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| AGE 21 HEIGHT 5'3" WEIGHT 195 lbs BODY FAT 38-40% |
AGE 21 HEIGHT 5'3" WEIGHT 122 lbs BODY FAT 18% |
Why I Got Started
One day I realized that I weighed almost as much as my 6'3" boyfriend. I decided that I was going to start a diet and exercise plan so I wouldn't catch up to his weight, and I became obsessed with losing weight and getting healthy.
Once I got started, the progress was unbelievable, which motivated me to always push myself harder.
How I Did It
I began my weight loss plan in late May 2010. I worked out every day and ate a very strict sugar free low carb diet. I did not skip a single workout or cheat on my diet this entire summer. I was able to lose almost 50 lbs by the start of the school semester in September. I felt great, but I was looking for a more extreme transformation.
In late May 2011 I started by doing the elliptical every day and changing my diet. I cut out all sugar and almost all carbs from my diet as well as meticulously counting my calories and macro nutrition. After I had lost 50 lbs, I started an intense lifting routine in September which allowed me to lose more body fat and gain muscle.
I still lift 4 or 5 days a week and do cardio 6 or 7 days a week plus managing my diet well. I still eat sugar free but over the last few months I had to incorporate carbohydrates into my diet.
Eventually I was able to break women's lifting records at my school gym, which is something I never thought I could do. Going to the gym is something that I look forward to because I am still making great progress.
Suggestions for Others
I know it seems obvious but I believe that checking the nutrition facts in order to gain a full understanding of what nutrients you are getting from your food as well as how much food is actually in a serving, will allow you to properly manage your diet.
I have to admit that I was guilty of mindlessly eating whatever I wanted. I was also unaware of what I was putting in my body. Once I was able to gain an understanding of the nutrition facts, I was able to give my body what it actually needs.
I believe that if you allow yourself to skip a workout or cheat on your diet, you will be less likely to stick with it long term. I think that the best way to remedy this is to plan cheat days and rest days. This will motivate you to "be good" until your planned cheat day. I know that if I had allowed myself to cheat, I would have done it more often which would have eventually made me go back to my old habits. I know that if I had not been so strict about my diet and exercise plan, I never would have lost over 70lbs this year.