Weightloss story from @kyjxo
Growing up in an athletic family I never had to worry about my weight because I was always active. It wasn’t until I graduated high school and went off to college that I slowly started gaining weight. I had worked out before and tried to lose weight but I wasn’t all that motivated. It really got me down especially living here in Miami. I dreaded when my friends asked if I wanted to go to the beach or anywhere for that matter! I knew if I went to the beach I would just be so worried about how I looked and I would compare myself to other people. I would get so down on myself and really beat myself up about it. I was becoming so self-conscious and insecure in my own body that I was literally removing myself from any and everything that was social. Another thing is at my job I have to go up three flights of stairs everyday. EVERY. DAY. My knees were literally aching due to all the extra weight that I had put on. That was so not me. I knew I had to do something not only for my physical health but my mental as well.
I joined a gym…again! I made a promise to myself that this was the last time that I would have to rejoin a gym because I simply stopped going. I knew what I had to do since I worked out so much in high school. I knew what cardio to do and I knew how to lift weights…I just had to do it. I have push and pull days where I work my back/biceps and chest/triceps and of course a day dedicated to strictly legs. If I want to switch up my workouts I look up videos on IG (#bicepworkouts #chestworkouts) and basically put them into my routine. I also try to incorporate at least 30 minutes on the treadmill at an incline of 15 and at a 4.0 speed. If I don’t get on the treadmill I use the stairmaster. A little trick that works for me is to watch Netflix and get lost in the episode or movie. Before you know it you’ve climbed stairs for over 30 minutes! Recently, I have been going to this fit camp that does a little bit of everything, so that I can really shock my body so it doesn’t get use to my regular workouts. Another thing that has played a big role is that I have participated in an online ab challenge, Results In 28 days. It is super tough but so rewarding.
I had to change my eating habits drastically! I would eat any and everything that I wanted without even thinking twice. Want something from Sonic? Yeah sure, why not?! McDonald’s, Taco Bell…I was always eating fast food. I went from eating McChickens and Footlongs from Sonic to grilled chicken and veggies. I also cut down my carb intake and all soda or pop…whatever you want to call it. I drink strictly water and at least a gallon a day and if I want something sweet I try out different smoothies. Currently my meal plan for a day looks something like this:
- Breakfast: Oatmeal & egg whites
- Snack: Greek Yogurt with fruit
- Lunch: Chicken, some type of carb (1 cup), and a veggie.
- Snack: Usually some almonds
- Dinner: Fish and spinach or something like that.
My starting and highest weight was 220 pounds. I currently weigh about 200 pounds. I’m about 5’8 so it wasn’t really too noticeable…lol right. If I didn’t lift as much as I do I would probably weigh less…like waaaaay less. But I didn’t want to lose the little bit amount of muscle I had. Although it’s a 20 pound difference I have lost so many inches.
I’ve always worked out but I really started taking my fitness journey seriously right at Christmas when I received an Apple Watch from my boyfriend. I started my fitness account to hold myself accountable on December 30th and have been working out since then.
The scale was probably the hardest thing for me. I would constantly check how much I weighed to see if I had dropped anything. Although the scale wasn’t moving I could physically see the changes in my body. I had to realize that I was lifting weights a lot therefore gaining muscle. We all know that muscle weighs more than fat so I put the scale to the side and focused more on how I looked and felt inside and out.
I feel I have a more positive outlook on life as a whole from this journey. I use to beat myself up about the way I looked all the time but I have grown to really love and appreciate myself and my body. My health has improved tremendously and the stairs I use to huff and puff at the end of are now getting tackled two steps at a time.
More than half of the journey was done all alone. I would go to the gym at 6 AM and just put in work. I started working out with some girls at my gym and it became sort of a routine. Like I mentioned before I started attending this fit camp at Extreme Bodyworks here in Miami. Some of my friends even made a group chat just to hold each other accountable by sending new workout ideas as well as progress photos. Ultimately, what has really motivated and kept me going is the support I get from my family and my boyfriend, Mark.
I haven’t used many products but the ones I have tried, I would definitely recommend. I use Wheybolic Extreme 60 Ripped as a protein shake and I got mine at GNC. For my pre workout I use C4 Ripped, it is AWESOME! I also take Amino X for my post workout.
Ladies and Gents … don’t put your all into the scale. I have seen people lose over 50 pounds and look like a totally new person. Then there are some people, like me, who haven’t lost that much weight but still look better due to the many inches lost. Also, if you’re going to embark on your fitness journey, take lots of pictures! I can’t stress that enough. You’re going to see yourself everyday and may not notice the changes your body is going through until you put your pictures side by side. Finally, if you’re doing this do this for YOURSELF. Don’t do it to look like the next person because you won’t stick with it. You really have to wholeheartedly want to make this change for YOU. Once you do it is soo rewarding. When working out push your body to it’s limit. Trust me 9 times out of 10 you can go another rep or another set but your mind is the one that’s getting you down. Push through! You will be amazed at what your body can do.
