Weight Loss Before and After: Lindsay Never Gave Up And Lost 72 Pounds

I have struggled with weight on and off my entire life. I was always a chubby person. I was very active during high school so it was a little easier to keep the weight off but after graduation I put on around 70 pounds. I met my husband 6 years ago and got “fat happy.” He loved me for who I was so I let myself go.

NAME : Lindsay
BEFORE WEIGHT : 257
AFTER WEIGHT : 185
POUNDS LOST : 72

HOW DID YOUR WEIGHT AFFECT ANY ASPECT(S) OF YOUR LIFE?  I have a passion for traveling and for adventure. I love to camp, hike, kayak, rock climb, anything that involves traveling and the outdoors. It became difficult to pursue that passion being so over weight. I couldn’t enjoy the fun things in life anymore because my weight held me back.

WHAT WAS THE “TURNING POINT” THAT GOT YOU STARTED ON YOUR WEIGHT LOSS JOURNEY?  God called my husband and I to take a journey to Nicaragua on a short term mission trip. I knew in order to fully give that trip and the people of Nicaragua my all, that I couldn’t do it overweight and out of shape. I didn’t want to struggle while we were there. I didn’t want my weight to hold me back from my calling.

HOW DID YOU GET STARTED?  I started working with a local weight loss doctor in town who gave me a low carb eating plan to follow. He told me that if I didn’t get the weight off, then I would be diabetic in the next 3-5 years. I didn’t want to struggle with diabetes and being over weight anymore. I am too young and too blessed to let myself go like that.

HOW LONG AFTER YOU STARTED DID YOU BEGIN TO SEE RESULTS OF YOUR WEIGHT LOSS EFFORTS?  Starting a low carb plan worked wonders for me. I saw results pretty fast at the beginning. Within the first 3 weeks I had lost 20 pounds and honestly I think that is what kept me going. It took around a month before I started noticing my clothes fitting differently and then my friends and family started to notice my weight loss.

WHAT WAS THE HARDEST PART?  I am a very emotional eater. That is something I have had to learn to overcome and I still work at daily. During this process I lost my mother in law to cancer. I always turn to food for comfort when I am upset so having to learn to process my emotions and learn to cope with them in other ways besides food was a huge challenge for me.

DID YOU EVER WANT TO GIVE UP? WHAT KEPT YOU GOING?  Yes, there were so many times I wanted to throw in the towel and say “forget it.” A few times I thought I would rather be fat forever than to struggle the way I was struggling. I had to remember that I knew what giving up felt like, because I had done it so many times. Each and every time I would give up I would hate the way it felt. and I just had to keep remembering that. I wanted to finally succeed and push my body to its full potential and do what I knew I was capable of doing.

DID YOU HIT ANY WEIGHT LOSS PLATEAUS? HOW DID YOU OVERCOME THEM?  There were a few weeks that I would see a 1 pound or .5 pound loss. It was hard seeing such small results on the scale after I had worked so hard but I just had to remember that even a small loss was a loss and that was better than nothing.

HOW LONG DID IT TAKE YOU TO LOSE MOST OF THE WEIGHT?  I lost these 72 pounds in 5 months.

DID YOU HAVE ANY NON-SCALE VICTORIES?  I have had so many non-scale victories that mean so much to me. Higher energy levels and being to be able to play with my 3 year old son is most important! Being able to run without shin pain and back pain, wearing the same size clothes I wore in high school, the plane seat belt fitting around me when we travel, and being able to hike and enjoy all life’s adventures.

WHAT DOES YOUR DAILY DIET LOOK LIKE COMPARED TO WHEN YOU WERE HEAVIER?  I eat a lot of protein and green veggies now. I try to eat whole whole wheat breads and tortillas, eggs, chicken and lean pork, no fried foods, no real sodas, no sweet tea. We are such busy people that dinner was always on the go. Grabbing fast food and pizza was an everyday thing for us. I now make it a goal to cook at home and make sure we make healthy eating part of our everyday routine.

HOW DOES YOUR PHYSICAL ACTIVITY COMPARE TO WHEN YOU WERE HEAVIER?  I have greatly increased my activity level. I have become an active runner and swimmer. Just this weekend I competed in a 5k race! I make sure to run or swim at least 3-4 days a week. Even at home I am more active with playing football with my son or cleaning the house. I am loving this new energy I have found!

MY WEIGHT LOSS TIPS & TRICKS

1. Learn the difference between being bored and being hungry. A lot of times we eat and snack because we are bored. Learn when your body is hungry and needs food vs being bored and just wanting something to do to pass the time.
2. Do not skip breakfast. Eating breakfast helps boost your metabolism. Have a healthy breakfast such as a few eggs and whole wheat toast or a protein shake/bar. If you skip breakfast you will more than likely each more and worse for lunch because you are so hungry.
3. Do not give up. If you keep going then you will be so glad! The next 100 days will come by weather you stick to this or not. You will be thankful when you look back and lost weight rather than having to start from the beginning a few months down the road.
4. Drink water! Drink as much water as possible. It makes you more full and actually helps with your weight loss!
5. Take plenty of before pictures. The best way to see results are side by side comparison photos. If you take progress pictures along the way it really helps you stay motivated!