43 Pounds Lost: This Woman Blogged Her Way To A Healthy Mindset
Noelia before and after her weight loss. (Photo courtesy of Noelia Beatriz Trujillo)
Name: Noelia Beatriz Trujillo
Age: 21
Location: Lake Mary, Florida
Height: 5’6”
Before: 202 lbs.
After: 159 lbs.
What was the turning point that prompted you to lose weight?
During the fall of 2013, I was mentally struggling to feel good about myself – from my appearance to my academic abilities – and I wasn’t exercising or watching what I was eating. By the end of 2013, I was the heaviest I’d ever been, at 202 pounds, and the weakest I’d ever been in terms of muscle. I decided with the start of a new year would come a new me, mentally and physically, and made it my New Year’s resolution to drop at least 30 pounds.
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When did you start trying to lose weight?
I began my fitness journey on January 13, 2014, when I joined a transformation challenge on Bodybuilding.com.
How did you get started?
I started weightlifting about five times a week with some guidance from various articles and programs as a part of the challenge. I stopped eating fast food and started preparing healthier meals ahead of time. I also started blogging about my journey to physical fitness and mental health on my website, vowing to be transparent about the ups and downs of the whole process. It helped me feel extra accountable for my actions.
What was your biggest challenge?
My biggest challenge was realizing that progress, no matter how slow or small, was still progress and celebrating myself accordingly.
Were there any times when you wanted to quit or give up? How did you stay motivated?
The best thing I could’ve done for myself was blog about my journey because every time I wanted to give up, I simply wrote about it. I wrote about how hard it was, how crappy I felt, how I hadn’t been in the gym for weeks, how I hadn’t been eating well, how I was mentally struggling to feel good about myself and so on. I’d publish my posts on social media and people would message me saying how grateful they were for my honesty, and how they could relate and felt inspired. Their likes, comments, and messages motivated and inspired me to continue my journey.
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If you reached a weight loss plateau, how did you break out of the rut?
To be honest, I tried not to focus on the number on the scale too much. If in the gym I’m getting stronger and lifting more weight and my clothes are fitting better, that number on the scale could even go up a little and it wouldn’t be a bad thing. Whenever my fat loss hit a plateau, I’d incorporate some HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training).
What’s your current exercise routine?
I am a fan of joining exercise challenges – I just recently completed Layne Norton’s PHAT Workout. Now, I exercise about 5 to 6 times a week and usually train a different muscle group (chest, back, legs, arms, or shoulders) each day, sometimes hitting legs twice a week. I do cardio and abs on most of these days as well.
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What’s your daily diet look like?
What I love about my daily diet is that it doesn’t look that similar on a daily basis because I eat according to IIFYM (If It Fits Your Macros) or flexible dieting. My current macros are about 50 grams of fat, 125 grams of protein, and 150 grams of carbs. I track whatever I eat on the Lose It app and by the end of the day I try to hit these numbers with the foods I have eaten. I like incorporating protein into my breakfast, lunch, and dinner in the form of egg substitutes, honey smoked turkey slices, grilled chicken, and whey protein.
What’s your favorite healthy snack and meal?
This may sound strange, but I like mixing my protein powder with ½ cup of low-fat ice cream. It always fits my macros and tastes delicious.
How has losing weight changed your life?
It’s definitely been a mental journey as much as it’s been a physical one. I’ve learned that life isn’t guaranteed and no matter what size you are, you truly have to love yourself no matter how you look. I may have lost weight, but my legs are still big. I used to hate having big legs and would wish for them to be skinny. Now, I love that they’re big and strong! I’ve learned to embrace my build and work to make the body that I have healthy and strong. Through blogging about my journey, I’ve also been able to share my experience with many others who have in turn shared their struggles and gratitude with me. I have no words for how much these people have impacted my life and made me want to keep doing what I’m doing and keep on writing.
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Do you have any advice for those trying to lose weight?
It’s okay to have bad days and to not be perfect. It’s okay for the progress to be slow. The most important thing you can do is never give up. I know that sounds incredibly cliché, but it’s true. Even when I had bad days or weeks and I was steering off track, I never thought, “This is it. I give up. It’s over.” Instead, I thought, “This is a bump. Once it’s over, I’m back on track.” If it helps to tell friends or family that you’re on a fitness journey for accountability purposes then do it! That’s how my blog started and it’s helped me stay on track. But trust me, if you want to change your life, your mind, and your health for the better, you can definitely do it!
To follow Noelia’s weight loss journey visit her website and follow her on Facebook and Twitter.
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This article originally appeared on EverydayHealth.com: 43 Pounds Lost: Noelia Blogged Her Way to a Healthy Mindset
