-16 lb
Before
After
Why did you want to lose weight?
The catalyst for my weight-loss journey my a defining moment in my relationship at the time, one in which my self-confidence really suffered. I couldn't look at myself in the mirror anymore and thought it was awful that I just kept putting on weight.
"What you accomplish today becomes a bridge between who you are now and who you want to be."
Eventually, I ended the relationship and found my way back to myself. I downloaded YAZIO, started to eat more consciously and started dealing with myself and my body.
What did you want to accomplish on your journey?
My main goal through my weight loss was to finally feel comfortable in my own skin and to love myself again. I was hiding myself in baggy clothes and hated pictures of myself. I really wanted to change that so I could wear what I wanted to without feeling bad about myself and start feeling happier again. Of course, my health was also important to me. I wanted to finally get into shape and not end up exhausted on the couch after climbing just a few stairs.
How did you reach your goals?
The way I achieved my goal was actually quite simple. During my first weight-loss attempt, I just started counting calories and eating what the app calculated for me. I also worked out four to five times a week. When I started, I didn't really know what it took to lose weight sustainably. Today, I know that a lot of cardio and little food doesn't lead to success.
Anna’s Tips
Don't set your goals too high at the beginning.
Take time to cook and learn about food.
Find foods that you like and that are healthy and filling.
Look for alternatives to unhealthy foods.
At the beginning of the year, I started to introduce my routines again. I walked more, cooked with fresh ingredients, didn't drink alcohol and started strength training. I started with intermittent fasting, had a daily goal of 10,000 steps, and regularly worked out without stressing myself or wanting to see fast results.
Vegetables are at the top of my meal plan as well as protein-rich foods and healthy fats, such as nuts or salmon. I've reduced my carb intake. Every Saturday, I treat myself to something I really want, like pizza or some pasta. Exercise has also become my biggest passion, especially strength training. Not only does it teach you discipline, but also strength—the strength to keep going. These days, I go to the gym six days a week and have one rest day.
How did YAZIO help you?
YAZIO saved me. With YAZIO, you learn the relationship between nutritional values and calories. I, too, misjudged a lot of foods. Everyone knows the situation where they say to themselves, "But I didn't even eat that much." If you log everything with the app, you'll get a shock from a lot of so-called healthy foods that actually contain lots of calories and hidden sugars.
Did you have setbacks?
I had some setbacks at the start of Corona time. At first, I could still motivate myself with home workouts and jogging. But at some point, I hit a low point and had neither the desire to go for a walk nor the motivation to work out at home. So, I started gaining weight again, wasn't exercising and deleted the app from my phone.
Today, I'm happy to have the app as a support system again. When I started with the app again, it took me a while to decide, but I ended up going with the PRO version and never want to go without it again. The recipes are fantastic!
What advice do you have for other users?
Start small and don't aim to high. A lot of users want to lose as much weight as possible in the shortest amount of time. To be honest, I was one of those people, but I quickly realized that doesn't get you where you want to be.
Patience and discipline are the decisive factors. Take your time, be patient, take pictures you can compare with other pictures. This way, you can see step by step that you're headed in the right direction.
What are your future goals?
I want to continue working on myself, continue finding healthy alternatives and eating healthily so I don't end up taking steps backwards again. My main goal isn't to keep losing weight but to reduce my body fat percentage and build muscle. This has worked great so far and I'm confident I'll keep succeeding.
Why do you want to tell your story?
I want to share my story because I know how hard it is at the beginning; how uncomfortable it feels when your pants don't fit anymore and you don't want to look at yourself in the mirror anymore.
The most important thing is to begin, to start your journey step by step. Everyone can get closer to their goals. You just have to be patient and keep your eye on the prize!
