Name: Abby
Age: 16
Family Status: Single
Occupation: Student
Hometown: Cape Carteret, North Carolina
Height: 5’3″
Starting Weight: 220 pounds
Current Weight: 141 pounds
Current Waist Size: 38″
Abby’s Weight Loss Interview!
How much did you lose?
I have lost 79 pounds so far and 10 pants sizes going from an 18 to an 8!
When did you become unhappy with your weight?
I was always overweight and I was always unhappy with myself.
What made you decide to lose weight?
When it got to the point where I was wearing a jacket in the summer to cover my body, I knew I had to change something. I was tired of hating myself so much.
What were the most important changes you made to lose weight?
I started eating less and using portion control along with exercising. I got after it really hard at the gym.
What was the most challenging thing you had to deal with during your weight loss journey?
One of the hardest things for me was the cravings. I love chocolate and pizza, and sometimes I just wanted those foods so badly. Another hard thing for me was overeating. I was always used to finishing what was on my plate and getting more food no matter how full I was. I was obsessed with food and eating was my coping method.
How long did it take you to start to see results?
Within a week I probably lost about 5 pounds of water weight. The first month I lost about 15 pounds.
How long did it take for you to reach your current weight?
All together it has been about a year and a half of losing and then maintaining because i would get stuck sometimes, but I kept pushing harder to lose more.
How long have you maintained your weight loss and what are the most important factors for keeping it off?
The most important factor for keeping it off is to keep living a healthy lifestyle. You cannot quit. If you stop living a healthy lifestyle, you will gain it back.
What keeps you motivated to continue your weight loss success?
What keeps me motivated are the people who are inspired by me and end up losing weight by coming to me for advice. It makes me happy that I can help people reach their goals.
How has your life changed now that you have lost weight?
I feel better about my body and I’m more confident. I love clothes and I don’t wear that jacket anymore. People know me better because of the change I made for myself, and for the help I give to others.
Do you have any advice for others who are trying to lose weight?
Do NOT quit! It will ruin the pride in yourself.
How did ShapeFit help you reach your weight loss goals?
ShapeFit’s before and after photos helped to keep me going. If thousands of people can do it, so can I. Everyone looks so great on this website.
Abby’s Weight Loss Tips!
Weight Loss Tip #1:
Be active. If you are not active you will have a very hard time succeeding. I know that working out is really hard, but after you do it and get good results you will feel amazing and go back to the gym to work even harder.
Weight Loss Tip #2:
Don’t eat when you’re bored. Find hobbies such as art, jewelry, knitting, etc.
Weight Loss Tip #3:
Eat more fruits and veggies throughout the day. The antioxidants will cleanse your body.
Weight Loss Tip #4:
If you don’t like to run, walk on an incline. It is better for your joints. Walking on an incline will tone your entire body quickly if you really engage all of your muscles and that means to avoid holding onto the hand rails of the treadmill. Use your arms while you’re walking also!
Weight Loss Tip #5:
Don’t worry if you indulge in a good cheat meal and then step on the scale and see a number higher than the last one. It’s just food weight. If you eat more than you did yesterday, your weight will fluctuate. It will come off if you continue sticking to a healthy lifestyle. It’s very difficult to gain a pound in one day. To gain a pound in a day you would have to eat 3,500 calories more than your body can burn.
Abby’s Weight Loss Eating Plan!
What do you normally eat for breakfast?
I normally eat two eggs, some oatmeal, a granola bar with green tea, a smoothie, or a cup of coffee.
What do you normally eat for lunch?
I will have a Lean Cuisine meal, a lean hot pocket, or maybe a salad with grilled chicken. I also drink green tea with whatever I am having for lunch.
What do you normally eat for dinner?
A grilled chicken salad, or a lean hot pocket, or a Lean Cuisine meal. I will sometimes eat what my mom makes and make sure to use portion control.
What do you normally eat for snacks?
Fiber One bars, granola bars or Special K bars.
What type of nutritional supplements do you take?
I drink a lot of green tea since it helps to boost my metabolism and cleanse my body.
Abby’s Weight Loss Workouts!
What do you do for weight training (exercises, workouts)?
I do 30-45 minutes of cardio, but I split it up and do free weights in between. For example, I might do 20 minutes on the elliptical, then do some free weights and then do another 10 minutes on the treadmill, then more free weights.
What do you do for cardio training (exercises, workouts)?
I love to get on the elliptical machine and change the intensity levels. I usually go in this order: 1,3,5,7,5,9,5,3,1. I also use the treadmill and walk on an incline at around a 5-8 level.
