Why did you want to lose weight?
I was suffering from intracranial hypertension. I had to have monthly lumber punctures to ease the pressure in my skull and I was facing the very real possibility that I would lose my sight if nothing changed.
If you had seven beautiful roses and one of them died, you wouldn't throw the other six still beautiful roses away. Treat your weakness in the same way. If you fail one day, brush yourself off and try again tomorrow.
What did you want to accomplish on your journey?
My main goal was to improve my health and increase the likelihood of being around long enough to see my children grow up.
How did you reach your goals?
I didn't follow any particular diet. I just tried to make healthier choices whenever possible. I went to the gym every day to walk on the treadmill. I started off just about able to walk a half a mile in 20 minutes and now I walk 3.5 to 4 miles in around 70 minutes.
Melanie’s Tips
- Don't give up! You may not see progress immediately but consistently being in a calorie deficit will result in weight loss.
- Do it for you and nobody else.
- Don't be afraid of having an off day or week. Don't give everything up because of one off day.
I did seem to plateau a few times and my way of kickstarting my weight loss again was to have a couple of days off from calorie counting and fasting. As soon as those days were over, I got right back to it as dedicated as ever.
Melanie’s Favorite Recipes
How did Yazio help you?
Yazio allowed me the flexibility to eat what I wanted in reasonable quantities. It highlights the fact that there are no "bad" foods, but that, in conjunction with a poor overall lifestyle, any food can be responsible for weight gain.
Did you have setbacks?
I was fortunate that my setbacks were few and far between. They were also fairly easy to overcome. They were mostly caused by my getting complacent or maybe a little lazy too.
What advice do you have for other users?
Just get started, like now. Six months down the line, when you're feeling and looking better, you're going to wish you had started years ago.
What are your future goals?
I would still like to lose a few more pounds but overall I'm very happy with where I am now. My intracranial hypertension is in remission. I'm no longer on blood pressure medication or diuretics, and I look and feel better than I ever have in my adult life.
