Sometimes change is necessary, but it’s generally not easy. One of my biggest life changes came in May of 2014. My exceptionally high sense of self-esteem and eternal optimism have always been an asset, except that there were times when it held me back. I liked myself the way I was, which made it extremely difficult to acknowledge a need to change without feeling depressed about being so overweight. I have never been thin, but after having children and exerting little to no effort toward exercise or good eating habits, I was undeniably obese.

On Mother’s Day, 2014, I was my usual happy self, content with being over 300 pounds. The next day, something triggered in my brain and for the first time I woke up with a desire to change, but with no idea how to do it. I looked in my fridge and honestly had no clue what to eat and zero knowledge about exercise or weight training.

As a student and working mom, my time and funds were limited. I had to come up with a plan that would fit my budget and the everyday flow of life. My goal was to be half my size within a year. As recommended, I started with Whole30, then moved to a paleo-style eating plan. I learned a lot about how my body reacts to certain foods. With eyes on the prize, I implemented an exercise plan of three cardio and three weight machine days each week, with 30-minute sessions, alternating every other day.

The combination of regular exercise and healthy eating worked well for my body.

Within a year I met my initial goal, going from a size 26 to a size 14, and losing over 100 pounds. My new goal is to be half of my initial 300 pounds.  

Losing weight can be done while remaining happy and fulfilled. You can do it on a budget and even with limited time. Spend 30 minutes a day being active, even if it’s simply doing Just Dance on the Wii (as I’ve done many times when in a rush). Buy fresh fruit and veggies in season, plan your meals, and find simple ways to adapt regular dishes to fit healthy eating. There are many resources online, and it always helps to have friends and family to cheer you on. If I can make a change for the better, so can you!

Long-Term Weight Loss Tips:

1. Make up your mind to change and stick to it.

2. Use the resources at your disposal.

3. Keep it simple.

4. Work it into your everyday life, so that healthy becomes your new norm.