Weight loss story from @Gorjess_20
Jessica talks about how she used macro counting to achieve her weight loss goals. Combining this with HIIT she was able to make a highly compelling improvement.
I have been overweight for most of my life. In 2014, I stepped on the scale and was shocked. Standing at only 5’4, I weighed 262 pounds! During this time, I started experiencing health issues. I had prehypertension and at the age of 24 my doctor told me that if I didn’t get my weight under control, I would have to take high blood pressure medication.
I also had blood work done and my results were mailed to my house. When I opened my results all my blood work came back normal, but at the top, written in all capital letters, were the words morbidly obese. I knew I was overweight but seeing these words coupled with the fact my blood pressure was elevated, was my breaking point. I broke down and cried for most of the day. The next week I joined a workout class and a gym but failed to completely change my eating habits. By doing this, I was able to drop 20 pounds quickly but then I hit an 8-month plateau.
I had no idea why I could not lose more weight at this point. The day after my 25th birthday (2015), I finally figured out the problem. I was working out like a beast but my eating habits were still bad. I was eating better but still eating mostly junk. Being a college student, I could no longer afford a gym membership or a trainer, so I started researching how to eat to lose weight and I also took some nutrition classes. Through my research, I learned about counting macros (protein, fat, and carbohydrates). After doing this, it all started making sense. I have a degree in Chemistry and in my classes I learned all about macronutrients, their chemical components, and their chemical effects on the body; but I never thought to apply it in real life to lose weight until now!
I then started to construct a meal plan and reconstruct my workout plan. I figured out how to calculate my macros correctly and I tailored my workout plan to be done without a gym membership. As far as my eating habits, I started to incorporate more vegetables, lean proteins, and complex carbs. I made sure I ate my correct number of macros everyday. I only allowed myself one to two cheat meals a week. My new workout plan was mainly body weight HIIT exercises mixed with plyometric exercises. In the morning I would do some type of cardio circuit I created and in the afternoon I would go to the park and do a boot camp styled workout. As time passed, I started to slowly acquire more workout equipment and was able to create my own home gym. Once I got my new plan in order I started losing weight again. During weight loss you should expect to hit plateaus as your body gets use to what you are doing. Every now and then you have to shock your body with something new in order to get the progress moving in the right direction again.
After losing another 20 pounds I hit another plateau. I knew I had to change up something, so I started to research Intermittent Fasting and Fasted cardio/workouts. This seemed to do the trick and I was able to lose an additional 22 pounds. So far I have lost 62 pounds and I currently weight 190 pounds. My goal weight is 170 so I still have a little way to go. The thing that has helped me most throughout my journey is posting on social media. Making my journey public has held me accountable and has helped me stay consistent. By sharing my story on my social media platforms, I have been able to start my own business, JessFit, where I am able to assist individuals on their own weight loss journey. I make custom meal plans, workout plans, and host monthly online weight loss challenges and offer cash prizes. The best advice I can give anyone on this life long journey is to never give up. There will be times when you hit a plateau, but instead of giving up this is when you push the hardest. No one is perfect, if you fall just get back up and keep pushing! You can do this!
