How I lost 70lbs and jump-started my weight loss journey

Sharing is caring!

After many failed attempts at the latest diets and quick fixes. I decided to literally research myself. This was the best decision of my weight loss journey! You might be wondering, “How did I research myself?” I took the following steps listed below.

1. I got a journal. I wanted to document everything I ate and how it made me feel.
2. I started counting my calories so I would know how many calories I took in daily. I was able to do this by downloading the MyFitnessPal App.
3. I tracked my daily activities. This way I would know what I did during a normal day. I added these activities into MyFitnessPal and tracked my steps in the Pacer App. I currently use these apps and you can find me by searching LavandaMichelle.
4. I also wrote down my body measurements. I wanted to know if I didn’t do anything different, what changes my body would make in a month. I also purchased a scale to connect to my phone via Bluetooth.
5. I created a motivational calendar to track my sleep schedule as well as my weekly weight.
6. I also track my liquid intake.

During that month I reflected on my lifestyle for the last 20 years. The following is what I learned after one month of self-research.

1. I was active. During my college years, I walked everywhere. After college I spent hours walking and talking with my hubby or friends, I would also take my children to the park or activity centers daily. During the past few years, I’ve had a desk job that was completely demanding so once I made it home I’d be ready to eat and sleep – in that order. After a short nap, I’d be raiding the fridge and cabinets for snacks.
2. I started eating later in the day. During college, I wouldn’t eat until 12 pm daily and I would have my last meal around 5 pm or 7 pm at the latest. Also once I was married with children, while my family was eating breakfast, I’d be getting ready for my day. My first meal would be around lunch time. I ate a standard diet with no pork or and little red meat. Nearly 70% of the food I ate would be considered live food/vegan. For the past years, I ate food from the time I woke up until I went to bed.
3. I slept more. During college, my days started early. I had classes from 8 am – 2 pm. Therefore I was in bed by 10 pm and I was getting up around 7 am. Wow! I miss getting 9 hours nightly. After college, my day started even earlier. I was at work by 7 am and home by 4 or 5 pm. We ate dinner as a family around 6 pm and I was in bed by 9 pm and didn’t wake up until 5 am. For the last few years, I barely slept 6 hours.
4. I consumed more water. During college, I would drink 3-4 32oz bottles of water. After college, I was drinking a least a gallon a day. These past years were filled with diet soda, fruit juice, and only 48oz of water.

Considering all this, I changed my lifestyle to be more conscious of my daily eating habits and activity level.

1. I became more active. I made sure I was moving my body from the time I woke up to the time I went to bed. I made small changes to get more steps in. Example. I would step while brushing my teeth. I would park further away from my destination. I would make a trip through the store before I purchased my items.    For example, I would step while brushing my teeth.  I would park further away from my destination (unless it was dark out).
2. I scheduled my eating between the hours of 10a-6pm. Therefore I would fast from 6 pm until 10 am which is 16 hours. A form of intermediate fasting called 16/8 split. This was certainly a life changer. It helped me realize that I was mainly eating because it was being offered to me or someone else was eating. I said Goodbye to late night scarfing! It also helped me consume fewer calories. This allowed me to get more sleep in and my body rested better instead of working to suggest food.
3. I got more sleep. I would go to bed no earlier than 3 hours after my last meal and I slept for 7-8 hours.
4. I consumed more water. I completely cut all sodas including diet. I also revamped my love of organic decaffeinated teas.

After 3 months of this lifestyle change, I had lost 70lbs. I currently weigh 165lbs and for the last 2 weeks, my weight hasn’t changed much. I seemed to have plateaued; therefore starting this month I am changing my routine a bit to include weight training. Thus far I only walked off the weight. I am not a doctor or weight loss guru, I am only sharing what worked for me. Do you have any tips on weight loss? Please share in the comments below. I really would love to know.

Until next time, shine amongst the stars!

‘This post may contain affiliate links’

If you like what you have read, make sure you don’t miss a single article!

Subscribe Today!