give.” Her lowest point came during a holiday photo shoot with her family. The pictures emphasized her larger figure and fuller face.

“I don’t know if my colleagues noticed the changes on Zoom calls,” Brumfield said. “But I wanted to get off on the right footing and make a professional impression when we saw each other in person.”

She finally started using the $2,000 Peloton bike she’d invested in before Christmas, doing 30-minute rides — her favorite instructors include Ally Love, Cody Rigsby and Jess Sims — five times a week. The 34-yearold also took to meditating regularly using the Peloton app.

“It was a holistic approach and the weight came off,” said Brumfield, who reckons she has lost around 40 pounds through a combination of exercise and

healthier eating. Her hope is to shed 20 more pounds to complete the transformation.

Her company hasn’t yet announced an end date for its remote working practices, but she is eagerly awaiting the decision and excited by the opportunity. Brumfield added: “I want to put my best self out there.”