Where there's a will ... there's a way!

Vallerie Klingbeil shares her life-changing journey to health and joy

by VICKI MELDE

Selena Trejo (Vallerie’s best friend) and other friends from college came to the DFW area to visit with Vallerie in October.  At this point, Vallerie had lost a total of 203 pounds.

As the Student Director of The Big Event during college, Vallerie had the opportunity to go to the One Big Thanks national conference with Michael Stephenson, Jarrell Lawrence, and Selena Trejo in October 2018. 

Vallerie (far left) during a T-Mobile check presentation for The Big Event last January.  She had lost approximately 130 pounds at this time.  Pictured with her are TAMU-T President Dr. Emily Cutrer, university staff, Student Ambassadors, and other members of The Big Event board.

Change.  It isn’t easy.  It can be daunting even to consider a new paint color – will it turn out as envisioned?  What if the change demands rethinking your entire lifestyle and setting your mind on a goal that seems too enormous to comprehend, let alone attain.  It certainly takes determination that most cannot fathom to achieve a significant weight loss goal – particularly if struggles with weight have been a prevalent part of life as long as can be remembered.  So much of our social interaction is centered upon food – yet so much of our health is affected by what we put into our bodies.  It is beyond commendable when someone stares this immense challenge in the face and vows to conquer it.  Meet Vallerie Klingbeil …

A story about Vallerie should not simply focus on her amazing physical transformation.  She was quite an accomplished and impressive young woman even at her peak weight of 428 pounds.  A campus leader at Texas A&M University-Texarkana, Vallerie was involved in everything and a leader who was respected by her peers.  While she didn’t allow concerns regarding her weight to stop her from setting and achieving lofty goals – such as graduating with her Bachelor in Business Administration with a 4.0 GPA in three years – her self-esteem wasn’t where she wanted it to be.  She concealed it well, but deep down, she knew that to achieve all her goals, she needed to claim her health and her confidence.

Born in Houston, Vallerie was raised in the Arlington/Mansfield area with siblings Will and Maddie.  (She also now has two “bonus/stepsisters” – Shannon and Melody.)  Life revolved around a menagerie of pets they convinced their parents to adopt, and as Vallerie described it – they “ran a zoo” with an aquarium, a turtle, two hamsters, a sugar glider, a cat, a German Shepherd mix, two Mastiffs, and many other pets.  No wonder as a young adult with her first apartment of her own, Vallerie immediately sought to adopt a “fur baby” and was matched with her adorable Mia, a Great Pyrenees who is her sidekick and partner in crime.  

The highlights of her early years were trips to Six Flags with her mom and sister and going fishing with her dad.  “For the most part, I was a studious yet outgoing child.  My favorite subject was math, and I cared a lot about making good grades. I was definitely a ‘teacher’s pet’ growing up, and I have even stayed in touch with the majority of my primary school teachers,” Vallerie shared. “I loved reading Nancy Drew books with my childhood best friend, Haley, and we thought we were pretty cool on the ‘Safety Patrol’ helping guard crosswalks for our elementary school.”

No surprise that Vallerie pursued a degree in business – it seems she always exhibited an entrepreneurial spirit.  “My favorite memory from elementary school was when Haley and I got caught selling bugs (grasshoppers, butterflies, bumblebees) and bringing cash home without our parents knowing of our little side hustle. We spent our recess catching bugs on the playground, and brought baggies with poked holes to school that we used to transport the bugs to our ‘clients.’ I was definitely studious and outgoing, but also a young entrepreneur, if you will.”

During high school, Vallerie also worked multiple jobs. Her first job was as a supervisor at Plato’s Closet.  She then worked for Mardel Christian and Education in Arlington while also serving as a mentor and leading groups of elementary school students in an after-school setting at a nonprofit organization – Tarrant County Kids.  “I have always loved staying busy and have worked hard to be independent,” Vallerie stated.

After graduation from Mansfield Summit High School in June 2017, Vallerie moved to Texarkana to attend Texas A&M University-Texarkana.  It was there that she found her passion for leadership and service.  “I found A&M-Texarkana when my high school teacher, Mr. Diaz, had my senior AVID class research colleges on ApplyTexas and apply for at least five colleges for a graded assignment,” she explained. “I applied for a blend of small, medium, and large universities both in and out of Texas. I initially thought I would attend a University in New York that I received a scholarship for, but made my final decision for A&M-Texarkana when I was awarded the Presidential Scholarship. A&M-Texarkana was the best choice for me for many reasons – the campus life, the connections I knew I would make, and the business program I had my eye on.”

Vallerie immersed herself in campus life at A&M-Texarkana – in her academic career, student organizations, and professional positions on campus.  As a Student Ambassador, Vallerie represented the university at a multitude of university and community events and honed her public speaking skills.  She also served as a First Year Experience coach, Resident Advisor, Orientation Leader, Business Office student worker, and full-time Financial Specialist – all while maintaining that perfect 4.0 GPA.  “One of my favorite college experiences was directing The Big Event (A&M-Texarkana’s annual large-scale community service project to give back to the Texarkana community) and leading smaller community service projects throughout the years for students and staff,” Vallerie recalled. “I was a member of Alpha Chi National Honor Society, Beta Gamma Sigma Honor Society, founding member of Sigma Alpha Omega Christian sorority, and Vice President of the Student Government my sophomore year.

Being “Aunt Val” to her nieces and nephews is definitely one of Vallerie’s favorite titles.

“I love the Eagle family. I may have only spent three years in Texarkana, but my time there was ‘twice as nice’ as it would’ve been anywhere else,” Vallerie said.  “I didn’t just earn a piece of paper saying I should be given a job; I built relationships to last a lifetime, learned lessons that helped pave my future, and enhanced the overall quality of my life.”

The quality of Vallerie’s life was enhanced immeasurably by a decision she made in the summer of 2019.  “I have always been pretty confident, but I would say my self-esteem wasn’t the best. I first tried to lose weight when I was 15 years old and weighed 312 pounds, and I successfully lost 70 pounds at that point getting to an all-time low of 242 pounds my sophomore year of high school (Fall 2014). Thanksgiving 2014 came around, and I literally lost all motivation to keep losing weight. Food can be an addiction, and when you get in the habit of eating what you want to eat when you want to eat it, it’s hard to break that habit. When I lost that motivation, it took me five years to get to a high of 428.4 pounds as of June 2019. I visited my ob-gyn in Texarkana, and she expressed her concern for my health and suggested I talk to someone about a plan. When we had that conversation, I kind of snapped out of the mindset that nothing was wrong. I knew I had been gaining weight, and I knew I wasn’t making healthy decisions. I was 20 years old at the time, and I hated the way I not only looked, but how I felt. I’ve always been a generally positive and confident person, but in June of that year I decided I would come up with a plan and start really turning my life around the next month. July came around, and I did just that.”

In a year and a half, Vallerie has lost 213 pounds.  213 pounds!  For those looking for a magic bullet or quick fix, Vallerie would hastily respond that it doesn’t exist.  “I had to change literally everything about my health for this journey – my portions, increase protein/water intake, decrease carbs/calories/fat, etc. I had to start counting macros and meal prepping, logging everything I ate even if it was just an almond or a small bite of something,” Vallerie explained.  

A strong support system is vital to making life changes, and Vallerie certainly benefitted from family, friends, and coworkers who encouraged and motivated her every step of the way.  She also had a personal way of keeping herself focused.  “I’d buy an outfit I knew would fit a little too small. When that outfit fit, and I lost more weight, I’d do it again. Eventually, my sizes changed too often so I stopped buying new clothes all the time, but I always looked forward to fitting into the outfit I had sitting in my closet waiting for me. I also took a lot of progress pictures and occasionally posted them to social media. Whenever I did, the support I got from friends and family in the comments and through my messages always helped pick back up my motivation if it started to deter.”

During June 2019, Vallerie (left) and other TAMU-T Student Ambassadors visited with Land Commissioner George P. Bush.  This photo was taken one week before she started her weight loss journey, while at her highest weight.

With success has come balance and wisdom.  “I don’t feel bad about messing up and eating something unhealthy once in a while now. I used to beat myself up if I messed up or I’d let myself mess up for days in a row and eventually give up on losing weight. Now, when I eat something I shouldn’t, I get right back to eating how I should the next meal, and I don’t let the setback faze me.”

The young woman who was always a leader but didn’t choose to call attention to herself now describes herself as “ambitious, passionate, and SASSY!”  She often finds herself repeatedly using the phrase “if there’s a will, there’s a way.”  “Whether I want to do something simple or have a big dream to accomplish, I remember this quote and find a way to get it done. I used this quote for getting through my licensing exams at work, getting through college, losing weight, etc.”

After graduation in May 2020, Vallerie returned to the DFW metroplex to be closer to her family.  She is now a licensed stock broker with Fidelity Investments.  With her remote work environment due to COVID-19, Mia is her constant companion.  “She has brought so much joy (and maybe a little stress) into my life,” Vallerie quipped. “It’s just me and her all day, every day, and she actually helps with my weight loss journey as well by making me take her on 8+ walks/runs a day. She is a wild one for sure, but she is my partner in crime (and my partner in waking all of our neighbors up at 4 a.m. everyday)!”

Vallerie welcomes 2021 from a very good place – but, as might be expected from this driven and dynamic young woman, she already has new goals set and a plan to achieve them.  Vallerie begins work on her MBA thru A&M-Texarkana’s online program this month with plans to complete it by December 2021.  She has also committed to losing an additional 40 pounds and having surgery to remove the resulting extra skin once she’s reached her ultimate goal.  She hopes, one day, to meet her “Prince Charming” and have a family of her own – and another pup for her and Mia to love.  She has proven to herself there is nothing she can’t conquer.  

Embrace your future, beautiful Vallerie … you will make it awesome!