How I Lost 30lbs and Found Me!

Have you ever struggled so hard with that one thing in your life that you can’t seem to get a handle on? For me, that was my weight over the last few years. Luckily, I finally got a handle on it. Over the last few months, I’ve lost 30 lbs! It hasn’t been easy but I made it happen.

Let me share a little before I get to how I lost the weight. Grab a glass of wine and a snack. lol

I have tried several times since my doctor cleared me to lose the initial 50lbs that I gained after my accident and from taking steroids. I had success but that was while I was working from home and running with my running group three times a week. After my first move, I wasn’t running with the group any longer. Then, it seems like I gained and lost the same 20 lbs several times over trying to create a plan. That shit was seriously demoralizing. For a minute, I gave up and just said “f *it!” Part of the issue was being in an abusive situationship, not a relationship because you don’t do what was done to someone you truly love and care about. Sooo… Once I finally figured out how to get out of the situation, things started to fall into place and get better.

The first 10lbs came off kind of easy. I say kind of because I was in a ton of pain and couldn’t swallow. I had my tonsils removed in January. Honestly, I was looking forward to surgery and decided to use it to jump-start my weight loss. In the two weeks prior to the surgery, I lost three pounds, but I really to factor that into my journey. I know it sounds crazy but that’s just me. I started with the day of surgery and moved forward.

After I was healed from the surgery, I started making small changes in my daily habits. It has taken several months to lose the weight and that was intentional. My doctor and I discussed my overall goals and I told him I intend to lose the weight slowly to reduce the amount of loose skin. He agreed and said that my plan would allow my skin to catch up with my weight loss. If I went back to Keto, the weight would come of faster but the way my skin is set up, I know better. I lost weight too fast after having my daughters and my skin gave me a major side-eye. Lesson learned! It’s going to take me forever and three days to lose all of my weight and I’m cool with it.

So here is a little more on what I did to lose 30 pounds.

Eat Up!

I still eat what I like but I eat less of it. There was a time that I would eat a heavy lunch and turn around and eat something heavy for dinner. Think fried pork chops, mac & cheese, and yams for lunch and something equally as heavy for dinner. Now, I balance my meals. If I eat something heavy for lunch, I will have a very light dinner. So, if I eat Soul Food for lunch, I’ll eat a salad and a piece of fish for dinner.

I’ve also added intermittent fasting to my daily routine. I did that mainly to stop eating at 9 pm or 10 pm. My current eating window is from 11 am to 7 pm.

I’ve also gotten a handle on emotional eating. I have a tendency to eat when I’m upset to suppress my feelings and to essentially keep myself from telling someone to go to hell. I had also noticed that I was eating out of boredom. It seemed like I would eat full meals and graze on things just because throughout the day. I made a commitment to be aware of what and when I was eating. I’m also working on my emotional expression, how I communicate my feelings

Move it!

I am ashamed to say that I do have a Planet Fitness membership that I’ve only used twice. When it comes to cardio, I prefer to be outside. I stopped running for a while and stuck to walking, but I’m building back up to my running routine. On days where the weather wasn’t cooperative, I used my treadmill at home, until I died a few months ago. So, I stick to walking more when I’m out and about. I also make sure to hit my steps goal each day, even if it’s just walking around my house. I do plan to add weight training to my routine but I just haven’t gotten around to it. That is another way to combat loose skin. Plus, more muscle means more fat burning. I really want a workout buddy.

Dealing With Hunger

When being hangry is not an option, I had to figure out how to deal with eating later in the morning. Let me first say that I am not a morning person. So, I need all of the energy that I can get to get moving in the morning. I know some people don’t like supplements but I have to have something to boost my energy and suppress my appetite. I add a scoop of Muscletech’s #Shatter SX-7 to ice water and drink that after I get settled and start my day. I’ve noticed great results when it comes to crushing my hunger. Plus, I don’t crash mid-day.

Drink Up!

I have a love-hate, sometimey relationship with water. Sometimes, I love drinking water and can’t get enough of it. Then other times me drinking water is like giving little kid peas…”Ion wanna!” LOL On the rough days, I drink tea without sweetener or I use sugar-free flavor packets in my bottled water. Whatever I have to do, I’m drinking water. Right now, I’m loving cucumber and lemon water. I can drink that allll day with no problem. I found a cup at the Dollar Tree that is made to insert fruit. I have two but this purple one is the one I have daily. I’m out of cucumbers this morning so, it’s just lemon water until I hit the store this evening. But the cucumber and lemon combo is everything!

Anyhoo, I still have quite a bit of weight to lose but I’m proud of my progress. I feel so much better mentally and physically. Hell, my joints do bother me as much these days.

The funny part of losing weight is that my goal is no longer to get back to a size 4. At this point, I think the smallest that I want to be is a size 12. I love my curves and thickness. At a size 4, I was slim thick but heavy on the slim.

The last thing, I restarted my weight loss blog. Once I finish putting that together, I will post weekly updates and recipes there. I forgot how motivating having the other blog was in the past. Hope you will stop by when it is ready. J In the meantime, stop by the ladies linked below to read about their fitness, weight loss, and healthy living journeys.