Jennifer lost 20 pounds

Jennifer lost 20 pounds. The pandemic truly showed her that tomorrow is not promised. Determined to achieve her lifelong goals, she began getting therapy, changed her eating habits, and made time for exercise. Check out her story.

My name is Jennifer, and I am 31 years old. My motivation was everything that happened with Covid this year. Seeing the number of Covid deaths increase every day showed me that life is not promised. This made me fear that I wouldn’t reach my lifelong goals. 

I underwent several changes, such as beginning therapy, leaving a long relationship, starting an online business, and loving and accepting myself as I was right then. I’ve battled with my weight my entire life and decided I didn’t want that struggle to be a part of my life anymore. Living in my purpose and discussing my weight issues with my therapist has allowed me to take that stress off of myself and begin to lose the weight. 

How did you change your eating habits?
I’ve tried numerous diets, and I had a ton of eating plans stored. I actually like relatively healthy foods, but would eat too much and too often. I didn’t follow a specific plan/diet, but I did meal prep and ate the same things each week (for the most part). I hate cooking, so I believe in keeping it as simple as possible. Most days, I would have a green smoothie with spinach and fruit for breakfast, a salad with a pouch of tuna or baked chicken tenders for lunch, and salmon or shrimp with frozen vegetables for dinner. I also drank a gallon of water each day. I ate the things I liked, such as chips, alcohol, and cheesecake, in moderation and reduced the amount I would consume.

What did your workout routine consist of? How often did you work out?
Most of my routine consisted of walking around my neighborhood in the morning for 2 miles. I’m a very results-driven person, so I’d keep track of my workouts via my Fitbit and the Under Armour walking app. I occasionally went to the gym and used the elliptical for about 20-25 minutes. I probably walked an average of 3-5 days per week.

What was your starting weight? What is your current weight?
Starting Weight: 235 pounds
Current Weight: 215 pounds

What is your height?
5’9″

When did you start your journey? How long did your transformation take?
My journey is still going, but it began in August of this year. This portion of my transformation took three months.

Is weight loss surgery part of your journey?
No, no surgery or procedures.

What is the biggest lesson you’ve learned so far?
The biggest lesson I’ve learned is that weight loss is 100% mental. Sometimes looking good isn’t enough motivation. I’m the type of person who is all or nothing, so one mess up used to derail my progress completely. Once I began to live in my purpose by starting my business, I began to love myself more, which made me happier and made me want better for myself. If you’ve had consistent issues with losing weight, I highly recommend speaking to a mental health professional who can help you analyze your triggers as well.

What advice do you have for women who want to lose weight?
Understand that you are worthy of everything you want right where you are right now. Once you look at yourself with love and understand that weight is temporary, you can begin to take the pressure off of yourself. It takes time and will not happen overnight but keep going. Know that time will continue to pass, so it’s worth it. 

Also, eating well and drinking water are the largest parts of this process. You don’t have to do painful, long activities to see progress. Set aside time to listen to your favorite music or call a friend and walk for 30-40 minutes a couple of times per week. 

Instagram: @Jenndanielle_