What I Did:
I lost 95 pounds over 7 months, and it's been 6 months so far that I've maintained my weight. It might not sound like a long time, but anyone who has lost weight realizes that every month is an accomplishment. The weight loss was only 7 months, but keeping it off is the rest of my life.
How I Did It:
I didn't want to join a fad diet or lose weight in a way that wasn't realistic to maintain for the rest of my life. I chose a program called 20/20 Lifestyles (in Bellevue, WA). The program teaches you about food so that you can make good choices about what you eat (like what your body does with protien and how it works with carbohydrates) and then pushes you to create an active lifestyle that you can continue. My life has completely changed! I went from being winded when I walked up the stairs, to being mad if I couldn't make time in my day to get to the gym (I love working out!). I learned so much that I started my own blog to help myself process everything: LiveitoutEveryday.blogspot.com.
Tips and Tricks
- It's the little decisions that add up to a big difference. Set realistic goals, even if they're small.
- Losing weight is hard work! But if you set your mind and determine yourself, you'll find it's hard work you can look forward to.
- Make changes that are sustainable. If you make changes that you can't maintain for the rest of your life, you'll find it all the harder to keep the weight off once you have lost it.
What was your main motivator to lose weight?
I saw my aging grandparents and the poor quality of their last years of life. It was so sad that they were unwilling to make any changes to help their health. I determined that wouldn't be me.
What was the hardest part of losing weight?
Losing weight wasn't the hard part. Keeping it off is. It's so easy to fall into old habits or make new excuses to not exercise or eat right. It's a daily struggle, but worth it!
What was the most surprising part of weight loss?
How many low-calorie foods I had forgotten that I loved! I love fruit and vegetables and salmon and chicken! It's so easy to get swept away by high fat, processed foods that we forget.
What would you say to someone who is "on the fence"?
You just can't even imagine how amazing your life could be! You could be active and fit and healthy --if you only took that first step, you'd get a taste of how good healthy feels.
