Mara’s Success Story

Mara lost 77 lb with YAZIO
-77 lb
Before
After

I never really saw myself as overweight and knew, when something didn't change, my kids wouldn't have much of a mother.

Mara, 32
Goal: Lose Weight
Before

234 lb

After

157 lb

Height

5 ft 7 in


Instagram

What do you find most difficult about reaching your goal?

Giving up my favorite food

Incorporating exercise into my daily routine

Feeling like I can't indulge anymore

Staying motivated when progress slows

Keeping an eye on my calories and nutrients

Overview

Why did you want to lose weight?

Since I've had problems with my weight since I was a kid and never learned to eat "proper" food, I became an emotional eater over the years and, after giving birth to my third child, starting stuffing my face with anything I could find. My back hurt when I would sit too long and I developed a real hunchback. Horsing around with the kids was out of the question!

"One year offers you 365 opportunities. Use every single one of them."

I couldn't keep living like that and decided I had to do it right this time. Of course, there were some failed diets along the way, from cabbage soup to the "Just Eat Half" diet. Unfortunately, they weren't sustainable. My husband showed me a picture from the previous summer- me at the pool in a bathing suit. That was like a slap in the face. I never really saw myself as overweight and knew, when something didn't change, my kids wouldn't have much of a mother.

What did you want to accomplish on your journey?

I wrote my weight-loss goal down in a small notebook and wanted to get down to 165 lb. At that time, I didn't have any other goals because it already sounded so unrealistic to be able to lose so much weight. Currently, I'd like to get down to between 145–150 lb so that I'll be in a "normal" range for my BMI. The rationale was always to be a fit and agile mother for my kids, to live without pain and to stop being the "fattest" person in the room.

How did you reach your goals?

I started counting calories. It finally helped me learned what it means to eat normally, which foods are actually filling, and how many carbs or how much protein something has. I signed up for the gym and started working out 3 times per week. This helped me discover my true passion- strength training. Sessions increased in length, I started seeing results and, with that, my motivation grew.


Mara’s Tips

Keep going, even if you hit a plateau.
Listen to your body and how you're feeling.
Don't starve yourself. Losing weight doesn't mean eating too little, it means eating right.

My husband has accompanied me on this journey and has been a great support system. It allowed me to easily integrate my weight loss into my everyday routine. First thing in the morning, we go on a long walk with the little ones and our dog for a little fresh air. Thanks to my new fitness regime, it's not a hassle anymore. Instead, it's a morning ritual.

How did YAZIO help you?

Mara lost 77 lb, her success story

In terms of nutrients, YAZIO has helped me learn what I should pay attention to. I keep a close eye on my protein intake, which I always have a good overview of in the app. If I'm out of ideas, I can always find good recipes with few ingredients in the app that I can prepare with the kids. My husband is also impressed by the recipes. Even if he's always skeptical at first, he likes them in the end. The app is easy to use, so much so that I can quickly check if a food is suitable for me or not while I'm shopping. With the barcode scanner, this is no problem.

Did you have setbacks?

There will always be days when I doubt myself or my mind can't quite keep up. When I hit 182 lb and at 165 lb, there were long periods of time I didn't lose any weight. You start to overthink things. But in the end, my discipline paid off and I kept making progress.

Thanks to the app, I always had control over everything that I was eating and therefore, compared to previous weight-loss attempts, didn't have to face any setbacks.


Mara’s Favorite Recipes

Vegan Brownies
PRO
Vegan Brownies
Greek Yogurt & Blueberry Soufflé
PRO
Greek Yogurt & Blueberry Soufflé
Banana Bread
PRO
Banana Bread
Breakfast Pita
PRO
Breakfast Pita

What advice do you have for other users?

Set small milestones. This will help keep you motivated and you won't be disappointed as quickly when things aren't going as fast as you'd like. Weight loss takes time and you have to allow yourself that time. Patience and discipline are the be-all and end-all. Even when times get tough, it is always worth it in the end. Reward yourself with a new outfit, running shoes or something that makes you happy when you accomplish small goals. For me, that reward was always new sport pants. That gave me extra motivation.

What are your future goals?

I would like to get down to a normal weight between 145 and 150 lb. I feel very comfortable with myself right now. I would like to improve my athletic skills and continue training. I'm currently working towards a trainer certification and am training to compete in a powerlifting competition. Thanks to my weight-loss journey, I've found a passion that I don't want to miss out on.

Why do you want to tell your story?

Especially for us moms, it's important to know that it is possible, even with kids. Even as an adult, you can learn to eat properly. Don't lose hope, it's never too late to start.

It's important for me that my story serves as motivation for others. Even if it helps just one person to change something, then my journey has already paid off twice as much.

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