Weight Loss Success Stories - Kelly Lost 69 Pounds

First Name: Kelly
Age: 24
Family Status: Single
Occupation: Graduate Student
Hometown: Missouri
Height: 5'6"
Waist: 29"
Starting Weight: 237 pounds
Current Weight: 168 pounds
Pounds or Inches Lost: I lost 69 pounds and countless inches! I've gone from size 20 to a size 10. I've gone from a large in tops to a small. I've gone from an extra Large in bottoms to a medium. My bra size used to be a 38D and now I wear a 34D. Yes, I just lost back fat. Apparently, my boobs don't really get much fat tissue. My starting BMI was about 38.1 and now I'm at 27.1. My starting body fat was 48% and now I'm at 31%!

Kelly's Weight Loss Story!

When did you become unhappy with your weight?

During my third year in college, I started to notice that I appeared much larger in photos. I also started to notice that I was unable to be as active as I was when I was 18.

What made you decide to lose weight?

I started having back pain at age 23, and I just felt "heavy." I wanted to be able to do the physical things that I could do as a teenager.

What were the most important changes you made to lose weight?

I learned to live life in moderation. I try not to deprive myself of sleep, nor sleep too much. I try to keep exercise fun, and not make it a chore. I now look at food as a way to nourish my body. When I'm deciding what to eat, I think of what the food will do to my immune system, hair, skin, nails, heart health, energy, etc. When I exercise, I like to choose things that will make me stronger, flexible, and feel good. I make fitness goals for myself like I currently have the goal of doing a 5k under 30 minutes and doing one pull up. I don't eat things that I don't enjoy eating. Healthy food can be yummy too, and it's good for your body. I read up on tips for new foods, exercise, and general health stuff to try. I watch my sugar intake. For example, I drink green tea and coffee plain. I rarely drink soda, maybe once every few months. I avoid fruit juices. I only drink alcohol if I'm really wanting to try the flavor of a drink. And when I do drink, I limit myself to one drink. Before I was a binge drinker. I do yoga and just in general try not to be stressed.

What was most challenging about losing weight?

Figuring out why I was hungry all the time. I learned to eat low glycemic foods and get my 5 a day of veggies and fruits. When I aim to get 5 a day, it's more likely that I'll snack on an orange as opposed to a candy bar. If I do want something candy bar like, I choose a protein bar because it keeps me full longer. I realized also that my student lifestyle was causing me to gain weight as well. I often deprived myself of sleep and I was stressed. When I don't get sleep and I'm stressed, my cortisol hormone levels rise and then I'm craving junk.

How long did it take you to start to see results?

2 weeks.

How long did it take for you to reach your current weight?

17 months. I easily lost 20 pounds in a couple of months, but then I plateaued for several months. I took phentermine for 2 months, and that broke my plateau quickly. But I've lost most of my weight without phentermine.

How long have you maintained your weight loss and how do you do it?

I'm still losing.

How has your life changed now that you've lost weight?

I feel more confident. I'm more active. I like to take the stairs because walking up stairs is so much easier than it was before. I'm a happier person because my body feels good from the inside.

How did ShapeFit help you reach your weight loss goals?

I like to read ShapeFit's weight loss success stories to compare my story to others. I find I have a lot in common with some of the other people on here, so I find it inspirational to see that someone like me made a healthy change and stuck with it. I love to try new things, so I consult ShapeFit.com to learn more about health and fitness.

Kelly's Weight Loss Tips!

Weight loss tip #1:

Pay attention to your sleep.

Weight loss tip #2:

Eat high protein foods that are good for your body.

Weight loss tip #3:

Avoid sugar.

Weight loss tip #4:

Drink green tea after meals.

Weight loss tip #5:

Mix up your workouts and always have fun.

Kelly's Weight Loss Eating Plan!

Breakfast:

1/2 can of pumpkin puree mixed in with cinnamon and nutmeg with 2% or nonfat vanilla Greek yogurt on top, a few natural almonds, and a quarter cup of flaxseed.

Lunch:

Left over crock pot meal like black bean spicy chili or butternut squash stew.

Dinner:

Corn on the cob with salt and pepper, sweet potato with cinnamon.

Snacks or Mini Meals:

A cup of low fat soy milk mixed in with Carnation's breakfast essential's chocolate mix. Fruit, kale chips, microwave flaxseed muffin in a cup (saw it on Dr. Oz).

Kelly's Weight Loss Workouts!

Weight Training:

Pilates, aerobics, toning classes, swimming, yoga and core moves like the plank.

Cardiovascular:

Kickboxing, aerobics class, jogging, elliptical machine, swimming, walking, hip hop dancing, belly dancing, spinning, jump rope, stair climbing.

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