Transformation of the Day: Samantha lost 51 pounds. She was suffering from a number of significant health issues, including pre-diabetes, PCOS, hirsutism, and hormonal acne. After graduating from Columbia University, she returned home and started studying for the LSAT. At the same time, she decided to try the weight loss program that her mother, who’s a doctor, had just begun offering.
I’m 5’2″ and hit my highest weight at 217 pounds and my current weight is 166 pounds. My motivation was that I no longer felt comfortable in my own skin—not “I don’t feel pretty today. “, but that the physical ramifications of my excess weight were becoming debilitating. My pre-diabetes, PCOS, and high blood pressure were rendering me miserable. My symptoms included hirsutism, plantar fasciitis, and hormonal acne (which was starting to keloid on my face+body)
I HURT to do basic activities. I felt embarrassed, frustrated, and perhaps even apprehensive to admit how hopeless I was feeling. After all, I was studying at Columbia University, living in NYC, and existing in the age of body positivity. My weight wasn’t affecting my dating life, and my friends and family loved me, so how could I have been so miserable? What could I possibly have to complain about? I felt frivolously vain when I talked about my weight struggles.
After running out of money and being unable to secure a job in NYC post-graduation, I moved back home to regroup and start studying for my LSATs. My mother (a physician) had just started offering a weight loss program (Ideal Protein) at her practice. She needed a test subject, and I needed to lose weight.
In truth, the meal replacements were not the best tasting, and I struggled to get into medical ketosis. I hated getting on the scale, so I vowed only to weigh once a week. I took my measurements on the 1st Sunday of every month.
I started drinking a minimum of 64 ounces of water a day. I also supplemented with vitamins. I liked the fact that, unlike a lot of keto programs, it was moderate fat instead of high fat.
My workouts started with half-hour walks. Eventually, I incorporated strength training into my routine. I worked out about three times a week initially, but that slowly crept up to a consistent 5-6 times per week.
I started my journey five months ago, on April 11th, and I couldn’t be happier that I stuck with it. I have not reached my goal yet, but I would seriously advise anyone trying to lose weight to take it slow and set small goals. For example, instead of buying a size two dress and waiting for that magic number in your head, try ONE size down. (Every 20lbs is a size). I started at a 14/16, and now I wear an 8/10. Of course, these numbers are arbitrary, but they can be a great motivational tool for tracking YOUR personal goals. This is your journey. You control it.
I think the biggest lesson was learning to be ok with imperfect days. There’s always a new day to do a little better than the last.
Instagram: @sassologyy
Comment Via Facebook