The Life-Changing Shift from “Skinny” to “Strong”

At 36 years old, Maria del Mar Lopez is the strongest, healthiest, and happiest she has ever been.

But her journey to get there wasn’t easy.

A Colombian native now living in New Jersey, Lopez gave birth to her daughter in 2020 and put on some weight that she struggled to lose.

In her search for a solution, Lopez joined a weight loss program. At first, it seemed to be working… until it went too far.

“Some days, I would eat nothing but apples,” Lopez said. “Eight apples some days, and that was it.”

At just 5-foot-1, her weight dropped to 107 pounds. But rather than concern, she felt relief.

“I didn’t realize I was that skinny. I was just happy I wasn’t fat anymore,” she said.

Her husband urged her to eat more, but she was terrified of calories. Food became the enemy.

When the 2024 Open rolled around, Lopez hit a wall. She had a hard time making it through the gruelling workouts as she was eating no more than 600 calories a day and was under fuelled.

Discovering CBG

After the 2024 Open, Lopez started noticing videos from CBG founder Justin Romaire on Instagram. She began engaging with the content, answering questions, but remained skeptical.

“I thought it might be a scam,” Lopez admitted.

She decided to hop on a call anyway, but insisted that “it has to be with the guy in the video,” she said.

That call changed everything.

Romaire connected Lopez with Coach Paige Allert, and in April 2024, Lopez began the CBG program.

“This Is So Much Food!”

At first, the new approach felt overwhelming to Lopez.

“I remember thinking, ‘This is so much food. The day’s almost over and I haven’t even gotten close to what [Coach] Paige was telling me to eat,’” she said.

But she trusted the process, completed the 16-week program, and signed on for eight more months.

“The results were life-changing,” she said.

Today, Lopez eats at least three times as much as she did before CBG. She fuels herself with three proper meals a day, snacks, and post-workout protein shakes.

She focuses on hitting her protein goals each day and no longer fears calorie-dense foods like peanut butter or bread.

“I’m Colombian. I love arepas, and I’m not afraid to eat them anymore,” she said. “And I don’t crave bad foods anymore. But if I want a scoop of ice cream, I’ll have it.”

“I’m always eating. At work, people are like, ‘Lopez, you bring a lot of food to school,’ and I’m like, ‘It’s my snack,’” she added, laughing.

But an even bigger change for Lopez?

Her mindset.

She credits Coach Allert with helping her here.

“Paige helped me shift from wanting to be skinny to wanting to be strong,” Lopez said, praising her coach. “I started loving being strong. I can do all these things now. I’m a happy girl.”

Further, Coach Allert worked with Lopez on positive self-talk, replacing harsh internal criticism with compassion.

As a result, she’s proud of her body today.

“I love when I wake up and my abs are showing, but some days they don’t. And that’s OK too,” she reflected. “I look in the mirror and think, I love myself because of all the things I can do.”

Real Results, Inside and Out

Since bringing CBG into her life, Lopez has gained weight, but it’s the right kind. She has built muscle, looks leaner, and performs better than ever.

Lopez hasn’t weighed herself in a while, but estimates she’s around 125–130 pounds.

Her performance in the gym speaks for itself:

• Back squat: up from 135 pounds to 205 pounds
• Power clean: up from 65 pounds to 140 pounds

Moving Forward with Confidence

Today, Lopez has graduated from the CBG program and is navigating her nutrition solo, and with all the tools she needs to succeed.

To anyone considering CBG, Lopez has a clear message:

“I would recommend CBG 100 percent. It changes your mindset, your relationship with food, and if your goal is to be a better athlete, you will be a better athlete.”

But she’s quick to add that it takes effort.

“It’s not magic. You have to be willing to put in the work,” Lopez said.

Still, the payoff is more than worth it.

Lopez remarked: “You’re going to learn to love your body for all the things it can do.”