Today’s featured weight loss story: Tiffany lost 125 pounds by working out with a friend.
Here is what she said about her weight loss:
“I wasn’t always overweight, but by the time I turned 21, my weight was out of control. When I turned 40 in March of 2010, aches and pains kicked in immediately! I knew I had to do something! Later that year in July, I began my umpteenth attempt at weight loss after being on vacation with a friend who, get this, HAD to workout! I thought she was nuts working out on vacation, but went around the Jackie Onassis Reservoir in NYC with her anyway. I haven’t looked back since. I’m down from 284 to 159 in 2 1/2 years. My goal weight is between 145-150. I love this site. It’s very inspirational!”
Update 12/17/12 – More from Tiffany
“Thank you so much! I am truly touched by the response. Thank you for taking the time to encourage and congratulate me. For those who asked how I do it. Eating had always been the difficult part for me, so I started out working out. I did TONS of cardio. Elliptical, treadmill, Zumba, and other cardio classes at a fancy gym that was so expensive…I was forced to go. I lived there. Staying hours at a time. But I didn’t majorly change my diet. I went to a trainer every 3 months or so who said cut the eating and the excessive cardio. I slowly started making changes in my eating preparing 5 meals a day so I am never hungry. Lots of protein and veggies with less carbs. For example: Oatmeal and egg whites with veggies for breakfast. Banana or protein shake for snack. Chicken salad and apple slices for lunch. Half a protein bar for second snack. Salmon and veggies for dinner. Protein shake before bed (with almond milk). I still struggle with keeping a clean diet and that is why it is taking me as long as it has. Sometimes I lose 8 pounds in a week. Then nothing for 6 weeks. Other times it’s been a pound a week. I weighed myself daily. I took a ton of supplements for a while recommended by a trainer, but it was like 11 pills and got too be too much and too expensive. I trained for a 5k and have completed several know in a year’s time including a 10k. So now I run 2 or 3 times a week. I did yoga too. Iyengar, then Bikram then just heated Core Power Yoga. Great for recovering from all the cardio plus, the heat helps you shed. I got stronger and added weights alternating 2 and 3 times per week. I do interval training on a treadmill twice per week for 30 minutes. run 30 second, abs 30 seconds, rest 30 seconds and repeat. Back to food, I do no carb Monday when I remember, I juice every now and then, cleanse every now and then. Drink herbal Chinese dieter’s tea every now and then. I constantly try and switch it up taking bootcamp and crossfit style classes. I spend a lot of time and money on this. I used my fitness pal, stopped eating red meat last 5 months, only drink straight vodka when I drink to avoid all the sugary calories, bread goes straight to my belly to bloat it, so I try to avoid it. I workout 6 days per week 2 or 3 hours each time. My favorite class on the planet is called Drenched at BODY THEORY in North Hollywood. If you live in the Los Angeles, it’s a MUST. I have extra skin from the weight loss and I plan on getting removed once I reach my goal weight. I’ve already seen a doctor. If I had of loss the weight faster or didn’t incorporate weights, the hanging skin could have been much worse. It is half as bad as it could be if I didn’t lift weights, so…LIFT!!!. My inspiration comes from doing it, not the other way around. No matter how tired or lazy I feel, I would feel 10 times worse of I didn’t workout. It’s just a part of me now. Putting in the crucial rest days are even guilty days, but I know they are necessary for the real change to happen in my body. My plan is to get into fitness career wise once I achieve a look I can sell. So don’t give up and get started if you haven’t. Don’t wait until the new year, new week or new day…. It’s the next bite. I am happier, think better, sleep better(most nights), and feel better. Depending on where you start, it doesn’t have to take you 2.5 years to do it. Diet is 80%, so get that in order and you will be well on your way. My biggest set back has been being stricter about my workout than my diet. My best move has been weight lifting 3 days per week, running and keeping bread out of my diet. If I can help any of you in anyway, please feel free to inbox me or message me here if you can’t get through. I would love to be of help.”