My weight loss journey has been a long one. You see, I used to be skinny…like REALLY skinny! It would be hard for me to get to 100lbs! Seriously! I’m not lying!! It wasn’t until I had my daughter and started taking anti-depressant medications that I started gaining some serious weight. I topped out at 187lbs! Once I stopped taking the medications, I lost 30lbs immediately. It was the rest of the weight that has taken FOREVER to lose!
See, most of my weight is in my belly. It has been a struggle to get rid of it. I have been told by various doctors over the years that the only way to lose it is thru surgery. Well, I can’t afford that right now.
There were several ways I tried to lose the weight. I was successful to some degree but I also gained the weight back. I would do strictly cardio and no strength training. My diet was very strict and healthy. I didn’t understand why I couldn’t get to where I wanted. Personal trainers at my gym couldn’t answer my questions. They just weren’t educated and it was very frustrating!
Frustration was an understatement. No one was giving me the answers I needed. So, I just decided to try other avenues like Weight Watchers and juicing. I liked Weight Watchers. I thought it has a realistic view on our eating habits. No one can maintain a healthy lifestyle without enjoying some bad foods.
I lost 5lbs from doing Weight Watchers but then I had to pay more money to it and I wasn’t doing that! They had enough of my money. Why should I pay for something if I could get the same information for free from MyFitnessPal app on my phone.
Then I took a break from everything. I had lost two jobs in less than a year, so I needed to re-analyze my life. So, I got another job that was stress-free but not much money. I love the job and the people I work with, so this has helped my focus on myself more.
Once winter here in the south was gone, I started back at this working out thing. I started walking at first but quickly went back to running and walking using the Couch to 5K app. Then I started taking nutrition classes at Tulane and learned a lot!
Learning that the best way to lose weight is thru HIIT and strength training changed the way I worked out. So, I bought the book, Thinner Leaner Stronger: The Simple Science of Building the Ultimate Female Body
This book has helped me tremendously!! This is how I restarted my weight loss journey. I am currently using one of the suggested workouts but I tailored it to my needs. The book focuses more on weight lifting in the gym and I’m not buying a gym membership. So, I found the alternatives to his moves for the gym and do my own workout in the comfort of my own home.
So far, I haven’t really noticed much change in my belly area but my arms and legs have seen a little more definition. However, I am just on the 5th week of this program as I write this. It is a long road and it takes time. Just remember when you are on your weight loss journey, that slow and steady wins the race.