Olivia lost 63 pounds

Olivia lost 63 pounds. Health is her primary motivation. She spent the winter of 2019 feeling continuously sick. In February 2020, she had to have her gallbladder removed due to unhealthy eating habits. After this experience, she found the strength to hold herself accountable. She found that intermittent fasting and the Keto diet were very effective for her.

What was your motivation? What inspired you to keep going, even when you wanted to give up? Gaining good health was my true motivation. In February 2020, I had to have my gallbladder removed because of bad eating habits and a lot of fat in my diet. This was after spending the winter of 2019 constantly battling the flu and cold. I felt like I was continuously sick, and it was taking a toll on my mental health.

I keep repeating to myself that I was only 26 years old, and this was ridiculous. I knew I was putting myself through unnecessary sickness because of my weight. I tried to use my husband as motivation and my son, but it didn’t work. It wasn’t until I started doing it just for me that I was able to hold myself accountable.

How did you change your eating habits? In the summer of 2019, I was exercising almost every day but hardly made any changes to my eating habits. I barely saw the scale move. 

In January 2020, I decided to do the 12-day smoothie cleanse because I felt like my body just needed to be cleaned out if it was ever going to start losing weight. After my surgery, I started intermittent fasting with my sister and calorie counting. The intermittent fasting worked wonders for me. It surprised me how much joy I could have skipping to the kitchen at noon to eat an omelet and be perfectly satisfied afterward. I started to feel fewer cravings and eat smaller portions. I wasn’t the best at monitoring my exact calories, but I keep a close eye on the number. 

In July 2020, I decided to give Keto a real try. I weighed 208 pounds at the time (by October 2020). With intermittent fasting and Keto, I reached 178 pounds. I wasn’t one of those fancy Keto people who counted macros and weighed everything. I just stuck to the rules – No sugar, no carbs. I bought Keto-friendly snacks when I felt like having something sweet (Atkins bars, fiber one bar, keto ice cream). I ate watermelon and strawberries, and sparking water became my life.

What did your workout routine consist of? How often did you work out? From June 2019 to November 2019, I worked out with my friend at the park, running and jogging (or whatever we felt like doing). Then we moved to separate home workouts but being each other’s accountability partners. We did Emi Wong’s videos and Chloe Ting’s challenges. I loved that Chloe’s challenges were so organized and weren’t long. I got a good workout, and I gravitated to solely doing her challenges for the better part of 2020.

What was your starting weight? What is your current weight? My starting weight on this journey was 235 pounds, and my current weight is 172 pounds.

What is your height? I am 5’8″.

When did you start your journey? How long did your transformation take? I started this journey in June 2019. It took about a year and a half.

Is weight loss surgery part of your journey? No weight loss surgery was not part of my journey.

What is the biggest lesson you’ve learned so far? The biggest lesson I have learned is to keep trying new things until you find what works for you. With each new thing I introduced to myself in this journey, I went into it with the mindset that it may or may not work. There were a million different ways I could get to my goal but getting to my goal was non-negotiable. Now I fully understand that health is truly wealth, and I never want to jeopardize my health again. I feel so empowered and excited to know I have the knowledge and the tools to shape my body the way I want it.

What advice do you have for women who want to lose weight? Lose the weight for yourself and be open to going the extra mile for yourself. Don’t be pressured into going hardcore. For the mamas and wives, take that 40 minutes of exercise and label it in your mind as your “me time”. Walk past the dishes and the laundry and get it done. Set alarms (if you need them) on your phone as reminders throughout the day to eat healthy. Remind yourself why you are doing it and what your goal is. 

Lastly, don’t be afraid to say no…no to your husband who snacks late at night, to the office lady who’s always asking if you want fast food, or to your toddler’s half-eaten snack in your purse.