Update Nov 2020: Shout out to Chidalu! She’s lost 35 pounds. Check out her recent post.
View this post on Instagram
Chidalu lost 20 pounds. She adopted unhealthy, unsustainable habits in the pursuit of a small waist. Eventually, she realized that she was not on a healthy or self-loving path. She switched her focus to loving herself, loving her body, eating healthy food.
Starting weight: 235 pounds
Current weight: 215 pounds
Height: 5’7″
On July 8th, 2019, I decided I was tired of not having a 26-inch waist. I wanted to be skinny. I started working out 4-5 times a week and eating clean. I fasted extremely, and I went low carb. I even cut meat from my diet. I just wanted to have a small waist cause that’s what I saw on the internet. By doing these things, I lost 20 pounds.
I was angry at myself, and I said, “It wasn’t enough.” I was telling myself I wasn’t enough. I wish I knew back then that I was wrong. I started to eat so little, but I still couldn’t get under 213 pounds. It wasn’t healthy or sustainable. Also, I didn’t want anyone thinking this is what they had to do to succeed.
I was unhappy with my journey. I felt like I was losing this battle. I would say things like, “I lost weight before, and I got down to 185 pounds. Why can’t I get to at least 210 pounds?” That’s why I fell off for a couple of weeks in November 2019 and again in March 2020.
In April 2020, I changed my mindset. I just wanted to be happy and love my body no matter what. So I went on a new journey. My new mission isn’t to be skinny. It’s to treat my body right, love myself, and appreciate my life.
I am more consistent in the gym because it feels good to exercise. I work out 4-6 times a week. I do a mixture of weight training and cardio.
Now I eat more balanced with more flexibility. I was sick of feeling guilty for eating “a cheat meal.” When I cut out meat, it made it easier not to eat most of the unhealthy foods I liked before. No more guilty eating. No more obsessing about the scale. I’m just living a better lifestyle. This is just my story.
I don’t want anyone ever to think my journey was perfect. Who cares how much the scale says, my body has changed a lot and continues to evolve. I am way stronger! I don’t run out of breath while walking upstairs anymore. (or even while doing cardio!) I can do push-ups and burpees.
Most importantly, I am happy and nicer to my body. I’m done trying to fit other people’s expectations. This is who I am.
Biggest lesson: I’ve learned that you have to love yourself no matter what you look like. You have to love yourself enough to take care of your body, your wellbeing, and enjoy the journey because it’s never-ending.
My biggest advice is that losing weight won’t change how you see yourself. If you’re mentally uncomfortable and unconfident when you’re big, you will feel the same when you are little.
It’s a mindset thing. Please practice self-love at all stages of your journey. Appreciate your body in all its forms. You’re not losing weight to run away from your insecurities. You’re losing weight to better your self in its entirety. Take care of your mental health just as you are taking care of your physical health.
Instagram: @__cheechfit
View this post on Instagram
Comment Via Facebook