Im So Proud of How Far Ive Come: How One Woman Lost 150 Pounds

Before: 350 pounds 
After: 198 pounds

The Lifestyle
Alexa Rae Liccio, now 22, has always struggled with her weight; when she entered high school, she weighed 240 pounds. Even though she stayed active by playing soccer and tennis, her hectic schedule and hour-long commute from her home in southern New Jersey to her school in Center City, Pennsylvania, made it difficult for her to establish a healthy eating schedule. She says that she would eat breakfast occasionally, have a small lunch, go to practice, and then eat a large, unhealthy meal for dinner every night. "Whatever was around, I would eat," she says. Alexa's family also owns several Italian restaurants and would often eat dinner together late at night, after most of the customers had eaten. Some of her favorite meals were chicken Parmesan and dishes made with lots of sauce and cheese. By the time she started her freshman year of college in 2011, Alexa weighed 350 pounds.

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The Change
Her dad, who had lost 100 pounds, often encouraged Alexa to try losing weight—but it wasn't until she went to her doctor's office in January 2011 that she realized she needed to make a change. Alexa's doctor told her that if she didn't lose weight, she was going to struggle with getting pregnant down the road—and significantly shorten her life. In that moment, Alexa decided that enough was enough. "I just thought, 'You have one life and one body, so do something good with it instead of harming it,'" she says.

Although she didn't follow a formal diet plan, Alexa started her weight-loss journey by making sure to eat at least three healthy meals a day (instead of one giant meal). She also began cooking her meals for the week on Sunday nights so she couldn't use time as an excuse for eating poorly.

Rather than completely abandoning her favorite meals, Alexa looked for healthier versions of them. To replace her favorite Italian dishes, she started making zucchini pasta in a sauce made with olive oil, water, and fresh tomatoes. She said this was helpful since she realized it was difficult for her to control her portion sizes—especially with Italian food. Alexa even cut out alcohol for a short period. It was challenging for a college student, but Alexa says it was worth it.

MORE: 3 Simple Ways to Make Zucchini Pasta

While her eating plan was going well, Alexa still felt intimidated by the idea of exercising. "I was scared of going to the gym because I thought people would make fun of me," she says. So she enlisted her sister as her official gym buddy, which helped keep her motivated. Alexa started out by doing 45 minutes to an hour of cardio on the treadmill, stationary bike, and elliptical. Eventually, she and her sister started taking fitness classes like Zumba and boot camp to prevent her weight loss from plateauing. She says she especially loves these classes because they bring out her competitive side. "When I'm in a class, I'm always trying to push myself to really work hard and not slack off," she says. In December 2013, Alexa graduated with a degree from the Art Institute of Philadelphia—and when she walked across the stage, she weighed 198 pounds.

The Reward
Alexa says her biggest reward for losing 150 pounds is her newfound self-confidence. "I go out dancing with my girlfriends and have a more carefree spirit," she says. On top of that, she says that it's amazing be able to keep up with her sister on runs. (Alexa can now run a 10-minute mile, compared to the 20-minute miles she used to run when she first started out.)

Alexa appreciates what her body is capable of and how mentally tough she has had to be to get to her current weight. "I was okay with myself before I lost weight, but now I'm proud of my determination and willpower," she says. "I like seeing how I've morphed as a person."

Alexa's Tips
Get a workout buddy. "Bringing my sister with me to the gym helped me actually go to the gym. She made sure we went on the days we planned, and I wouldn't call her to cancel because that would be like saying, 'I want to lose weight, but I'm not doing anything about it.'"

It's okay to go out with friends. "Going out while trying to lose weight was one the most challenging things I dealt with, but it’s important to remember that you can't be too strict. Just make sure you're making the healthiest choices, like ordering grilled or baked foods instead of fried. I will order an appetizer instead of an entrée, and I don't drink any cocktails with juice or added sugars."

Eat on a schedule. "Eating healthy meals and snacks throughout the day helped me lose weight because before I did that, I would be starving and then eat a huge meal of fries and a chicken sandwich and a soda or iced tea. I like eating snacks like cucumbers, celery, cherries, and apples."

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