‘I Lost 144 Pounds And Kept It Off—Here’s How I Did It’
I was severely overweight. When I went to my doctor for a general check-up, I asked the nurse whether my blood pressure was okay. She informed me that it was a little high. I decided to go home and check the numbers—and I discovered that I was in stage 2 hypertension.
I was only 28 years old. I knew that something needed to change or else I would certainly have a heart attack before 30.
When I started out, two and a half years ago, I couldn’t even walk half a mile once or twice a week. Now, I run at least three to four times a week, never less than two miles.
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I do strength training in the mornings before I go to work. After work on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, I run on the treadmill. On Saturdays and Sundays, my husband and I go to the local trail and run. The trail is four miles.
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I love 5K Races! My husband and I try to sign up for a 5K run once a month. We also do virtual 5K races during the winter. in 2016, my husband and I also started playing one-on-one sports such as volleyball, soccer, golf, tennis, basketball, and badminton. Because of where we live, we’re only able to play these activities during the summer.
The most rewarding part of running is accomplishing something that I was never able to when I was growing up. Running my first mile straight was the most satisfying thing when I was starting out. Just recently, I smashed my 5K PR by almost three minutes. So now that’s the most gratifying achievement I have gained from running.
In 2015, I was at my heaviest, weighing 322 pounds. I was depressed, unhealthy, tired, and had low self-esteem. Once I decided to take my health seriously, I began changing my diet and walking. I currently am at 178 (144 pounds lighter) and running full 5Ks. I am happier, healthier, and gained the self-confidence to achieve anything that I set my mind to.
Have your best race ever with these tips from Runner’s World:
My secret is a clean diet and exercise. My husband and I limit our sugar and salt intake (Here’s 9 steps to kicking your sugar addiction). We eat clean which means minimal to no processed foods, and no refined carbs or sugars. We cook our meals so we know exactly what is in them.
We also usually stick to whole wheat products, fruits, veggies, etc. We indulge occasionally, but sparingly. I also drink plenty of water or tea. If I feel the need for coffee, I usually drink my coffee with unsweetened almond milk. I also drink La Croix, if I feel the need for the fix that I would get normally from a soft drink (except without the artificial sugar).
Related: ?The Best Diet for Losing Fat and Building Muscle
When I saw myself in the mirror, back in 2015, I felt like a total failure. I looked unhealthy, I felt unhealthy, and mentally I was unhealthy. Now, continuing my life journey, I feel healthy, I look healthier, and I am mentally getting better.
My husband said this to me: “Your body is like a car. You need the proper fuel to fuel your body. Same with a car. You wouldn’t put the wrong fuel in the gas tank of your car would you?”
My current short-term goal is getting my weight down 165 (only 13 more pounds to go). My long-term goal is maintaining my healthy lifestyle for myself.
Related: 3 Workouts That Burn More Calories Than A 3-Mile Run
Diet and exercise are the easy parts. Being healthy is a mental game. You have to believe in yourself. Once you begin thinking like that, anything is possible. It’s easy to get off track with all of the unhealthy food there is around you, but if you focus on small goals then things seem easier.
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The article From Walking Half a Mile to Running 5Ks and Losing 144 Pounds originally appeared on Runner’s World.