-57 lb
Before
After
Why did you want to lose weight?
There were two things that triggered me to want to lose weight. The first was a time I was wearing a miniskirt at a party. Although I felt pretty good, even at 207 pounds, there were a few times throughout the night I started doubting myself because of my weight. A talk I had with a woman at the party reinforced these doubts.
"Every day is a new opportunity to accomplish something great."
I had this moment of realization and saw the size I had gotten to. I knew I wasn't super thin, but I didn't see the full extent of my weight until then.
The second event came a few weeks later when my husband proposed to me. At that moment I thought, "Wait, I don't want to get married like this. I want to fit into my dream dress. I have to change something!" From that point on, my weight-loss journey began.
What did you want to accomplish on your journey?
Before I lost the weight, I had always set my goal at 155 pounds. After I got pretty close to this weight, I adjusted my goal to 145 pounds. I also dreamed of having a firmer, more toned body. Of course, my connective tissue suffered a bit after the weight loss, but I'm working on it with full motivation.
How did you reach your goals?
I succeeded thanks to a healthy diet and exercise. I was always athletic, having danced and played tennis, but I intensified it by adding strength training, hiking and jogging.
Nadine’s Tips
My motto is: Every day is a fresh start. Even when things don't go your way, don't give up. Tomorrow is a new day!
Instead of steamed vegetables, weight-loss shakes and exercise you hate, weight loss can be about delicious food and activities you love!
Always keep your eye on the prize, whether it's an old picture of your thinner days or a dress you want to fit into some day.
When it came to eating, I didn't have any foods I forbid myself. I had pizza or chocolate every once in a while. But I kept "unhealthy" foods within limit and they were planned into my daily or weekly schedule. YAZIO really helped me with this. For a lot of products, I found healthier or lower-calorie alternatives that I could use instead. Drinking a lot of water and unsweetened tea was also essential.
How did YAZIO help you?
When it came to unhealthy foods, YAZIO really helped me stay within my calorie goal. I could plan my days much better and had a great overview of my eating habits. A lot of times, we don't notice how many calories little snacks have, and they add up. Overall, I developed a much better feeling for food. The "My Meal Plan" section of the app was a great incentive for trying new things and often inspired me to try new foods or dishes.
Did you have setbacks?
Of course, I also had times when my weight stayed the same and, no matter how consistent I was, I wasn't seeing progress. But it was important for me to keep going and things always picked up again pretty quickly. Don't give up and always keep your eye on the prize. That's what matters most.
What advice do you have for other users?
Print out pictures of yourself from times when you were thinner. Buy a dress, for example, that you want to fit into or hang pictures of people that inspire you on the fridge.
Don't get discouraged when things aren't going as quickly as you'd like. Your body knows what it's doing and does incredible things every day! Your body also has to adjust and get used to the new lifestyle. Reward yourself when you make progress and celebrate your accomplishments! Losing weight doesn't have to mean just eating steamed vegetables and drinking weight-loss shakes. On my Instagram, I post how colorful, delicious and wonderfully healthy food can be.
When it comes to exercise, it's also important you choose something you enjoy. If you have to force yourself to do it every week, you won't last long.
What are your future goals?
I definitely want to try to shed the final 6 pounds. But even if I don't, I'm still incredibly proud of myself. It's just important for me to maintain my current weight. I also want to start toning my body through strength training and help support and motivate people throughout their journeys. That's why I started a distance learning program to become a nutritionist and created my Instagram account. I know how hard it can be to get started and keep going. With support and help from others, it's much easier.
Why do you want to tell your story?
It's important for me to share my story because I want to encourage others. Losing weight isn't easy and it's not always fun. There will always be days you want to give up, but once you really understand the subject matter, you'll see how good it feels.
Everybody knows nutrition, exercise and maintaining a healthy weight are essential for good health, but we often lose sight of this, especially when we don't have any physical health restrictions yet. And we should do everything in our power to prevent them!
