Local Woman Shedding Pounds on ABC’s ‘The Revolution’ Trains at Utica Gym

Weight had always been an intensely personal struggle for Angela Patrick and one she never planned to share with a national television audience.

But that is just what the 44-year-old Macomb Township mother of two will do when her five-month weight loss journey is revealed on ABC’s newest talk show, “The Revolution,” this week.

“It is challenging,” Patrick said of her participation in the show. “I am a private person and the level of exposure required – it is so real. You see (the) day-to-day (struggles) enough to say, ‘This could change someone’s life. You could do this, too.’”

Somewhere between sending her daughters off to college and establishing her own career, Patrick believes she lost sight of herself.

“I put myself on the back burner,” she said. “I worked a lot, sat on the couch and ate ice cream for breakfast, lunch and dinner. I wanted to lose weight, but also get healthy again. I felt like I needed to do this for myself.” 

While the will was there, the way to a lifestyle change was harder to grasp until Patrick’s daughters entered the equation.

“My girls prodded me and dragged me kicking and screaming (to “The Revolution” casting call),” Patrick said. “I have to be honest, I was a little uncomfortable. I found out I was selected and I was ecstatic once I was over the fear factor.”

Meeting first with each of the show’s hosts–Ty Pennington, Dr. Jennifer Ashton, Harley Pasternak, Dr. Tiffanie Davis Henry and Tim Gunn–Patrick developed a five-month plan for her complete physical and emotional transformation.

“The show is designed to fit into day-to-day life,” said Marianne Fleschman Price, director of media relations for ABC Daytime. “We want it to be practical. (Patrick) works and has kids, but we all have those excuses.”

Now working with a personal trainer at in Utica, Patrick is at the gym six days a week and starts her workout at 6 a.m. every morning.

“I’ve had some meltdowns and some days have been tough,” Patrick said. “I had to learn to love myself enough to make that a top priority.”

But with the show’s 360-degree approach to personal health, Patrick's journey doesn’t end at the gym.

“I’ve given up my laptop, and reclaimed my social life. (My daughters) cannot even believe it when they come home for the holidays and see the progress I’ve made. I’m a different person.”

Starting the show at 194 pounds, Patrick said her ideal weight is 115 pounds, but viewers will have to watch the show March 5-9 to see if she’s met her goal.

“I’m going to say this is a total life change, and I’m never going back. I’ve learned to eat, shop … my entire life has changed. I’ve spent so many hours in the gym, and I know now I can’t take a pill, and can never let things go back to the way they were.”

While the journey hasn’t been easy, Patrick said the sweat, tears and hunger pains she has endured will be worth it if they inspire even one person to change his or her own life for the better.

“That is the absolute reason why I did this,” she said. “It shows it’s achievable. Not everyone can do it in five months, but your life can change.”

Patrick’s story will unfold in five episodes, starting March 5 at 2 p.m. on ABC.