Stefanne lost 65 pounds

Transformation of the Day: Stefanne lost 65 pounds by focusing on nutrition and being accountable. This proud nurse has been on the front lines of the pandemic. The experience has given her clarity about how important it is for her to be healthy for herself and her son. She used several apps to say on course.

I’m 31 years old, and I’m a Nurse. I have gained and lost weight multiple times over the years, but I’ve NEVER lost this much weight and been consistent with healthy habits. 

What was your motivation?
My original motivations for losing weight this time around were the pandemic and my 1-year-old son. As a nurse on the front lines, I was SO afraid when all of this COVID stuff starting happening. I was literally so fearful that I would die from catching the disease while caring for patients that I contacted a lawyer. Now, I have a living will to make sure my son is taken care of if something happens to me. 

Also, I was so stressed and so scared that I was stress eating and gaining weight. In March, I had a moment of clarity. I realized that many things are not in my control, but what I put in my mouth is in my control. Being healthier than I currently was is in my control. God willing, I wanted to be a better me when I made it out of this pandemic. I wanted to be healthier so I can be around for my son because leaving him was at the height of my fears. I weighed 235.6 pounds when I decided that I wanted to start changing my eating habits. 

What inspired you to keep going, even when you wanted to give up?
Initially, it was the things that motivated me that also inspired me to keep going. I wanted “this time” to be different than the dozens of other times I was committed for a month and then fell off the wagon. 

I joined some accountability apps, including “Supoorti“, an app that assigns you an accountability buddy for seven days at a time to help keep you on track. I also joined the app “Stickk“, and I assigned myself two daily goals of staying under 1600 calories and under 50 grams of carbs daily. I bet $20 a day that I could attain that goal EVERY DAY for 60 or 90 days at a time, so I technically had $1200 or $1800 at stake. 

Each day I met my goal, I did not lose money. On the days I did not meet my goals, I lost money. After the first time losing money, I got my butt in gear, Lol! I had a friend assigned as my “referee,” and I would send my food logs to him. He would verify my information and send a “report” to Stickk as successful or unsuccessful. 

I also joined Noom when I was in a one month plateau. The program encouraged me to keep going. It made me realize that even though the scale was not reflecting my effort, my hard work is still worth it. Every good decision you make gets you closer to a positive outcome. 

How did you change your eating habits?
I started eating low carb (under 50 grams of carbs per day). I could eat anything I wanted, technically, as long as I ate it in moderation. My goal is to eat mostly meat and veggies. I also started cooking a lot more and trying new recipes. All the food I eat tastes DELICIOUS, and I never felt deprived. 

What did your workout routine consist of? How often did you work out?
I know that my main problem is stress binge eating, so my main focus is my food. Four months into my journey, I started using the Crossrope app to do jump rope workouts. I do a 15-30 minute jump rope workout three days per week. I also bought a step tracker and made sure I hit 10,000 steps every day. 

What was your starting weight? What is your current weight?
My starting weight was 235.6 pounds, and my current weight is 170.9 pounds.

What is your height?
5’4″

When did you start your journey? How long did your transformation take?
I started making real changes in March 2020, and I reached my goal weight of 174.9 lbs on Oct 16, 2020.

Is weight loss surgery part of your journey?
I did not have any weight loss surgery. 

What is the biggest lesson you’ve learned so far?
The biggest lesson I’ve learned so far is that I am capable of SO MUCH more than I realize. I can make a goal and achieve it.

What advice do you have for women who want to lose weight?
It’s not a race! Do not pressure yourself to lose a certain amount of weight in a certain amount of time. Instead, focus on changing your habits, a few at a time, until you have a slew of good habits that will promote weight loss. 

I started with the goal of staying under 1600 calories and 50 carbs. Later on, I added 96 oz water a day, then 10,000 steps, and then cardio three times a week. Now, these habits are second nature to me. 

Also, CONSISTENCY is key. When you are picking new habits, make sure they are realistic and sustainable for you. If you cannot see yourself doing something for the long term, it needs to be reevaluated. The point is to lose weight and KEEP IT off. The former is the easy part. I spent a month in a plateau, but I stayed consistent, and the weight came off. Trust the process and be consistent. 

Lastly, do not kill yourself with exercise. It’s not required for weight loss. You don’t have to go to the gym and get on the treadmill. You don’t need to work out 24/7. Just keep your body moving in your daily life. When you do exercise, do something fun that excites you. (I jump rope in my living room or garage.)

Instagram: @stefanne_nicole