Sarah Camden Lost 58 Pounds: ‘For Once I was Doing Something for Myself and It Was Something That Would Benefit Me in Ways That I Could Never Have Imagined‘

“Weight-Loss Win” is an original Yahoo Beauty series that shares the inspiring stories of people who have shed pounds healthfully.

Sarah Camden is 29 is years old and currently weighs 145 pounds. After gaining weight in college, she decided to turn her life around and lost 60 pounds by improving her eating habits and discovering a love for fitness. This is the story of her weight-loss journey.

The Turning Point

I think I really noticed my weight changing the most while I was in college. I remember hearing about the “freshman 15” prior to getting there, but never thought it would happen to me. However, by the time I came home for Christmas break of freshman year, I had gained a significant amount of weight.

I spent most of college being the biggest girl in my circle of friends. But that didn’t stop me from being extremely outgoing and involved in everything on campus that I could possibly be involved in. I let my outgoing personality and big smile do the talking, while I hid behind those things, shielding my insecurities from the world.

I did not decide to start losing weight until almost a year after my college graduation. I was really great at using the “I’m too busy” excuse throughout college, so I never made my health and wellness a priority. It was easy to say that I didn’t have time because I had to attend class, study, go to meetings or events … and that of course (in my mind) left minimal time for fitness.

My turning point came the spring after graduation when I was living at home while job searching. I remember getting on the scale one day and seeing that it was over 200 pounds. At that very moment I said to myself, “Sarah – NOW is the time. You have no excuse for not getting yourself healthy.” That afternoon I went online and began looking for help.

The Changes

The afternoon after I stepped on the scale and saw 200+, I snuck out of the house and attended a Weight Watchers meeting without telling anyone. The first meeting was informational, and I went straight to the grocery store afterwards to stock up on healthy food choices. However, once my parents realized my concern, my mom approached me with an opportunity to participate in a weight management research study that was beginning at the hospital where she worked. I decided to pursue that option rather than continue with Weight Watchers, and it was the best decision I ever made.

My mom and I enrolled together in the 12-week research study, where we would learn about everything from healthy eating to regular exercise to managing stressful situations to making modifications in cooking/baking and more. We used a food journal to log our daily meals and exercise minutes, as well as our weekly weight.

We began by making small modifications in our meals at home — wheat bread instead of white bread, grilled and baked meats instead of fried, increased fruits and vegetables, low-fat versions of dairy products and snacks, more water and less iced tea, etc.

Our exercise consisted mainly of walking. The circumference of our neighborhood is approximately one mile and we would walk laps every night after dinner. One afternoon while walking alone, I decided that I wanted to try to jog a little bit. I vividly remember making it about one block before stopping because I was winded. I looked around to make sure that nobody had seen my poor attempt at athleticism. However, rather than get discouraged, the next day I managed to run two blocks, and then three, and before I knew it – I could run one whole lap around the neighborhood. This is how my love of running began.

I started to feel better, both physically and mentally, almost immediately after implementing some of these new changes into my lifestyle. I enjoyed experimenting with new recipes and trying new foods. It was almost like a fun game to see how many new, healthier food options I could incorporate into my food journal in a given week. As the weight began to come off, my confidence improved. I felt better than I had in years and wondered why I hadn’t begun to pay more attention to my health and fitness sooner!

I was motivated by the encouragement and support from my family, especially with my mom participating in the research study alongside me. Additionally, the instructor of our study was one of the most positive and encouraging people I’ve ever met. No matter how “bad” we thought we behaved in a week, she always sought out the positive aspects of our journey to compliment us on and that uplifting atmosphere fostered my success.

I couldn’t give up on myself … not after the progress I had already made. And not in light of the goals I had set for myself. For once I was doing something for myself and it was something that would benefit me in ways that I could never have imagined when I was starting out.

Slowly, but surely, the combination of increased exercise plus healthier food options led to my eventual 60-pound weight loss.

The After

Once I had lost the 60 pounds over the course of about one year, I felt unstoppable! Physically, I was able to do things that I never imagined, such as running my first marathon. Emotionally, I was able to truly love myself. I had always been a girl who appeared to have it all, and the smile on my face could light up a room. However, this time, the smile on the outside actually matched how I felt about myself inside!

Eating healthy and exercising regularly had become part of my new lifestyle. It wasn’t something that stopped when my participation in the research study stopped, or when I reached my goal weight. It was just a part of everyday life for me and that is still true today.

One thing that surprised me was how many people remarked to me that they didn’t realize I had so much weight to lose. I guess I had always dressed in a way that was appropriate for my larger body type.

These days, my eating and exercise is similar to what it was as I journeyed through weight loss, only much easier to me than it was when I first started and second nature to me now.

In terms of nutrition, I eat lots of fruits, vegetables, lean meats, and low-fat dairy products daily. I rarely eat outside of the home, and when I do, I strive to make healthy food choices most of the time. I will admit that my favorite food these days are vanilla cupcakes, but they’re a treat that I reserve for special occasions!

My exercise level has actually increased tremendously since my initial weight loss. I have realized that there are no physical challenges that I can’t do. To date, I still love running and have completed four full marathons, with another one lined up in the fall. Additionally, I am an online fitness coach and I regularly implement cross-training into my daily routine alongside running. Exercise is my “me time” — it allows me the opportunity to clear my head, work out my frustrations, and it sets the tone for my days. If you would have asked me six years ago, I would have never believed that those words would come out of my mouth!

The Maintenance

Some of my daily habits that help me maintain my lifestyle begin in the kitchen. I shop once per week for the food needed to prepare most of our weekly meals from home. I spend a few hours on Sunday washing, chopping, and prepping things like Greek yogurt with berries, veggies and hummus, chicken with rice and grilled vegetables, or large salads. Setting myself up for success in terms of nutrition helps me to keep on track with healthy habits, even when my week gets hectic.

Additionally, I plan exercise into my routine every single day. My mornings begin early with a 30-40 minute cardio or lifting workout and then I run at lunchtime or in the evening. It’s non-negotiable for me and sets the tone for my day. I am confident that my continued dedication to fitness and nutrition is what has allowed me to maintain my weight loss for as long as I have.

Being an online fitness coach helps me stay motivated. I help to share with others the knowledge that was once shared with me in terms of healthy eating and regular exercise. I just felt so good about myself following my own weight loss that I felt called to share that joy with others … to allow them to feel as good about themselves as I feel about myself. I am inspired daily by the people I meet through coaching who are striving to be better versions of themselves. Their stories resonate with me as I have been in their shoes before, and their successes are a testament to their hard work.

I want to continue being an example for others. Additionally, the level of self-worth that I possess these days is strong enough to remind me that this is the person I am meant to be … healthy, fit, confident, happy. I never want to return to a place of low self-esteem or feeling like I am not good enough. I want to continue being a light to others and helping them find their way out of the darkness. And I also strive to continue being a better version of myself each day.

Advice

My advice to myself pre-weight loss would be to just start now! I used so many excuses as to why I couldn’t start paying attention to my health, and as a result, I was unhappy with myself for far longer than I needed to be. I would tell myself to start small and not be afraid, that any change made would be an improvement from where I was when I began.

For others thinking about beginning their own weight loss journey, I would say learn from me and don’t wait for the new year, or next season, or even next Monday. If you feel like there is something missing, like you are unhappy or unfulfilled because of your weight — do something about it now! It doesn’t require some elaborate plan or grand scheme before you can begin implementing the changes you need. If you wait until you feel “ready” — you will never start. Begin by making small, doable changes, and then build from there. The confidence you acquire as you achieve small goals will propel you forward and keep you motivated to continue on your journey. And remember, it doesn’t happen overnight and I never said it would be easy … but I will tell you that it is without a doubt worth it.

All photos courtesy Sarah Camden.

Need more inspiration? Read about our other weight-loss winners!

Weight-Loss Win is authored by Andie Mitchell, who underwent a transformative, 135-pound weight loss of her own. Have a success story to share? We want to hear it. Tell us at ybeautystories@yahoo.com.