Weight Loss Stories – Liz Lost 47 Pounds and 18 Inches

Name: Liz
Age: 26
Family Status: Single
Occupation: Executive Assistant (HR & Operations)
Hometown: Syracuse, New York
Pounds or Inches Lost: I have lost 47 pounds (so far) and over 18″ off my waist!
Height: 4’11”
Waist: 35″
Starting Weight: 249 pounds
Current Weight: 202 pounds

Liz’s Weight Loss Story!

When did you become unhappy with your weight?
I’ve always been unhappy with my weight. I’ve always been a chunky kid and being picked on is an understatement. Everything from nasty letters, to nicknames, to Slim Fast under my windshield wipers. I’ve seen it all.

What made you decide to lose weight?
I hit my highest weight in 2005 and attempted Weight Watchers. Unable to achieve my initial weight loss goal of 25 pounds, I gave up after three months having lost only 18 pounds. I ballooned back up gradually, once again hitting my highest weight in the summer of 2009 after going through a very emotionally draining and stressful breakup. Having constant anxiety attacks, trying to balance work and the emotional drain of what I was going through, I once again threw any concept of being healthy out the window and found living on drive-thru meals for breakfast, lunch, dinner and an occasional late night snack, a norm.

Around Thanksgiving, I became incredibly depressed and couldn’t even stand to look at myself in the mirror anymore. I had so much going for me, yet I had no energy to actually enjoy my life. Going Christmas shopping seemed like more of a chore than fun, because I could hardly drag myself through one floor of the mall without feeling out of breath and exhausted. I went to Seneca Mall one night after work to get my nails done, then ran into Big Lots because quite frankly, I’m addicted to buying little decorations for my apartment. When I walked out of the store, I looked over at the gym. Here it was, at this time, the middle of December, practically a blizzard out, and there were tons of people going in and out of Aspen’s doors. I looked at myself in the reflection of the store window and decided right then and there that I was going to buy myself a Christmas present. A lifestyle change.

What were the most important changes you made to lose weight?
I hired a personal trainer because I finally admitted that I needed help. I took advantage of my two free training sessions, and then decided to take my bonus and spend it on a package of more sessions. I met with my new trainer two times every week, and he not only encouraged me to keep going in terms of the exercise, but also taught me a lot about nutrition through our conversations. He made me finally understand how losing weight works, and to not get discouraged like in the past when I don’t lose anything or even gain weight, and he forbid me from weighing myself every week.

Measurements were done every 6 weeks. Between the results of seeing inches literally disappear and seeing myself fit into smaller clothes gradually, I realized that I was really doing it. I was really making progress! Every pound that I’ve lost has meant SO much to me, because I’ve never been able to do this before. I have grown to love walking, and believe it or not, shopping for clothes! I’ve literally gone from plus size to petites, and it feels AMAZING. From feeling like I was going to die after 10 minutes at 2.0 on the treadmill, to being able to walk 9 miles through Washington DC this weekend and LOVING it. I am happier than I’ve ever been.

What was most challenging about losing weight?
Changing my eating habits and learning to cook at home. I go away on most weekends, so groceries seem like more of a waste, but I’ve gotten used to taking leftovers for lunches to use things up, and my friends and family have kept me motivated to stay in the gym.

How long did it take you to start to see results?
I dropped 7 pounds my first week.

How long did it take for you to reach your current weight?
I herniated a disc in my lower spine in May and was just released to go back to the gym this past month. I had lost 32 pounds by that time and I had to start seeing specialists for my back in May. I have dropped down to 47 pounds lost since then just from eating right and staying as active as I can by walking, etc. Just no weight lifting since then. So, it took me 9 months total to lose the weight.

How long have you maintained your weight loss and how do you do it?
I still want to lose another 30 pounds.

How has your life changed now that you’ve lost weight?
I am so much happier now. I can go do things with friends and be active and not out of breath. I can walk through big cities with no issues and see things I wouldn’t normally see or if I did, certainly wouldn’t have enjoyed doing.

How did ShapeFit help you reach your weight loss goals?
When I first started my journey, I visited ShapeFit.com and found reading other people’s journeys very inspiring. Now that I’ve lost almost 50 pounds, I want to be another voice to help show young women that it IS possible to lose weight without any fancy pills or surgery. Anyone can lose weight by just eating right and being motivated.

Liz’s Weight Loss Tips!

Weight Loss Tip #1:
Tell everyone you know about your decision to change your lifestyle. They will hold you accountable and motivated.

Weight Loss Tip #2:
Eat numerous small meals throughout the day. Protein shakes are GREAT with skim milk after the gym.

Weight Loss Tip #3:
Do as much weight training as you can and hit the weights hard. Muscle burns calories all day, where cardio only burns calories for about an hour or so after you’re done working out.

Weight Loss Tip #4:
Take a lot of pictures. Watching yourself literally shrink is amazing!

Weight Loss Tip #5:
Don’t weigh yourself! Pound for pound, fat takes up more volume, or space, than muscle. Judge your progress by how clothes fit and by actual measurements done every 6 weeks.

Liz’s Weight Loss Eating Plan!

Breakfast:
1 egg scrambled, cooked with fat-free olive oil cooking spray. 1 slice of Canadian bacon. 1 slice of whole wheat toast with peanut butter or 2 slices of whole wheat bread with peanut butter and/or a bowl of plain cereal with 1 packet of splenda to sweeten it.

Lunch:
Turkey sandwich with carrot sticks, fat-free yogurt and grapes or another fruit. Or, leftovers from dinner the night before. SmartOne meals are awesome and they are a great thing to keep in the freezer!

Dinner:
I eat a lot of beef (97% lean), goulash with whole wheat pasta is great, or tacos with fat-free cheese, whole wheat pasta with meatballs and homemade sauce, chili. The list goes on and on.

Snacks or Mini Meals:
I always keep bananas in the house. I also like to keep grapes (sweet) and fat-free cheese around. Grilled cheese with fat-free cheese and whole wheat bread is good if you’re not super hungry. Add tomato soup with skim milk and you’ve got a great winter comfort meal.

Liz’s Weight Loss Workouts!

Weight Training:
Upper body one day, lower body one day and cardio for about 30 minutes after each weight training session. At least one additional day for an hour of just cardio.

Cardiovascular:
Treadmill is what I did. Up and down random hill training speeds with different inclines. It really gets your heart beating!

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