Summary

The author shares their personal journey of losing 75 lbs over two years through lifestyle changes, including diet, exercise, and a positive mindset.

Abstract

The article titled "How I Lost 75 LBS" is a first-hand account of the author's weight loss journey. The author begins by expressing their frustration with quick-fix weight loss solutions and the realization that their weight gain over twenty years wouldn't be reversed overnight. They emphasize the importance of understanding one's personal reasons for wanting to lose weight, which for them included feeling physically unfit and the desire to wear certain clothes. The author advocates for self-love and acceptance at every stage of the weight loss process, highlighting the body's remarkable capabilities and the need to listen to its signals. Key aspects of their transformation included developing a healthier relationship with food, incorporating enjoyable physical activities like dancing, and understanding that weight loss is not a linear process. The author stresses the importance of patience, consistency, and recognizing non-scale victories, such as losing inches or gaining stamina. They also underscore the role of water in their weight loss and overall well-being. The article concludes with the author encouraging readers to embark on their own journeys with a holistic approach to weight loss and health.

Opinions

The author believes that quick weight loss solutions are ineffective and that sustainable change requires time and effort.
They express that self-love and body appreciation are crucial at every stage of weight loss.
The author opines that one's relationship with food is essential for successful weight loss and that understanding your body's responses to different foods is key.
They suggest that finding enjoyable forms of exercise, such as dancing, can make the weight loss process more enjoyable and sustainable.
The author emphasizes that weight loss should not be measured solely by the scale, as other indicators of progress, like energy levels and physical fitness, are also important.
They advocate for the consistent consumption of water as a fundamental component of weight loss and health.
The author concludes by encouraging a comprehensive approach to weight loss, focusing on physical, mental, and emotional well-being.

How I Lost 75 LBS

215 lb — ft a strangers motorcyle that I shouldn’t have been on.

Weighing in at 215 on my Walmart scale was the last straw. Something needed to change and google was only showing me lose weight quick diets. A long list of plans were readily available at the swipe of a finger, pills were being promoted here and everywhere in between, gym memberships adverstised, and I was still not satisfied with what I found. I recall reading somewhere that it takes time to gain weight so why did I expect to lose weight almost overnight? Twenty years was how long it took for me to gain approximately 215 Ibs. It took me two years and being down 75lbs now 140 to embrace my body and finally grasp some valuable lessons I would like to impart with you today. When you decide that you want to lose weight please recognize and list the reasons why you want to pursue this feat. I’ve spoken to a plethora of men and women who’ve cited different reasons for wanting to lose weight. Here are the top two reasons people have said they want to lose weight.

1. I was being made fun of by family, friends. acquaintances, etc

2. to make ‘xyz’ jealous, mad, or to prove something to ‘xyz’

My personal reasons for wanting to lose weight were because I felt physically unfit and I was afraid if I didn’t address this issue it would come back to haunt me in an illness, or worse. Also, I wanted to look good and wear what I truly wanted to wear. Whatever your reason may be I would like to encourage you to love your body where you’re at now. You may not be at your goal weight and you might not even be prepared to start this journey but the most important step, the most radical thing you can do is love your body and all that it is right now in this moment. The human body is an extraordinary thing. Your body performs a multitude of jobs day in and out to keep you alive, to help you thrive despite factors that may attempt to keep you from doing otherwise.

Loving my body in all stages taught me to appreciate my temple. It showed me that my body goes through changes and fluctuations and that is perfectly okay.

Throughout my journey, my body changed in ways I never imagined it would. I learned to be patient with it. Rushing the process never got things to go faster. I made sure not to place my body under unnecessary pressure. I know people that get in the gym and try to work their body as though a couple of days in the gym was going to equate to losing 25 lbs overnight. Know your limits because your body will suffer greatly if you don’t. Your relationship with food is ESSENTIAL. When I first started off I didn’t know what kind of relationship that was. After weeks on weeks of observations, I realized that my relationship with food was not good whatsoever. I ate out more than I cooked, I neglected to research the ingredients in the foods I consumed so readily, I failed to eat the things that my body truly liked. I used to wonder why I used to be constantly constipated. Your body is a quiet messenger, it’ll let you know that the triple cheeseburger with fries and honey mustard sauce although delicious is something you could’ve gone without. There’s a reason your stomach was upset after that. Beef sits in your stomach days after it is consumed. It takes much longer for your body to break down meats compared to fruits and vegetables. Once again your body will clearly tell you what it likes and doesn’t like. I’m in no way saying you need to stop eating beef but I would like to reiterate that your body will send signals in a variety of forms to let you know that whatever you just ate is not liked. I EXERCISED. Just like food, moving your body is another essential part of losing weight. The reason why so many people are quick to try diets and not something as simple as walking an hour a day is because they want that get fit quick solution. I’m sorry to say but it took time for you to gain weight so expect to put in the time to lose that weight.

Dancing has got to be one of the most exciting ways that I lost a good bit of weight. I’m passionate about whining * Caribbean/ African dancing * . I recall spending hours in my room shaking some ass respectfully. Dancing made exercise fun and it made me feel more in touch with my femininity as well. If you don’t like other forms of exercise see how dancing can work for you. I started my journey around my freshman year of college. At this time I didn’t have a car so I was walking or taking the Marta places. Walking which is a low-effort exercise truly works wonders when you stay committed to doing it often. I lost a good 15lbs from walking consistently. I’d walk for an hour a day or even more and gradually I built some foot strength and lost a couple of pounds.

I didn’t begin to note change until my face started to slim down. I wanted the weight off my stomach area and it seemed as though that was the last place to slim down. What I realized was that losing weight is not linear. I lost weight here and there and finally began to lose weight off my stomach. When you go into this journey be prepared to not notice much change for months on end sometimes understanding that there is still growth occurring.

Stop checking the scale! After my initial measurements, I put the scale-out of sight after realizing this one thing.

sometimes you lose inches before you lose pounds

Have you ever weighed yourself one day and the scale said one thing and just a couple of hours later it says something different? The change may not be drastic but sometimes it’ll be two or three pounds higher than the last measurement. I realized that at times you may have lost weight, just not on the scale, maybe inches off your waist. It was then that I made myself some waist beads, the non-adjustable kind. I stopped checking my weight and started checking my waist beads for whether I sized up or down. The more weight I lost the looser the waist beads were on me. the more I gained the tighter the fit. All in all, I cut out the habit of consistently checking the scale because I started attaching my progress to numbers on a scale rather than the growth my body was undergoing. I started to notice how through exercise I had more stamina and energy. I noticed how I slept better after a day of exercise. I even realized the benefits of losing weight through my yoga practices. I felt lighter and my body felt stronger.

WATER. WATER.WATER. WATER.

I think that was pretty clear. I made sure to drink my body weight in water or as the doctor usually recommends, eight glasses of water. Your body is made up mostly of water so it’s only right to replenish by drinking more water. Water is a healer. Water detoxes and allows you to have energy to do what you need to do throughout the day. I carry a 64 oz Tal water bottle which I call multipurpose because I swear it’s big and strong enough to serve as a weapon if need be…muahahahaa. * clears throat*

In conclusion, it was a combination of things that led me to lose so much weight. I hope that you can start your journey and find yourself on the other side fulfilled and ready to start the journey to sustain your new weight and keep off the old weight.

Thank you for your support! As always much love and light.

-Haji

Link to podcast version of article:

https://open.spotify.com/episode/6VnbngvzS7e8CCo1WtJUSi?si=5KPX_kBsS1ao_91aW8ag4g