‘I Lost 80 Pounds After The Whole30 Helped Me Stop Binge-Eating On Weekends’
I've struggled with my weight my entire life. I constantly went on and off diets-a few strict months of calorie counting and cardio, followed by binge eating and weight gain.
I graduated college in 2013, and by the summer of 2014, I was finally coming out of my post-grad slump. I had finally gotten accustomed to life after college, and realized that my weekend binges and bottomless mimosa brunches were taking a toll on my body-barely any of my clothes were fitting anymore.
I knew I had been eating poorly and not working out, so I decided to buy a scale (while sipping on a large cherry Icee) to face reality about my weight. After I got it, I waited anxiously until the next morning to weigh myself.
When I finally stepped on the scale, the number hit me like a ton of bricks: 240 pounds.
A post shared by Randi Vasquez (@burgerstoburpees) on Jan 17, 2019 at 11:49am PST
I stared at myself in the mirror with tears in my eyes and asked myself, “How did I let myself get like this?” I always tried to blame it on my genes, but really, I was obsessed with fast food and I wasn't working out.
So right then and there, in August 2014, I decided to change my eating habits. I slowly started subbing my fast food for home-cooked meals-but honestly, I was still eating poorly 80 percent of the time. I lost 18 pounds by January 2015, but I knew I wanted to lose more.
I knew I didn't want to do a quick fad diet like I used to do when I was younger, so I started a low-carb diet during the week (I typically ate whatever I wanted on the weekends). I ended up losing 15 more pounds by the end of February, but something still didn't feel right.
In February 2015, my friend introduced me to a new workout plan that I absolutely fell in love with.
A post shared by Randi Vasquez (@burgerstoburpees) on Jun 5, 2018 at 10:13am PDT
Back when I first started my diet, I also joined the local YMCA and began taking Les Mills Body Pump classes twice a week. While I loved the class, it somehow still wasn't enough for me.
So when my friend mentioned Kayla Itsines' Bikini Body Guide (BBG) program, while I was skeptical at first, I decided to give it a try. (It's just a 28-minute workout, after all.)
My first workout on BBG 1.0 was brutal. I remember sweating and panting so bad, not really knowing what I was doing, and being so extremely sore the next day. Each week was a challenge-mentally, physically, and emotionally. It was never easy but I saw my body and mindset change so much and that kept me going. For the first time ever, I totally believed in myself and knew that I was capable of my weight-loss goals.
By the end of the 12-week challenge, I had lost an additional 26 pounds. I bought a pair of size 12 jeans for the first time in years, and I gained so much confidence.
After I finally found a workout I loved, dieting became easier, too.
A post shared by Randi Vasquez (@burgerstoburpees) on May 11, 2017 at 3:59pm PDT
Living a more active lifestyle also made me want to put healthier foods into my body on a more regular basis. While I still incorporate pizza, tacos, and margaritas into my diet, I do so in moderation-and I make sure I don't binge on the weekends anymore.
I also started doing the Whole30 program (a 30-day diet that eliminates sugar, alcohol, grains, legumes, soy, and dairy), a few times a year. I don't think of this program as a diet or a punishment, but I find that when I have fallen off track, this helps me mentally get back into a healthy eating pattern.
Basically, my meal plan varies often but here is what I'm eating a lot of right now:
Breakfast: a frittata made with eggs, kale, spinach, tomato, onion, and no-sugar-added pork sausage, with a small side of blueberries
Lunch: spaghetti squash topped with olive oil, tomatoes, and garlic with chicken or ground turkey and a side of broccoli
Snacks: Mandarin oranges, berries, almonds, or a banana with sugar free plain almond butter
Dinner: roasted veggies and salmon on a leafy salad
Dessert: homemade no-bake "fudge brownies" made from dates, walnuts, sugar free almond butter, and 100 percent unsweetened cocoa
Overall, I've lost 80 pounds since starting my weight-loss journey in 2014.
A post shared by Randi Vasquez (@burgerstoburpees) on Jan 10, 2017 at 6:01pm PST
Honestly, it's been a lot of trial-and-error, but the past five years have been filled with so many small victories, like wearing denim shorts, being able to shop in any store and feeling healthy. And I recently crossed the finish line of my first half marathon.
These wins pushed me to keep going with my weight-loss experience even when it felt unattainable-and that's the message I want other women to hear: That dedication is key, along with finding a diet and exercise routine that truly makes you feel good.
('You Might Also Like',)