I have struggled with weight my entire life! I was always the “chubby” one, the fat friend, the one with the “pretty face”.
NAME : Vanessa
BEFORE WEIGHT : 225
AFTER WEIGHT : 155
POUNDS LOST : 70
HOW DID YOUR WEIGHT AFFECT ANY ASPECT(S) OF YOUR LIFE? My self esteem was extremely low. I battled depression and anxiety and hated the person I saw staring back at me in the mirror.
WHAT WAS THE “TURNING POINT” THAT GOT YOU STARTED ON YOUR WEIGHT LOSS JOURNEY? I had finally had enough, I was always feeling so down about myself, and I knew that I was worth more, but I felt stuck. I had tried every fad diet out there and had been dieting since childhood. I had an extremely unhealthy relationship with food, and that needed to change.
HOW DID YOU GET STARTED? I began by cutting out fast food from my life, just doing that I dropped 15lbs right away. I started going for walks and walks turned into jogs. It was a long journey but eventually, I began to run and bike a lot. I love being active, but my eating habits were and are still my biggest struggle. I love food and always turned to it for comfort. The first few years of my journey I was up and down, doing it the healthy way but just not consistent enough. I would lose 15, gain 10, lose 20, gain 5. It was a roller coaster.
HOW LONG AFTER YOU STARTED DID YOU BEGIN TO SEE RESULTS OF YOUR WEIGHT LOSS EFFORTS? The results came within the first few months. I lost 70 lbs over the first 3 years, but it wasn’t consistent. My habits were still not great and mentally I just wasn’t there. It wasn’t until recently that I started documenting my fitness journey on instagram and facebook that things really clicked.
My entire attitude and mental outlook on life and myself have completely changed. Social media gave me this new found motivation and accountability that I was lacking before.
WHAT WAS THE HARDEST PART? The biggest challenges were mental. Finding that happy place of self love where you finally realize that you are worth taking care of was the hardest part, but so incredibly worth every minute!
DID YOU HIT ANY WEIGHT LOSS PLATEAUS? HOW DID YOU OVERCOME THEM? I have hit many plateaus. I like to change up my workouts when this happens. It keeps me from getting bored and helps my body to not get to accustomed to what I am doing.
HOW LONG DID IT TAKE YOU TO LOSE MOST OF THE WEIGHT? 4-5 years
DID YOU HAVE ANY NON-SCALE VICTORIES? Inches, confidence, self love, trying on new clothes, so many!
WHAT DOES YOUR DAILY DIET LOOK LIKE COMPARED TO WHEN YOU WERE HEAVIER? I eat mostly veggies, protein, and fruits now. Before my journey, I was eating fast food 3-4 times a day!
HOW DOES YOUR PHYSICAL ACTIVITY COMPARE TO WHEN YOU WERE HEAVIER? I LOVE being active! I work out every morning to start my day off right! Before I sat around a lot, watched tv, movies, ate food.
MY WEIGHT LOSS TIPS & TRICKS:
- Always be prepared!
- Meal prep is crucial!
- If I dont have healthy options with me at all times, I WILL make unhealthy choices!
