Many people deal with weight issues. Overweight, anorexia, low self-esteem. These days, fashion companies and magazines present skinny women as normal plus-size women who are doing everything to lose weight. So here’s one weight loss story I think you should all read about. My name is Tiffany, and this is how I lost 140lb.
Interviewing Tiffany
I came across Tiffany at a Facebook group called “My 383lb Weight loss story” and asked if she is willing to share her amazing weight loss story with The Women Team’s readers. I’m thrilled she agreed.
So, Tell us a bit about yourself…
My name is Tiffany Walker and I am 31 years old. I have lost 140lbs in about 10 months. I started my “journey” in June 2014 and hit my goal weight in March, 2015.
My heaviest recorded weight was 275lbs. I would always stand backwards on the scale and never wanted to know my weight when visiting the doctors office. I avoided seeing the number for approximately 5 years as I was gaining weight. When I decided to make a commitment to my health and lose weight is when I finally faced the number on the scale.
How many times did you try to lose weight?
Honestly I never really tried to lose weight before, I would try to eat better for a week here or there but never made any serious commitment to weight loss before.
What was your biggest motivation to lose weight?
After having my daughter, who is my first and only child, I really started thinking a lot more seriously about my health. I was having some health issues and my doctors said that if I lost weight it would help alleviate the pain I was in, and lower my risk for the serious health conditions I was facing if I didn’t make a change.
So, ultimately my daughter was my biggest motivator. I wanted to get healthy for her, so I could be the best mom I could possibly be and set a good example for her.
My Name Is Tiffany, Can you share some details about your process?
First I met with my doctor to discuss weight loss and to make a plan. He advised that I follow a 1200 calorie diet plan and I used My Fitness Pal (MFP) to help me track my calorie intake. He also advised that I do some form of exercise at least a few times a week. I met with my doctor once a month to weigh-in, where he tracked my progress and monitored my health. My doctor was an amazing motivator for me and he was another valuable source to help hold me accountable. I also drank tons of water.
As for my exercise routine I found so many ways to increase my activity level. I started with just taking walks, then began integrating various forms of exercise in to my routine. I did water aerobics, water jogging, cardio in the gym, work outs at home, bike rides, dance parties with my daughter, and sometimes we would go rent a paddle boat for the afternoon and take it out on the lake.
My motto was, it doesn’t matter what I am doing as long as I am ACTIVE!
Another important part of my personal process that helped continually motivate me throughout my journey was being actively involved in an online FB group, called Team 383 that centres around weight loss and was inspired by Brian Flemming/Jackie Eastham’s extraordinary weight loss story. Within the group I found support, encouragement, accountability, and have made some great friends who have been through this before or were going through the process with me.
How do you keep the weight down?
After I met my goal weight and began to maintain my weight, I bought my first scale to have in my home. It was funny how I had dreaded the scale for so long, and then was so excited to buy one. I think the scale for me now is a great tool to help hold me accountable. I generally make sure that my calorie intake is in the healthy/normal range but do not track calories meticulously. If I gain a pound or two, I can take action right away before things get out of hand with exercise and/or paying a little more attention to my calorie intake.
How does it feel to be thinner? A lot of women who lost weigh still say they “think like a fat person” how do you feel?
Wow, how does it feel? Being healthy feels AMAZING!
I can do things now that I am healthy and thinner that I haven’t been able to do in such a long time. It is like you get to experience all these firsts all over again. For example, I remember about six years ago going to Cedar Point and waiting hours to ride one of their new roller coasters and then when I got into the seat, they couldn’t secure me in the seat so they had to ask me to get off the ride. That was mortifying.
My Name Is Tiffany “My weight was holding me back from living the life that I wanted”.
After losing the first 100lbs, I went on a trip to Las Vegas to visit my cousin Brittany, and together we rode the roller coaster on the top of the New York, New York. That was such a big deal for me. I knew then that I wouldn’t let my weight hold me back ever again and went on to lose the remainder of weight needed to reach my goal weight and healthy BMI.
Do I still “think like a fat person?” I hate even using the word fat to describe any person, just because I remember how words like that would make me feel but yes that mentality still lingers on in some ways. I think it takes some time for your mind to catch up with reality. The real trouble is seeing yourself, for me it took a while to really see that “thinner” person that was staring back at me in the mirror, I would still see myself the way I was before.
What advices would you give to other women fighting to lose weight?
KNOW that you have the power within yourself to change your lives. This is not impossible! All it takes is the right amount of hard work and determination. It is up to you to decide if you and your health are worth fighting for because it will be a battle, but it CAN be won, and you are worth it!
Click on “Next” page to see My name is Tiffany amazing transformation…
Previous Article9 Makeup Tutorials For Halloween Next Article Amazing Makeup Art By Tal Peleg Maya Mey Aroyo
Content writer & editor at TheWomenTeam.com
“In advertising, not to be different is virtually suicidal” – Bill Bernbach