Name: Krista
Age: 31
Family Status: Single
Occupation: Marketing and Sales
Location: Chicago, Illinois
Height: 4’11”
Starting Weight: 223 pounds
Current Weight: 133 pounds
Krista’s Weight Loss Interview!
How much did you lose?
I lost 90 pounds and have kept it off for the last 8 years! I remember getting up to a pants size of 20 and how awful I felt each time I went up another size. After losing the weight, I can now fit into a pants size of 8!
When did you become unhappy with your weight?
I faced problems with my weight throughout my entire life because I was always a chubby girl. However, when I moved away for college and started living on my own, I started eating more fast food and this caused my weight to increase a lot faster.
What made you decide to lose weight?
It was inspiring to see a co-worker lose weight before my eyes. I would talk to this co-worker and get ideas from him. I felt if this guy could do it, then I should also be able to commit and make it happen.
What were the most important changes you made to lose weight?
I got educated. I decided to join Weight Watchers and they taught me about reading nutrition labels and how to identify portion sizes. I also learned that I did not need to completely cut everything out of my diet and that I could have almost everything in moderation.
What was the most challenging thing you had to deal with during your weight loss journey?
Not having a solid support system at home was very challenging. It is always a struggle when others don’t believe in you. You have to find ways to inspire yourself. You have to celebrate the small wins and push forward.
How long did it take you to start to see results?
In a month, I lost a good amount of weight and the best part was I did not feel like I deprived myself. I just started making some lifestyle changes like cutting back on soda, replacing Snickers bars for granola bars and going to the Weight Watchers meetings on a weekly basis.
How long did it take for you to reach your current weight?
It took me a little over a year to get down to the 130s.
Did you have any issues with loose skin after losing the weight? If so, how did you deal with it?
I am in a healthy weight range now, and I am fit. I’m still a “curvy” girl because of my height and there are parts of my body that feel like they refuse to lose fat. Losing weight is a life long project. I would have to say my biggest problem area is the “bat-wings” I have on the back of my arms. They are horrible, but I try to hide them as best as I can.
How long have you maintained your weight loss and what are the most important factors for keeping it off?
I have been maintaining my weight loss for over 8 years now. My weight fluctuates by a few pounds, but you must have the discipline to keep yourself in check. It is easy to get off track, but when you see yourself gaining over 5 pounds, you need to start taking action immediately to get it back under control.
What keeps you motivated to continue your weight loss success?
I look for new things to try constantly. I run a blog and podcast to help motivate others to beat obesity. I also find doing things like trying new fitness classes and buying new fitness outfits helps me want to pursue fitness more often.
How has your life changed now that you have lost weight?
I am able to apply the lessons I have learned from the weight loss process to other situations in my life. I am much more confident now and my personality reflects that. I used to be an extreme introvert, but now I am more open to talking to people because I don’t feel as self-conscience.
Do you have any advice for others who are trying to lose weight?
Never give up! My favorite quote in life is “Winners Never Quit and Quitters Never Win.” My advice is that sometimes it is okay to hit the pause button in life, but just keep monitoring yourself and get back on track before you spiral out of control and feel miserable.
How did ShapeFit help you reach your weight loss goals?
I think ShapeFit.com is a very motivational website that allows others to learn more and stay motivated on their weight loss journey.
Krista’s Weight Loss Tips!
Weight Loss Tip #1:
Food swaps are my favorite. I traded candy bars for 100 calorie chocolate chip granola bars. Instead of getting a fried chicken sandwich, I made the change to a grilled chicken sandwich. I stopped getting high fat hamburgers and started buying lean ground beef. These are just some small adjustments you can make to your lifestyle without feeling deprived.
Weight Loss Tip #2:
Remember your reason why you are doing this. For me, it was because I could not stand looking at myself in the mirror. I was disgusted with myself once I hit a pants size of 20 and I was only 22 years old! When you feel like you just want to give in and give up, think about WHY you started this journey to begin with.
Weight Loss Tip #3:
Lifestyle changes are key. I don’t like “diets” because they did not work for me. Having what I wanted and eating in moderation is what worked for me. Maybe my results could have been more impressive with something more strict, but I want to live life at a healthy body weight while still being able to enjoy food.
Weight Loss Tip #4:
Develop a fitness schedule. Plan ahead to go to the gym. Pack your gym bag the night before. Lay out your clothes in the morning. Set two alarms and do whatever you have to do in order to be prepared. Personally, I prefer morning workouts.
Weight Loss Tip #5:
Motivation and Accountability. Find a friend to workout with, listen to a weight loss podcast like “From Fat 2 That”, create a blog yourself or post about your weight loss journey on social media. Do whatever you need to do to so you can keep yourself motivated and hold yourself accountable!
Krista’s Weight Loss Eating Plan!
What do you normally eat for breakfast?
Right now my meal plan typically consists of a smoothie for breakfast.
What do you normally eat for lunch?
I try to have a lot of variety in my food, but when I pack my lunch I usually take chicken breast, brown rice, and some kind of cooked veggies. Sometimes if I go out for lunch, I might get a 6″ sandwich at Subway.
What do you normally eat for dinner?
Salads, sometimes grilled chicken with veggies, and sometimes a slice or two of thin crust pizza.
What do you normally eat for snacks?
Skinny Pop popcorn, a small handful of almonds, slices tomatoes.
What type of nutritional supplements do you take?
I take a multivitamin.
Krista’s Weight Loss Workouts!
What do you do for weight training?
I love free workouts! Right now I’m doing most of my workouts in my home gym. I like to use YouTube and look up videos by Fitness Blender since they have a lot of awesome, butt-kicking content.
What do you do for cardio training?
I enjoy running outside on a trail when the weather is nice. During the winter, I jog on the treadmill or do the elliptical machine.
