Valerie lost 57 pounds

Today’s weight loss success story of the day:  Instagram diva and proud mom Valerie (aka @fabchickgetsfit) wrote in to share with us how she lost 57 pounds.  She sought out a weight loss plan that worked for her and began her journey to her wellness goals.  Here is what she had to say:

What was your motivation?

“Christmas 2012 I saw some pictures of myself from my 30th birthday 2 months before and was in shock. I knew I had tried so many times before to lose weight but this time was different. I was 30, obese, a workaholic and I needed to do something for myself. I no longer wanted to be the fat one in my friends, wearing a 22 and a 2/3x. So losing 100lbs was my goal.

When I reached 50lbs down around July, I decided losing 100lbs was no longer good enough for me. So I decided to take the next year to focus on competing. I WILL compete next August in the bikini division.”

How did you change your eating habits?
“I did lots of research and I eat 99% clean. I started prepping my meals on Sunday. I had a structured meal plan made for me by my online coach that I follow. For me, I was ok with eating the same thing every week. Structured plans work best for me.”

What did your workout routines look like?
“Lots of heavy lifting and consistent cardio. The cardio had to make my heart rate go up but I didn’t want to be on a treadmill for an hour. So I do HIIT and I love the stairmaster. I also enjoy no traditional cardio like tire flips and rope turns. So, I do cardio 4-5x a week and I lift 2 muscle groups a day, 5x a week.”

What was your starting weight? What is your current weight?
“My starting weight was 265 pounds in January. Currently I am 208 pounds.”

How long did your transformation take?
“11 months.”

What advice to you have for others who want to lose weight?
“Research and consistency are most important to me. What works for one person might not work for another so next would be to learn your body. I don’t like being on a treadmill for an hour so I had to learn my body and figure out what I love to get the same results. Really take the time to research foods and use an online tool to log your food daily. You will be really surprised at the end of the day with how well you did when you are holding yourself accountable by what you put in your mouth.”