‘I Lost 65 Pounds After I Started Following This Workout and Eating Plan’

I signed up for a gym and started going two hours a day, six days a week. For the first hour at the gym, I’d do straight cardio—the elliptical for 30 minutes and the treadmill for 30 minutes. Then I’d spend the second hour doing 30 minutes of abs exercises and 30 minutes of strength training. Additionally, I’d go on a two-mile hike three days a week. Finally, I’d meet with a personal trainer for half an hour once a week to do circuit training. I did this for eight months starting in February 2015 and lost about 30 pounds. (Work towards your weight-loss goals with Women’s Health’s Look Better Naked DVD.)

After that, I plateaued a little because I wasn’t hitting the gym as hard. Then, within weeks, I lost my 18-year-old cousin and my dog both in separate, tragic accidents. While these blows were devastating, I found solace in returning to my wellness journey. It was at that time, early this year, that I signed up for my first 5K and ran it without stopping.

There, I met a guy who told me about his running group here in L.A., Movement Runners. He told me they run on Tuesdays and Sundays and asked if I wanted to join. I thought, “Why not?” After joining, I fell in love with running. It helped me recover from the losses I’d experienced and helped me stay positive. For a while, I was running lots of 5Ks and 10Ks, and finally, a few weeks ago, I completed my first half-marathon. Through that, I was able to leave behind all the pain and suffering of this past year and realize how much I’ve grown as an individual. 

In addition to running, I still go to the gym for a couple of hours six days a week, but now I focus mainly on circuit training and lifting weights. I’ve also become a personal trainer and am helping girls just like me in boot camp classes.