Heather | 22 | 5’7”
SW: 212lbs CW: 196lbs GW: 180lbs UGW: 170lbs
2015 and 2016 were two very hard years. I found myself turning to food for comfort, eating when I was already full, or not even hungry at all. In 2016 I reached my highest weight: 212lbs.
April 2017 is when I completed my first Whole30 Challenge and lost a little over 20lbs. I let myself go over the summer and got back on track November of 2017.
My clothes are now starting tio fit a little looser on me, my tummy rolls are shrinking, my round face is starting to slim down and take shape, my hands and wrists are finding definition, my butt and boobs have shrunk, my thighs don’t jiggle as much anymore, I’m finally almost rid of cankles.
I have more energy, my face is no longer constantly red and blotchy, my mind is clearer, I’m sleeping better at night, I’m in a better place mentally.
I’ve learned a lot about food and it’s affects on my body, I’m learning how to portion my meals, I’m learning to listen to my body when it’s telling me it’s full or hungry.
In February 2017 I am now down 24lbs, currently weighing in at 188lbs, over the course of 10 months!
At times it doesn’t feel like I’ve lost any weight at all. But looking back at pictures, or putting on a pair of pants and then fitting differently and almost falling off, those are awesome moments.
In the picture above, I am finally wearing my purity ring again! I haven’t been able to wear it in 2 years. I was so excited when it slid back on my finger! It’s still a bit tight, but just a reminder that I am making progress and that there is still more progress to be made.
I have 13lbs to go to reach my first goal of 175lbs. From there, I will decide if I have more weight I would like to lose, or if I would like to maintain that weight. Losing weight is not my main goal, my main goal is to lose inches, clothings sizes, to have more energy and to be the healthiest version of myself that I can be. To have confidence in who I am.
In addition to eating healthier, which is all I’ve done up to this point to lose weight, I am going to slowly start adding at home workouts a couple times a week. I’d like to start toning and eventually add muscle.
It’s only been three years since I first started trying to lose weight. At the beginning it was for all the wrong reasons and I went about it in the wrong way many times. I had to learn to love myself first and realize this isn’t about punishing myself, but about trying to better myself and take care of myself. To see what my body is capable of. To nourish and strengthen my body and to live a long and healthy life.
I don’t know how long it will take to lose the remaining weight and reach my first goal. I’m sure there will be set backs and many days spent in frustration on how long it’s taking. But I’ve made it this far and I at one time thought that to be impossible.
I can’t wait to reach my first big goal!
I tend to forget that weight loss can be relaxed. I don’t need to bust my ass at the gym 5 days a week, I can go swimming or do yoga or a YouTube video, I can go for a walk or go bouldering with friends. I don’t need to eat perfectly clean, who cares about a tiny donut? I got so much time, I don’t need to lose 5kg in a month. Obsessing over being perfectly healthy ain’t particularily healthy. Gotta remind myself once in a while.
Started 5k training today. 3 days a week for 30 mins on the treadmill. Signed up for a 5k run in May. Let’s do this 💪🏼
Things we need to realize
To everyone with a starting weight or current weight over 200+ lbs…
I know it’s hard to lose weight. I know how frustrating it can be to see people starting weight be 130 lbs and to wish you could weigh that much now. I know it’s hard to stay focused, so I’m writing this to encourage you all ❤️
💕 1 pound of weight loss if 4 pounds of pressure off of your knees. The more weight you lose the lighter you will feel and working out will get easier and easier
💕 It may take us longer to lose the weight, but make the days count. It’s taken me 16 months to lose 80 lbs and I still have another year to go, maybe longer. A year will pass whether you lose weight or not so make it count!
💕 If you have a day where you binge it will be ok! Tomorrow is a new day and a new chance to try again.
💕 1 lb may not seem a lot when you’re 200+ lbs but every pound will make your clothes looser. Those pounds add up quickly and soon you’ll be buying smaller sizes!
Feel free to add to this! I support all of you, and stay safe!
in 2018, I wish you
1. If you’re using a photo of someone else, make sure that you have their permission to share the image and you properly credit them. Know & post their name! Don’t crop out their face and don’t make the image focus solely on a sexualized aspect of their body, like their sports bra or butt in booty shorts! And if possible, make it an action shot, so that we’re admiring their talent and skills instead of just their body. Treat this person like a person and not like an object that exists solely to motivate you.
2. Slogans should be uplifting and positive for everyone: Don’t use a slogan that builds you up while putting others down. Stuff like “No excuses” or “You’re lapping everyone on the couch” are just subtle ways of implying that other people are wrong for not choosing to exercise the way that you do. Avoid criticizing on someone else’s lifestyle altogether.
3. Working out should help you, not hurt you. Avoid the association between pain and exercise. You shouldn’t be puking during a workout! Or crawling! Or being in pain! Promote healthy and safe exercise models that actively discourage self-harm.
4. Stop associating health or fitness with a certain body shape. Not all thin people are “fit,” and not all fat people are unhealthy. The focus of good fitspo should not always be on weight loss. People don’t inherently have to lose weight in order to be happy and satisfied with themselves. So we need to stop assuming that a larger person is a beginner or hates their body, and stop assuming that thin or muscular people are healthy or skilled.
Always remember that actual people are going to be seeing this image. Not all of them will want to workout, and that’s okay. Your #fitspo should be positive and uplifting no matter who stumbles across it.
If your fitspo makes people feel guilty, upset, demeaned or devalued, then something is wrong.
Obsessively trying to eat strictly healthy food and micromanaging all your meals is NOT healthy. Being absolutely terrified of certain foods because they are not 100% “clean” is NOT healthy. Feeling bad for enjoying food, regardless of its nutritional value, is NOT HEALTHY.
- doesn’t exclude foods
- is made up of foods, not numbers
- is varied and flexible
- is not restrictive
- allows you to trust your body
- is not obsessive
- doesn’t use food as a reward or punishment
- doesn’t have to be “perfect”
- allows you to live your life, but it is not your life
- does not exclude any food group
- consists of foods that make you feel energized and healthy
I eat healthy 75% of the time. But i will not hold myself back from eating what I want.
(Left) April 26 (Right) May 10
Whole30 results: 17lbs down in 31 days!
Healthier hair, skin and nails. Clothes fitting better. Learning how to read labels and watch what I’m putting into my body. Starting reintroducing foods this week and milk seems to be the culprit for my red, blotchy cheeks.
Super excited and proud of what I’ve accomplished and can’t wait to continue and see the next results!
