Angela lost 34 pounds

Angela lost 34 pounds. When she hardly recognized herself in a family reunion photo, she knew that it was time to improve her health and get fit. She was also motivated by a family history of diabetes and high blood pressure. Check out what she did to release the weight.

My name is Angela and I would like to share with you the story of my weight loss and overall transformation. I wish to share my story in hopes to motivate at least one woman.

I had generally been fit for most of my life, but I noticed that my weight had been slowly creeping up during and after I completed college. I didn’t pay any real attention to it as my clothes seemed to fit just fine, and I hadn’t noticed any major difference in my health. Over the course of 4 years, I noticed that I’d slowly gained almost 35 pounds.

I was motivated to lose the weight after seeing a photo of myself at a family reunion gathering several years ago. I hardly recognized myself! My belly was hanging over my pants, and my face was so chubby. I HAD to do better! I have several family members who have diabetes and high blood pressure. I wanted to change not just for my appearance, but primarily for my health.

At the beginning of my journey, I joined a local gym and started going 3 times a week. I noticed while going that I really enjoyed high intensity cardio and would attend Zumba courses weekly. I slowly began to notice over a short period of time that my clothes fit a little differently and that I had more energy than ever before! Over the course of 3 years, I have lost a total of 34 pounds and am still on my journey. I currently weigh 145 pounds. I am extremely proud that I was able to make this change for my overall health and appearance.

My advice to others on this similar weight loss journey is to NEVER give up. There will be days that you may not wish to workout OR eat healthy. PUSH yourself! If you have bad days, that’s ok. Do not beat yourself up. Weight loss is not a sprint, but a marathon. YOU CAN DO IT!

What was your Big Why?
My overall motivation was to be healthier. I have friends and family whom I love dearly and I wish to be around a very long time. It doesn’t hurt to look fierce either, right. Whenever I wanted to give up I just reminded myself of my goal. I would purchase clothing, like two piece swimsuits, and imagine myself being able to fit them. I would also have photos of women whose bodies I admired around my home (especially around the refrigerator) to remind myself daily of where I wanted to be.

How did you change your eating habits?
I’ve never been much of a dieter, but I did start to make small changes in my diet. A few years ago I completely gave up red meat and decided to no longer drink sodas. I started to watch my sugar intake specifically and began to substitute more vegetables in my diet. I have always loved fruit, so tossing an apple or two in my lunch was not an issue. I also try to drink at minimum 64 ounces of water daily and do not allow myself to eat after 7 pm nightly. I use My Fitness Pal daily to log my foods and also do not put anything in my mouth that I haven’t measured out. I stick to a firm 1500 calorie a day meal plan. Portion size is key!

What did your workout routine look like?
At the beginning of my journey, I tried to frequent the gym at least 3 times a week. That has since increased to 5 times weekly. My workout routine includes a ton of cardio. I love to run and spend a lot of time doing high intensity training. I also incorporate strength training. I love working out at the gym, but sometimes the monotony can be boring. I switch it up by going to the park for hikes and attend Zumba classes to keep my workouts exciting.

Starting weight/Current weight
My starting weight was 179 pounds. I currently weigh 145 pounds! My height is 5’8″. I am still on my journey and have at least another 5 pounds or so to lose.

How long did your transformation take?
My journey began in 2013. My journey has been an up and down battle. I would lose a few pounds and gain them back, but now I realized the gym comes secondary to what you eat. When I realized that eating the correct foods was key, the weight has been dropping off and staying off.

What advice do you have for others who want to lose weight?
Don’t EVER give up! The weight we are trying to lose didn’t pack on overnight, and it will not drop off overnight. It is hard work! Make small changes and just become a little more active. You’d be surprised what small changed will do!