My 3 Year Journey to Better Health and Happiness, Part 1

In August of 2021, I tipped the scales at a hefty 224 lbs., and today, I’m celebrating a much lighter 158 lbs.! 🎉 Here’s a peek into my journey of transforming not just my weight, but my overall health, relationships, and happiness.

Now, let me be honest: my road to success wasn’t exactly a straight line. Think of it more like a winding road with a few potholes and unexpected detours! But through it all, I kept reminding myself of why I wanted to improve my health, and adopting a long-term mindset helped me reach some pretty amazing milestones.

My Weighty History

Believe it or not, I’ve hit the 224 lbs. mark four times in my life. Not my proudest achievement, but hey, it’s part of my story! During my first marriage, I was so blissfully in love that as I transitioned out of the military and into civilian life, I found myself indulging a bit too much. One day, I woke up, and—surprise!—I had gained 50 lbs. in just a year. After five years of hard work, I managed to get back down to a manageable 160 lbs. by diving into my passion for teaching group fitness classes, becoming a personal trainer, and making better food choices.

The Pregnancy Pounds

The second and third times I hit 224 lbs. were during my pregnancies. While I certainly didn’t plan on gaining that much, it happened. With my first child, I bounced back to 160 lbs. within three months, but with my daughter, it took about a year and a half of dedicated effort. By 2010, I was in the best shape of my life—motivated by the end of my second marriage—only to find myself increasing my alcohol consumption at that time.

The Real Challenge: Parenting

Raising my two wonderful children has been the hardest yet most rewarding job I’ve ever had. I feel incredibly fortunate that they’ve turned out to be decent, hard-working, and mostly kind individuals, even if I can’t recall all the nitty-gritty details of their upbringing! Balancing a full-time job while shuttling them to school and sports, followed by a few drinks to unwind, became my routine for several years. Thankfully, my job was in health and fitness, allowing me to work out regularly, but from 2012 to 2021, the weight crept back on. By August 2021, after the COVID rollercoaster, I found myself back at that familiar 224 lbs. and ready for a significant change.

Finding My Groove

One thing I want to emphasize is my love for working out. By 2021, I had nearly 20 years of consistent fitness under my belt. Even while gaining weight, I was still sneaking in at least 30 minutes of workouts most days, whether it was strength training, kickboxing, or yoga. I recognize how lucky I am to enjoy fitness; not everyone shares that enthusiasm. My biggest struggle, however, has been—and likely will always be—food. I have a sweet tooth that’s hard to tame, and let’s just say my love for beer, whiskey, and diet soda has been a bit too strong!

My 2021 Game Plan

So, what did I do first in August 2021? I jumped on the keto bandwagon! I cut out carbs and lost 10 lbs. in a couple of months, but by Thanksgiving, my motivation took a holiday too. It wasn’t until after the Super Bowl in 2022 that I re-engaged, weighing in at 214 lbs. and realizing that keto wasn’t my cup of tea. Instead, I decided to eat less and track my calories in a daily journal. At 49 years old, the weight was coming off at a snail’s pace. After two dedicated months, I celebrated a grand total of 2 additional lbs. lost. 🎈

A friend recommended an audiobook called "Mindful Drinking" by Rosamund Dean, which offered a reasonable approach to moderating alcohol—and, as a bonus, hinted at potential weight loss! So, on April 10, 2022, I embarked on my first 40-day break from alcohol (the book recommends 28 days, but I had an upcoming vacation and decided to extend mine all the way up to departure day). During that time, I lost 5 lbs., bringing me down to the 207 range. Over the next five months, I returned to drinking, aiming for no more than nine drinks per week (which proved to be a challenge, as I often found myself at around 11). I was still tracking my calories, not following any specific diet plan, but I did increase my workout intensity. By October 2022, I had hit 199 lbs.!

The Sweet Success

In October 2022, I decided to take a 30-day break from sugar—specifically, desserts. To my surprise, I lost 7 lbs in just one month! I rolled out of my no-sugar month into a European vacation and the holiday season, landing at 197 lbs by the year’s end. After 16 months of ups and downs, I had lost a total of 26 lbs. Not earth-shattering, but hey, progress is progress! Stay tuned for more updates soon!