‘How I Lost 167 Pounds Without Going On A Crazy Diet’

From Women's Health

Growing up, I was always overweight, but my body changed the most when I hit my late teens. At 19, I gave birth to my first daughter and was in a relationship with an abusive man. I used food to cope.

Over the next 20 years, I gave birth to a premature and immunodeficient son, had a second daughter, and left my abusive relationship. Needless to say, taking care of my children became my first priority, so I neglected my own health. Soon, I was 378 pounds and eating high-calorie junk food like ice cream on a daily basis.

My turning point came at an amusement park.

Once my kids and I got to the front of the line and boarded the ride, the harness attached to the seat wouldn't fit me. As I watched my kids's reactions, I realized I’d been lying to myself my entire life. I’d always told myself my obesity wasn’t getting in anyone’s way, but it actually affected every person around me. I became determined to change that.

First, I started hiking-and it wasn't easy.

My first hike, in 2014 at 38 years old, was on a public trail. I only walked a one-mile loop on a low incline, but by the time I was done, I was beet-red, my fingers were extremely swollen and tingling, and I was beyond disappointed in myself. I was super sore the next day, but I went back the day after that for another mile and kept on going every other day.

Once it became more manageable, I started hiking two miles every other day, and once I got up to three miles, I started going every day. By the 18-month mark, I was hiking five to seven miles per day and 15 on Sundays. Since I was an Uber driver, I had a flexible enough schedule to hike everyday and still be home for my kids. But these hikes helped me make myself a priority, too.

Once I started being more active, I revamped my diet.

I don't cut any specific food groups out of my diet, but I make sure to eat healthy foods like lean meats, veggies, and whole grains.

I also use tracking tools like MyFitnessPal to remind myself to eat, so I don't go long stretches without food followed by binges. This is what I usually eat in a day:

• Breakfast: a half cup of egg whites with mushrooms and spinach

• Mid-morning snack: nuts or a protein shake

• Lunch: four ounces of fish and a sweet potato

• Dinner: chicken or ground turkey with a grain like quinoa or farro

• Treat: a peanut butter cookie, since my daughter loves them.

I lost 167 pounds-and my daughter is getting into health and fitness, too.

We recently started going to a gym together called Project Rise Fitness, and the team there has become a family to us. Everyone is accepting and encouraging.

We do HIIT and yoga classes together there, but the gym also offers community building exercises, events, an on-site nutritionist, and coaches who can modify every exercise, which is why we keep going back.

I was sick of my weight affecting everyone around me, so I made a commitment to change. And now that I've reached my goal, I'm determined to pass these healthy habits on to the rest of my family.

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