Lose Weight > Common Sense To Lose Weight > Common Sense Article > Weight Loss Success: How a Trip to Sri Lanka Helped Me Drop 49 Pounds

Weight Loss Success: How a Trip to Sri Lanka Helped Me Drop 49 Pounds

April Restiff
Santa Monica, Calif.
Age: 36
Courtesy April Risteff April Risteff
36, 5'4"
Santa Monica, Calif.

Before: 160 lb., size 14/16
After: 111 lb., size 2/4

Total pounds lost: 49 lb.
Sizes lost: 6

I was always slim growing up, but when I was in college and my early 20s, my weight climbed to 160 pounds. I know that my typical dinner—a mixture of cream cheese, chili and shredded Cheddar served with lime tortilla chips—was largely to blame. I'm a high school teacher, and those doughnuts I ate daily in the faculty lounge didn't help. Still, it wasn't until December 2004, when I couldn't make it up the stairs at school without huffing, that I realized how far I had let myself go. And I was only 27!

RELATED: 16 Ways to Lose Weight Fast

Gym for one
When January arrived, I created a home gym, with an elliptical, a weight-lifting machine and free weights. I started slow, doing just 20 minutes of cardio a day. I also cut out processed carbs. While the weight was slow to come off (it took me six months to lose my first 8 pounds), my progress was enough to keep me moving forward.

A pivotal trip
My real turning point came when I headed to Sri Lanka over the summer to do tsunami cleanup. Seeing what little food the Sri Lankans had not only made me more aware of how blessed I was to be able to choose my food options but also convinced me to pick healthier ones. When I got home, I ditched the packaged food and ramped up my workouts. Then the weight really started falling off.

RELATED: 20 Little Ways to Drop the Pounds and Keep Them Off

By the end of 2006, I had reached my feel-great weight of 111 pounds. I've kept the weight off for eight years! My husband and I are trying for a baby, and I'm confident that I'm giving my body the right combo of nutrition and exercise to get me through pregnancy.

Tommy Garcia Secrets of a 49-Pound Loser
These little strategies helped April reclaim her high school figure. Find even more tips at health.com/weight-loss-stories.

A New Kind of Tex-Mex
I gave up cheesy dips for quinoa taco salads (quinoa, lettuce, pinto beans and avocado). Yum!

RELATED: 17 Ways to Skinny Up Your Fridge

Get Digital
There are so many great apps out there, but I really love Sworkit (free on iTunes and Google Play); it gives me tons of circuit-training options, which keeps my workouts from getting boring.

Set Small Milestones
I started with 20 minutes of cardio and increased it by five minutes a month till I made it to a full hour.

RELATED: Intense Cardio and Strength Circuit Workout

Protein + Fiber = Success
I always try to combine protein and vegetables in my meals—together they keep me feeling satiated and less like snacking.

Watch the video: 4 Fat-Blasting Jumping Exercises

Methods To Reduce Weight Weight Loss Diet Common Sense Article Exercise Guides Weight Loss Stories Belly Fat Obesity

The Pros And Cons Of Large Volume Liposuction
Many people consider liposuction the perfect way to lose weight. That
Eat Right To Prevent Being Overweight
Eat right, keep moving. You just have re
What To Do if You Are Absolutely Desperate To Lose Weight Quickly
If you are desperate to lose weight quic
Weight Loss Surgery A LastDitch Option That Saves Lives
We hear about people having weight loss surgery ? having their stomach
What You Need To Know About Garden Of Life Products
If you are keen on natural supplementation, you will have surely heard
What Are The Four Most Popular Types Of Weight Loss Surgeries?
Due to the increasing rates of obesity, more people are choosing weigh

DON'T MISS: Get Moving To Drop a Few Pounds & Enhance Your Confidence; Top Steps to Losing Fat Quickly; Liposuction side effects – the facts some people miss out; This Is Why You Are Not Losing Weight; 10 Steps to a Bikini Body; Hoodia Food Regimen Pill- Natures Cure for Weight Problems; Secret Way For You To Lose The Stomach Fat; Get A Bikini Body Before Summer Is Here; Best Healthy Diet For Weight Loss; The Best Way To Remain Healthy And Balanced With Dieting


Home	Question and Answer	Weight Loss Tips	Common Sense To Lose Weight	Weight Loss Recipes