Weight Loss

My Weight Loss Journey {How I Misplaced 100 Kilos}

May 8, 2024

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Right now, I’m 100 kilos lighter than I used to be after I began my weight reduction journey.

My profitable weight reduction story will not be considered one of in a single day success. I didn’t take a magic tablet. My outcomes weren’t from a fad eating regimen or a product from an infomercial. My wholesome weight reduction journey has been extra like a curler coaster experience of trials, many errors, and a group of small milestones alongside the way in which, ultimately resulting in greater than I ever anticipated to realize.

I used to be an sad woman with no vanity, trapped beneath saggy t-shirt and stretchy denims and determined to drop some pounds to only be regular. I had no concept that it could flip right into a journey of self-discovery, freedom, and discovering pleasure.

Oh yeah, and 100-pound weight reduction. A fats loss journey I’ll eternally treasure! As a result of not solely did it change me from the surface, it remodeled me from the within out.

Somewhat extra confession with a spoiler alert earlier than we take a look at my images: Little did I do know, that it could evolve into a way of life change, guided by intermittent fasting, common bodily exercise, and a dedication to incorporating wholesome meals. By power coaching and train packages, I’ve witnessed long-term weight reduction outcomes which have positively impacted my general well being and high quality of life. This journey has taught me that one of the simplest ways to attain lasting success is thru real looking objectives and sustainable consuming patterns, tailor-made to suit my total life. As I proceed on this path, I’m reminded that it’s not simply in regards to the quantity on the dimensions; it’s about embracing a way of life that helps my well-being for the remainder of my life.

On the finish of the day, at any time when I replicate on my weight-loss journey (oh these weight reduction efforts too), and the grace of God that has accompanied me each step of the way in which, I understand that I’ve discovered so many essential issues that stretch far past mere weight objectives. My subsequent step is to assist ladies who’re struggling to develop weight-loss plans and are ready to make top-of-the-line selections of their grownup life, leading to higher well being circumstances.

Earlier than and After Weight Loss Photos

My Weight Loss Journey: So Very Blessed - The story of how I lost 100 pounds, kept it off, and fell madly in love with my life.

This is my weight loss journey - how I lost 100 pounds naturally, going from an insecure fat kid to a thriving, confident, healthy adult.

Diets I Tried On My Weight Loss Journey

Over a few years of making an attempt to drop some pounds, I attempted a whole lot of completely different weight reduction diets, packages, and even some gimmicks.

I want I had been running a blog whereas I’d been on all of them, however I attempted a lot of them after I was fairly younger, so there isn’t a written report of my expertise (luckily, I by no means thought-about weight reduction surgical procedure).

Listed below are just some of the numerous issues I attempted:

One Small Change

I misplaced 100 kilos one small change at a time. Sure, it wasn’t like a speedy weight reduction factor.

My meals consumption and consuming habits had been fully unmanageable! There was a lot trial and error (a LOT of error).

I beloved junk meals, watching TV, and being as lazy as potential, in order interesting as the acute diets had been, they by no means caught.

For me, the important thing to success was one small change at a time.

A major habits change occurred as I transitioned from soda to lemonade, then it progressed to gentle lemonade, flavored water, fruit-infused water, and eventually plain water.

I stayed on monitor, transferring in the suitable course. Going from no greens to hiding greens to some microwaved frozen greens then studying to cook dinner recent greens and now I pack my meals stuffed with greens.

I may provide you with a whole lot of examples of 1 small change at work in my life.

Each eating regimen I attempted or train program I joined, I discovered one thing from it that I carried on with me to create a wholesome life-style I genuinely love dwelling.

Learn extra in regards to the life-changing energy of 1 small change.

Rising Up As The Fats Child

I used to be a cute child. A very, actually cute child (that’s me being cute in between my two older sisters within the image under)….till 1st grade.

That’s after I began to grow to be the chubby child.

After which I turned the fats child (that’s me on the underside proper within the large blue poncho).

I don’t actually know why I began overeating within the first place.

Perhaps as a result of I used to be a daddy’s woman and I wished to maintain up along with his portion sizes to be similar to him.
Probably as a result of I used to be cussed and knew my mom wished to eat healthily, so I rebelled by sneaking junk meals, ensuing to a lot weight.
Maybe I simply actually beloved meals (and nonetheless do!). On the day after I used to be born, my mother wrote, “It looks like you simply wish to eat ALL the time!” <- Yup.

Regardless of the purpose, I began overeating and simply couldn’t cease.

I bear in mind my grandmother making a remark as soon as about how shocked she was that I may eat so many slices of pizza.

And I bear in mind feeling proud of having the ability to take action.

I beloved junk meals and would sneak into the kitchen late at night time and discover the unhealthiest meals my mother had hiding within the kitchen…and I’d eat it multi function sitting.

Whether or not it was a field of Nutty Bars, a bag of chips, or some actually scrumptious leftovers, I’d devour them, not caring about my physique weight or caloric consumption in any respect.

Meals (extra particularly, junk meals) was a treasured commodity to me. When it was there, I felt prefer it was a useful resource that would run out at any given time, so I needed to eat all of it as quick as potential earlier than another person dared to attempt it themselves and go away much less for me.

I used to be just about like Joey from Buddies. “Becky doesn’t share meals!“

Confession – generally I nonetheless really feel like that.

It’s not like I used to be ever disadvantaged.

My mom was (and nonetheless is) a implausible cook dinner. She at all times made a ton of flavorful, wholesome, home made meals, however I by no means appreciated them.

I used to be at all times begging for processed meals, prepackaged meals, and quick meals.

I might have taken a Lunchable over a sandwich any day and wished I may dwell off of donuts, tater tots, and cupcakes.

I vividly bear in mind wishing somebody would substitute all water fountains with Kool-Assist fountains (enjoyable truth – I didn’t begin liking plain water till I used to be 27 years outdated).

Bullying As An Obese Child

In center faculty, I used to be teased.

I used to be referred to as fats within the hallways.
I used to be referred to as fats by random strangers who noticed me serving to my greatest buddy ship her paper route.
I used to be referred to as fats by so-called buddies not-so behind my again.

It harm. Quite a bit.

And I retreated inside myself much more, pondering if I used to be quiet and simply flew below the radar, then I wouldn’t draw consideration to myself and no person would discover that I used to be fats. I ate in secret.

Then I beat myself up for overeating, which drove me to eat much more. It’s actually a vicious cycle that retains you spiraling downward.

I used to be by no means in a position to put on any of the identical garments that my buddies wore as a result of I couldn’t match into ladies’, and even teen, clothes. I bear in mind carrying a 24W as a 14-year-old. So, I dressed within the ever-so-fashionable stretchy denims and tremendous saggy t-shirt, believing that every one of that extra material would disguise all of my physique fats or stomach rolls.

I Actually Hated Train

In center faculty, I performed volleyball, which helped me with weight administration at the least a little bit bit.

I beloved the precise sport and even made the A staff, however I hated the working.

I used to be at all times the slowest, I at all times completed final, huffing and puffing, needing tons of stroll breaks, even simply through the warm-up laps. I may block, bump, and spike like no person’s enterprise, however I bear in mind at all times feeling second greatest as a result of I used to be the woman who needed to take the very best variety of uniform as a result of the numbers correlated to the scale.

Excessive quantity = huge uniform.

It was like my weight was being introduced to everybody, carrying my disgrace on the surface.

I performed tennis from my freshman by means of junior yr of highschool and, once more, actually loved the game, however abhorred the working. Our coach was a middle-aged man who may run circles round me. The whole staff would have completed their laps across the subject, whereas I used to be nonetheless stumbling alongside subsequent to the (additionally middle-aged) assistant coach, who I’m fairly positive they despatched in as an try and get me to run quicker.

It was ineffective.

However due to the common train, I did begin dropping some weight.

The Dreaded Yo-Yo Weight-reduction plan

In highschool, the teasing had just about stopped, however I nonetheless felt as huge as ever. It appeared like everybody round me was courting and I used to be satisfied that if I simply misplaced the load, then guys would begin to discover me.

So, I used to be consistently making an attempt to eating regimen.

Emphasis on the making an attempt.

I’d skip breakfast (at all times the sensible technique to drop some pounds – NOT), I’d be sure everybody may see that I used to be solely consuming bell pepper strips or half of a Slim Quick for lunch as an alternative of the pizza supplied at Key Membership conferences, and I’d applaud myself when my abdomen was rumbling in starvation, as a result of, clearly, hunger=weight reduction (face-palm).

However, these efforts had been fairly momentary, and the subsequent day, I’d be with my buddies on the meals courtroom consuming an enormous burrito for lunch (and sneaking cookies into my bed room at night time).

The Freshman 15 In Reverse

After I went off to varsity in 2004, I used to be really in a position to reverse the freshman 15.

As a result of the rec heart was simply throughout a subject from my dorm, there was a time that I used to be going over there twice a day to swim or raise weights or hop on the elliptical and I used to be taking full benefit of the salad bar within the cafeteria.

I most likely may have dropped much more weight, however I used to be nonetheless ordering late-night pizza with my dorm-mates and retaining our room’s mini-fridge stocked with cookie dough and soda.

After I moved out of the dorms and off campus (away from the rec heart) the subsequent yr, my weight acquire started to slowly creep again.

I’d train sometimes and form of attempt to watch what I ate, however I didn’t actually know the right way to cook dinner, so I principally caught with boxed choices.

Macaroni and cheese and Hamburger Helper aren’t the perfect meals for weight reduction and after I’d regained these kilos, they stayed.

And stayed.

Till late 2007.

The Reverse Excessive

That yr, I fell in love.

We dated, we bought engaged, after which he was deployed, and I lived in a continuing state of stress.

I drifted to the opposite excessive of unhealthy weight reduction.

I used to be depressing. I believed worrying was the one factor I may supply at that time and since I couldn’t management what was occurring abroad, I made a decision to manage my consuming. I used to be dwelling alone and, for many that yr, I most likely ate between 500-800 energy a day.

I used to be hungry quite a bit, not exercising in any respect, had no vitality, and my abdomen was consistently in knots, however I misplaced 40 kilos, bringing me all the way down to 160. That was the lightest I’d been since I may bear in mind (actually. I clearly needed to have been 160 kilos in some unspecified time in the future in my life as I used to be gaining the load, however I don’t know when that was).

I believed skinny meant wholesome, however though I used to be lastly a standard weight, I used to be FAR from wholesome at that time.

I began shopping for smaller garments and noticing that issues match me so a lot better, but it surely was short-lived.

Unhealthy Relationship, Unhealthy Physique

The deployment ended, he got here house, and we bought married. I used to be prepared for a blissful honeymoon stage, but it surely was not a cheerful or a wholesome marriage.

I didn’t understand it on the time, however my deep insecurities from being the fats child combined with that desperation for consideration from guys had led me into an emotionally abusive marriage.

My weight reduction journey spiraled down and my weight shot up as soon as once more.

We a lot of quick meals, hardly ever exercised as a result of we had been glued to our TV and laptop screens, and the stress of the fixed battle between us was practically insufferable (particularly for this people-pleasing, peace-loving woman!), so I began gaining the load again shortly.

After which I saved gaining.

And gaining.

Till January 2012. I used to be 194 kilos and was petrified of creeping again up into the 200’s.

I’ll Train…In Secret.

So, talks about an train plan, I joined a health club.

I used to be actually solely snug utilizing the elliptical. I used to be too scared to attempt any of the lessons supplied and the load machines had been simply intimidating. Fitness center individuals at all times appear to know what they’re doing and I simply…didn’t.

I didn’t really feel like I match wherever and I particularly didn’t need individuals to see my health club inadequacy, so I spent a whole lot of time within the cardio film room, the place all the lights are dimmed they usually projected films onto a display screen in entrance of the cardio gear.

I attempted a private coach for awhile and hated it.

An individual watching me train was. the. worst.

Principally as a result of I used to be so weak that I struggled with a whole lot of the workout routines she gave me and as candy as this woman was, she repeatedly expressed how shocked she was at how little I may raise/push/squat/no matter else. Though I used to be nonetheless 55 kilos lower than my heaviest, I felt fully insufficient and simply wished to cover.

So, I ditched the health club and the coach for exercises that I may do myself at house (these are a few of my favourite house exercises).

That’s after I determined to start out working.

Sure, working.

Operating for Weight Loss

You already know, that factor I advised you I hated with a ardour? The bane of my existence? The killer of my vanity? That. I regarded it within the metaphorical face and embraced it (sticking to facet streets with few spectators, thoughts you).

One step at a time. One gasping breath at a time.

Operating was SO onerous for me.

In June 2012, I ran my first 5k (though my mom beat me. Completely embarrassing.).

If you wish to run for weight reduction, take a look at this newbie’s information to working.

The 12 months Every part Modified

After a tough begin to the yr with a devastating divorce, 2014 turned some of the influential years of my life (and my weight reduction journey).

That was the yr that all the items of wholesome habits that I had been constructing over time lastly fell into place.

Operating had began to offer me confidence.

I didn’t really feel like hiding anymore. I nonetheless didn’t need all the consideration drawn to me, however I dabbled in a wide range of workout routines that yr and was at all times engaged on one thing to maintain myself wholesome. Not simply prioritizing my bodily well being but in addition attending to my psychological well being, as a part of the lengthy sustainable weight reduction journey.

I attempted Zumba and cardio kickboxing lessons, which majorly pushed me out of my consolation zone, however I loved immensely!

An teacher talked to me after class and requested me my story and advisable I look into educating health. I used to be so flattered, however simply put that into the again of my thoughts.

I did some yoga, some pilates, and a few Jillian Michaels movies.

I used my Fitbit all yr, which actually motivated me to maneuver extra all through the day.

I took my border collie, Boots, for extra walks, I parked farther away from shops, I walked the good distance round at any time when I may – something to stand up to my 10,000 steps!

I ran on and off after I felt prefer it (and sometimes after I didn’t) and ended up working six 5ks.

Exterior of train, my confidence was constructing, too.

As a substitute of simply serving to out with slides in our church providers, I joined the worship staff and began singing in entrance of our congregation each week.

I dated. I left my teeny tiny consolation zone and went on adventures. I began placing up conversations with neighbors and other people within the grocery retailer.

I used to be formally carried out hiding from individuals, and I used to be lastly, after 27 years, for the primary time I can say with confidence, beginning to consider my value as a baby of God.

Till that yr, I had no concept that God would care about my weight reduction journey.

Oh, How I Love Meals (Apparently Wholesome Meals, Too! Who Knew?)

The opposite factor that occurred in 2014 is that my tastes began to alter. These small modifications had added up!

I’ve at all times been a lover of all issues fried and junk food-like. As a single particular person, I had the liberty to inventory my cupboards and fridge with no matter meals I wished.

I began the yr shopping for all the chocolate and chips and frozen ready meals that I like and I shortly discovered that these weren’t the meals I wished anymore.

I nonetheless saved a huge number of chocolate in the home however ate it sparingly (self-control like that also feels bizarre to me!).

Surprisingly, I wished spaghetti squash, Greek yogurt, zucchini, child spinach, quinoa, and fish.

I slowly warmed as much as fish in my mid-20’s, however that yr, I craved it and ate it usually!

And, until I used to be assembly buddies, I didn’t eat out.

I used to be centered on attaining a greater well being.

The humorous factor is, I used to dream about Large Macs and Sonic’s tater tots and Freddy’s french fries after which after I really had the liberty to go to these locations at any time when I wished to, it turned out I actually didn’t wish to.

I nonetheless eat Life Saver Gummies, chocolate, and french fries after I wish to, however now, as an alternative of a field of Nutty Bars (oh, how I like them!) disappearing in a single night time, they had been lasting me a month or extra.

Nothing was off limits to me and that really was the important thing for me to eat every little thing carefully.

I don’t consider in forbidden meals in my eating regimen anymore.

On account of all of these small modifications in my wholesome consuming and train, I dropped 30 kilos that yr.

And I’ve saved it off ever since.

No extra weight-reduction plan.

No extra forcing myself to undergo the motions.

I had labored my approach, one step at a time, to meals freedom.

Now, these wholesome habits I developed in my weight reduction journey are simply my regular, a standard I occur to completely love dwelling. I eat what I like, I’ve the vitality and stamina to do the issues I take pleasure in, and I simply really feel good.

I used to be about 250 at my heaviest, which suggests over time, I’ve now misplaced 100 kilos.

Even Although It’s About The Weight, It’s Not Actually About The Weight

It’s actually not even about my purpose weight anymore.

It’s about freedom.

I’m doing issues I by no means thought I used to be able to. It’s about being wholesome and energetic and taking good care of myself in order that I can construct the life I wish to dwell. It’s about chasing my niece and nephew and working 5ks with my buddies.

It’s about seizing the day, as an alternative of making an attempt to cover, hoping nobody will discover me.

It’s about being assured in who I’ve grow to be and embracing each my strengths and my weaknesses.

As a substitute of being scared to attempt new issues, I’m desirous to make the most of new experiences. It’s about making good selections more often than not in the case of each motion and vitamin, however not being a slave to counting energy or forbidding meals from my eating regimen.

I might by no means have believed it should you would have advised me 10 years in the past that I might be the woman selecting salmon and barley over a burger and french fries, however I did simply that the opposite night time.

Breaking Free

I ran my first half marathon in 2015, and that was after I determined that I wished to in some way share the instruments and classes (and plenty of, many errors) that I’ve discovered by means of my very own journey, so I earned my private coach’s certification and my well being teaching certification (by means of ACE – the American Council on Train).

I now run a Christian weight reduction program referred to as Trustworthy End Traces 2.0 (together with my associate Sara from The Holy Mess who has additionally misplaced 100 kilos!) that lays out a step-by-step, grace-based technique to drop some pounds for ladies caught in their very own weight reduction journey, in that cycle of yo-yo weight-reduction plan and emotional consuming, discover freedom in Christ by constructing a wholesome life-style, one small change at a time.

My weight reduction journey has been a lot greater than 100 kilos.

It gave me freedom and such a deep pleasure.
I discovered to commerce my guilt for God’s grace.
It improved my relationships.
I really feel so a lot better.
It boosted my confidence.
I discovered the right way to discover pleasure and satisfaction in self-control.
I improved my relationship with God and others.
It modified my life into one which I’m head over heels in love with dwelling.

And now, I wish to go that on to others. I would like you to know that, it doesn’t matter what your beginning place is, you’ll find that freedom, too.

As a follower of Christ, you’ve got the ability of God in your facet, so regardless of how not possible or hopeless your scenario appears, I can guarantee you there’s a world of hope and risk ready for you.

Generally you simply want somebody to consider in you and provide help to take step one.

You can lose the load and dwell a more healthy life, regardless of how distant you’re feeling from that purpose proper now. One step, one small change at a time, rework your life.

You are able to do this!

Begin proper now.