I wanted to have some support when it got challenging. It wasn’t until I started working with a coach by my side, who provided me with a sense of accountability, encouragement, and motivation, that realized how much I needed to get my sh*t together and finally lose the weight. This was key to helping me transform my body. And slowly but surely, I lost weight. One pound turned into 10 pounds, which eventually turned into 50 pounds.
The main way I watch my food intake, while still consuming foods I actually enjoy, is by tracking macronutrients (also commonly known as IIFYM, or “if it fits your macros”). My coach calculated my macros for me and held me accountable for tracking my macros accurately and hitting them as closely as I could on a regular basis. We checked in once a week via email, and via FaceTime when I needed more support.
Counting macros gives me the freedom to enjoy a style of eating that works for me and my body. This is an easy and sustainable way of eating for my lifestyle. I need my diet to fit my lifestyle—not the other way around.
When I started lifting weights, a lot of changes happened. As I began to regularly strength train, I started to value performance gains over appearance gains. I used to measure success by the amount of weight I lost. I cared about the scale. But with my increased physical strength also came increased mental endurance, power, resilience, and a boost in confidence. Lifting weights helped me fall in love with myself, with my body, and what my body can do, rather than its appearance or numbers on the scale.
I’ve lost 50-plus pounds. It took me a few to lose it, and I’ve kept it off for five years and counting.
My transformation changed so much about me. I fell in love with lifting. When I started lifting with performance-based goals in mind, my mindset changed. I learned to push mental and physical boundaries. I changed the words “I can’t” in my head to “I’ll try.” As I lifted heavier weights, I got stronger in the gym, but my strength outside of the gym grew as well. The result: I am a strong, confident woman, inside and out.
