Weight loss is hard. It's not black and white, and
it's certainly not cookie cutter. There are struggles, setbacks, and times you
might wonder, "Why did I even start? Is there a light at the end of the
tunnel?" But with these stories from women who achieved their success in
all different ways, we can gain a strong sense of hope.
There's a different approach for everyone, and each
woman's winning combination of tools is different. That said, there are a few
common themes that we've noticed again and again, ones that you can implement
no matter what your body type, habits, or goals.
Women were interviewed, who have lost between 25
and 225 pounds; their three best tips (collectively) were about movement,
mindful eating, and support systems. We'll let them tell you exactly how these
things worked in their journeys and how each contributed to their overall
success.
Move More
Though some women really went hard and opted for
six or more days of workouts, not everyone needed such a strenuous schedule to
lose the weight. It's just about moving more. For Katie who
lost over 200 pounds and Brooke and Hailey who each lost
over 100, each of them aimed to reach 10,000 steps per day, tracking with
either a Fitbit or a phone app.
Setting an attainable goal that equates to just
walking a little bit extra is attainable and can add up over time. In fact,
it's one of celebrity trainer Harley Pasternak's best weight-loss tips —
and these women are living proof that it works.
If you're already somewhat active, adding in some
more workouts is key. For Kara (who lost 40 pounds), her key was variety.
"I am a member at a couple of local fitness studios in our neighbourhood
that offer Spin, barre, yoga, and circuit classes; therefore, on the days we
work our legs and booty, I'll take a barre class with a friend. If cardio is on
the schedule, I'll take a Spin class. I work out five to six days a week."
The more you move, the more it'll become part of
your daily routine. "I love working out and have actually found that it
replaced food as an excellent way to relieve stress and make me feel in
control," said Hailey. "On an average week, I work out four to six
times and try to keep it as fresh and engaging as possible."
Eat Mindfully
Most of the women we talked to who had accomplished
major weight loss attributed their healthier weight to more mindful eating and
conscious choices. "Preparing meals at home is one of the most effective
ways to manage weight," said Brooke, but she also mentioned that "it
has to be easy and enjoyable or it won't happen consistently."
Caitlin, who lost 25 pounds, is also more
deliberate with her food and conscious of how her body feels when she eats.
"I try to allow myself to eat out and trust myself to choose options that
I know will allow me to feel good afterwards and to stop when I'm full. I try
to just check in with myself like, 'Do you really want that?'"
Kara had similar sentiments. She said that she
focuses on healthier choices but still loves food, so she monitors how her
choices make her feel physically. "If I do indulge in a heavy, unhealthy
meal, my body now reacts poorly, as it's become so accustomed to clean
ingredients; therefore, I find myself struggling to gather energy or I'll feel just
plain sick, so I've really stopped eating anything I know is going to make me
feel sluggish."
"It's all about knowing what is good or bad
for your body, being aware of what you're consuming, said Kat, who lost 40
pounds. "As long as it's healthy calories, the weight will come off."
Speaking of healthy calories, part of deliberate and mindful eating includes
being educated and learning as much as you can about your food. Taylor, a
woman who lost about 25 pounds, used that education as an advantage in her
weight-loss journey. "I am aware of more calorie-dense options like the
healthy fats in almond butter, coconut oil, and avocado, and I am mindful to
keep those in moderation."
Find Motivation in
Community
For Becca, it was Weight Watchers that helped
with her 100-pound weight loss. She used the community and the app as a way to
stay on track. "You can see amazing before and after pictures, recipes,
and tips," she said. "It really helps to keep me motivated."
Brooke found strength in the BBG community, saying,
"It's empowering to be vulnerable about our flaws, share our goals, and
cheer each other on." She noted that before finding the other women
through BBG, that she "carried around a tremendous amount of shame"
about her weight. "It was liberating to let go of that and realise that I
wasn't alone."
Ensuring that you have that support and don't feel isolated is
paramount to the success you'll see on your own journey. Kara told us that her
"accountability partner" is the person who keeps her in check and
keeps her going to "a 6 a.m. Spin or circuit class one to two times a
week." Whether it's a best friend, significant other, co-worker, parent,
or family member, you need to find someone who can hold you accountable and
help you get through any and all setbacks.
For
both Caitlin and Cait (who has yet another amazing
weight-loss success story), that support came from Tone It Up. Upon finding the
community on Instagram, Cait said, "It was the first time I realised maybe
I can do this, and it doesn't have to be torture. These girls were just like
me." That identity and support helped Cait reach her goals. "I
started forming new habits, pushing myself to new heights, trying new workouts,
sometimes failing, sometimes shining, but always being supported through my ups
and downs. I loved supporting others and loved seeing the girls cheer me
on!"
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