Nikki lost 37 pounds

Weight Loss Story: Nikki lost 37 pounds. This proud wife and mom of 3 wanted to avoid a family history of weight-related illnesses and ensure that she could be an active part of her family’s busy lives. Check out what she shared with us about her journey.

Hello, my name is Nikki D. I am a 40 years old wife and mother of 3 children. My motivation to lose weight began when I repeatedly saw too many of my family members suffer from obesity, diabetes and high blood pressure. I was deathly afraid of following that same path. It could inevitably result in me prematurely leaving my husband and/or children. I didn’t want to risk not being able to be an active part of my busy family’s lives, so I became proactive.

I have always been inspired by The Biggest Loser, fitness magazines and anyone who has had some sucess on their weight loss journey. That inspiration encouraged me to not give up and to continue making small changes toward a healthier lifestyle over the years.

My eating habits have evolved over time. I’ve counted calories. I was a vegetarian for 3 years. I’ve also followed a clean eating plan, food elimination, the whole 90 plan, Paleo…you name it. However, over the last year a combination of portion control, eating 5-6 meals a day, carb cycling, keeping my fat intake at a minimum and the elimination of sugar has all worked in my favor. I typically use a food scale everyday and the My Fitness Pal app to document my daily food intake to help me stay on the right track. I incorporate vegetables in 4-5 meals daily. The healthy carbs that I consume are mainly from fruits, sweet potatoes and whole grains.

In the past, I’ve always enjoyed High Intensity Intereval Training (HIIT). However, I’ve done Crossfit 4-5 times a week for a little over a year now. I’ve had the most sucess only after incorporating Crossfit workouts and have seen sustainable results.

I am 5’3″ tall and my starting weight was 231 pounds, which was my heaviest weight. My current weight is 194 pounds. It took me a total of 14 months to loss 37 pounds. This is only the beginning, as I plan to continue on this journey until I reach my goal weight of 165 lbs.

A metabolic scan which measures your overall body composition determined that a healthy weight for my body type and frame should be between 167 lbs – 175 lbs, but no higher than 175 lbs. This number seems realistic and attainable to me, so that’s what I’m determined to reach. More inportant than losing 37 lbs, I’ve lost tons of fat and gained muscle, strength and confidence.

My advice to anyone wanting to lose weight is to just start somewhere and do what you can, even if it isn’t much. Stay focused on the end goal. You don’t have to see the entire staircase before you take a step. Journal both your food and workout routine. This is how you will begin to understand how your body responds to both diet and exercise. Remember that this is a very personal journey, there are no one size fits all programs. Set realistic goals and plan ahead. Also, stay encouraged because sustainable weight loss is not a sprint, it’s more like a marathon. Slow and steady wins the race. You can find diet & exercise motivation and tips on my Facebook page Why “Weight” Health & Wellness Support Group.