A couple weeks back I asked on Instagram if you’d be interested in hearing how I have finally found success on my weight loss / lifestyle journey and received a resounding yes! Granted it is long but I want you to know more about me and how I’ve gotten here so.. here it is!!
Background:
As a kid I was pretty small but in the summer between 2nd and 3rd grade I drastically gained weight and although I’ve never been what one would consider obese since then I have always had issues with my body.
After years of struggling without seeing the results including pushing myself at the gym with a trainer, taking pills, eating less.. you name I’ve tried it, I started to become complacent and frustrated. It was a constant, eating away at me thought process of self loathing that affected everything else in my life including relationships, career, artistic endeavors, my confidence, etc. It had a negative ripple effect amongst my loved one’s who wanted to help and were supportive. They didn’t know what else they could do to help, if I wasn’t consistent how was I ever going to see lasting and changing results?
Suddenly in December 2014 I found myself at my highest weight of 200.4 and in my lowest level of self love, sadness; just overall a very unhealthy and depressed state of mind where life felt empty. I was utterly lost in life but through that process I found oohsostacey on Instagram and I began to learn to change. From January - July 2015 I managed to lose 43 lbs and felt so much confidence in myself. I was seeing the changes I had longed for years but I still wasn’t learning to really love myself. By September I was slowly starting to gain some weight back but staying fairly consistent, my health wasn’t a focus anymore.
Fast forward to June 2018 I was in a weird place. It was a difficult first half of the year with my grandma passing and the ever scary 30 was fast approaching that brought a lot of anxiety. I felt that although I had finally gotten out of an unhappy work environment after 10 years of retail and had created this blog that allowed me creative freedom I wasn’t fully fulfilled.
I was lacking confidence in everything and self love; I unconsciously felt that having a fashion and lifestyle blog meant that personally for myself I shouldn’t be overweight. I needed and wanted to be fit to share myself which has kept me from posting more often. I also felt, and still do, that by having this huge mental blockade of being overweight affected my knowing who Liz really is. Who I am, what I love, what I want to share, etc. I knew I wanted to understand myself more especially going into a new decade of life and luckily an opportunity popped up.
I signed up for Stacey’s weight lose challenge, it was the perfect opportunity to change and to stay accountable especially after getting to 195.8 in my desk job. Within the first 6 week challenge I lost 10 lbs and already felt better especially for my birthday. I started working on my self love, focusing on my career and future, and what I was hoping to achieve in the next 5-10 years. It was a slow process the rest of the year, I wasn’t as serious as I was in the beginning but the journey to loving yourself is never easy. During this time I researched specific body types, created a routine to start strong, found the exercise regime and meal plan that work for my body, and have set myself up for success in 2019.
Progress Photos:
**Please note this collage was created before the end of the challenge where I ended up weighing in at 165.4lbs.
My Weight Loss Regime - 66 Day Challenge:
Create your own 66 Day Challenge:
I signed up for Stacey’s new year challenge which started on January 7th and created my own personal 66 day challenge. It is scientifically shown that it takes an average of 2 months or 66 days to break or develop a habit. This is widely dependent on the behavior, person, and circumstances.
I’m an Endomorph, what Body Type are you?
Ectomorph: Lean and long, has difficulty building muscle or gaining weight.
Mesomorph: Middle ground body type, muscular and well-built with a high metabolism and can gain muscle easily.
Endomorph: Bigger and has a harder to lose weight easily, often pear shaped with a high tendency to store body fat.
Create a Healthy and Sustainable Meal Plan:
I highly recommend Stacey’s meal plans, I’ve tried almost all of them and have had great success with them. I’m currently using the Anti-Inflammatory Plans, Months 1-3. I’ve created a plan for myself fusing the Anti-Inflammatory Plans and the Endomorph plan, honestly I maybe add a 1/4 cup of brown rice and quinoa to my dinner on occasion. I just ensure my body is getting the nourishment it needs and I rarely ever crave anything I’m not supposed to have and I love it!
Create a Realistic Workout Regime:
My workout routine is fairly simple but I never get exhausted or run down. I start my weeks on Sunday’s but you can chose what days work best for you.
Side Note: Remember on rest days to stay active like going on walks, just make sure you get the body moving. Complete all weight training before completing cardio, this will help you to continue to burn fat throughout the rest of the day. When you do cardio first you only burn fat during that time. Start slow and build up, don’t push yourself too hard and create mini goals for success.
Sunday: Weight training upper body and core, 30 minutes of HIIT training on the treadmill.
Monday: 30 minutes yoga and 10 minutes abs pilates.
Tuesday: Weight training lower body with resistance band and 30 minutes lower intensity cardio on the elliptical.
Wednesday: 30 minutes yoga and 10 minutes abs pilates.
Thursday: Weight training upper body and core, 30 minutes of HIIT training on the treadmill.
Friday: Rest
Saturday: Rest
All weight training I follow is through Maryana Dvorska’s mini videos on Instagram which I have saved into a Fitness collection. Easy to use when working out and creating circuit training. I do 3 circuits with about 10-12 different exercises, 10 reps each.
What is HIIT and how do I complete my HIIT circuit?
HIIT is High Intensity Interval Training, I always complete HIIT on the treadmill as it is easier and more convenient for myself.
5 minutes slow paced warm up at an incline (3 miles per hour)
5 minutes of moderate running (5 miles per hour)
2 minutes slow paced (3 miles per hour)
Intermittent Running and Walking for 14 minutes - 1 minute each (6-7 miles per hour running and 3 miles per hour walking) Example: Run 1 minute, walk 1 minute, etc.
5 minutes slow paced cool down (3 miles per hour)
Daily or Weekly Routines - What Else Do I Do?
Take Measurements: Following the scale can be a let down, I take measurements monthly plus weekly progress photos to keep myself accountable.
Intermittent fasting: I occasionally will fast from 7pm until 10-11am the next day when I have breakfast.
Green Juice: I drink 8oz of green juice every morning 15 minutes before having coffee and breakfast.
Collage: I add collagen to coffee every day which helps with hair and nail growth, improved skin elasticity, and muscle, bone, and joint health.
Multi-Vitamins
7-8 Hour of Sleep
MyFitnessPal App: I LOVE this app, super helpful to track food/calories, macros, exercise, water, etc.
Daily Morning and Night Routines
What Else?!
If there is anything else you’d like to know like what my daily routines are, what my favorite meals, weight training etc please leave a comment below!