Kristen lost 75 pounds

Transformation of the Day: Kristen lost 75 pounds by prioritizing good nutrition and working out. She fell in love with the process and learned how to make working out fun. This woman shared some awesome insights with us about self-love.

What was your motivation? What inspired you to keep going, even when you wanted to give up?
I set a tangible goal to hit and learned to fall in love with the process. I love having fun, so I had to find ways to make working out fun. I did a lot of hiking with my friends, playing tennis, pole dancing, etc. I just had to keep finding reasons to be moving which made it easier in the long run.

How did you change your eating habits?
I set small goals for myself and prioritized nutrition over limiting calories. I was also really flexible with my diet. I would treat myself without going over my calorie limit. I also got a lot of data about what my body needed through body scans (completely free at Nutrishop). Thinking of food as fuel and medicine is powerful.

What did your workout routine consist of? How often did you work out?
I worked out 4-5 times a week. Getting started in the gym, I mainly did cardio. I ran on the elliptical for 30 minutes. Then I started strength training to help me tone. I did a lot of lifting!!

What was your starting weight? What is your current weight? 
My starting weight was 310 pounds, and my current weight is 235 pounds.

What is your height?
I’m 5’5″.

When did you start your journey? How long did your transformation take?  
I lost 75 pounds in 1 year. I’m not done, though. I don’t think you ever are. This is just the life I get to lead now. 

Is weight loss surgery part of your journey?
No, I didn’t have weight loss surgery.

What is the biggest lesson you’ve learned so far?
You’re never going to hate yourself into the body you want. Using exercise and healthy eating to make yourself smaller will do exactly that—you’ll retreat from yourself. The goal isn’t to be smaller/less in this world but to live more fully in it. I used food to detach from people and isolate myself. Identify how you’re using food and learn to love the body you’re in right now. If I didn’t love myself and who I was at 310 pounds, I never would have fought for me to become who I am now.

Instagram: @kcollier16