How I Lost 40 Pounds (And Kept it Off)

I’ve always been overweight as I was growing up, and I tried many, MANY diet programs which helped me lose some weight, but I was never able to maintain it, and kept gaining it all over again.

During my college years, I really felt like my extra weight was affecting me physically (I couldn’t climb up flights of stairs without stopping to take a breath along the way) and mentally (I wasn’t able to stop thinking about it and it was giving me low self-esteem).

So I came back home one day, got a piece of paper, and wrote all the reasons why I wanted to lose weight, then realized that it all boiled down to one thing: I simply wanted to become HEALTHY.

It’s not to fit into that dress, or impress the people around me, or love myself. The dress should fit me, the people around me should be impressed by what I look like from the inside, and I love myself regardless of that number on the scale.

Once I started approaching my weight loss journey from this perspective, I was completely transformed.  It became a lifestyle for me, and not a temporary “get-thin-quick” program.

Here are the changes I made, and mind you, it took me a year to lose this weight slowly and gradually, but I was able to sustain it until this day. And just a quick disclaimer, the below is from my own personal experience, these changes worked for me and my body, it might or might not work for you – please seek professional advice regarding your weight loss goals.

• I Am not on A Weight-loss Diet: I am on a lifestyle change – this change is long-term, and it requires my effort and patience. At times I will feel like I ate more or less than I would’ve liked, but it does not mean that I “ruined my diet”.
• I Stopped being Scared: Food is not scary – it’s actually our means of survival, fills us up with nutrients, and lifts our mood. I will not gain weight overnight from eating a chocolate bar or a bag of chips. What’s important is to consider “less healthy” options as occasional treats rather than a daily meal, but never completely deprive myself of them. I realized that when I deprived myself from certain foods or labelled them as “scary”, I was craving them more and binge-eating them when I got the chance to.
• Move it Move it: I had a million excuses to avoid workouts, I used to dread going to the gym and running on that treadmill for what seemed to be an eternity. So I chose a physical activity that I actually enjoyed, and enrolled in it. For me, it was Zumba and Pilates – the amount of exhilaration and happiness that I felt while dancing my heart out and stretching was amazing! I impatiently waited for my next class during the week. You can pick any activity that you like, be it Tennis, Padel, Jogging, Basketball, Hiking… you name it! And if you don’t have anything specific in mind, you can do trials for different classes at your local fitness center, and eventually decide on the ones you like the most.
• Always (Most of the Time) Prepared: I prepare my meals and snacks ahead of time to avoid binge-eating on anything in my pantry/fridge when I become hungry. I also carry healthy snacks in my purse to avoid eating fast food as I go about my day. If I’m dining out, I make sure to check the restaurant menu beforehand so that I know exactly what I will order, instead of making an impulsive decision to choose heavy meals that will make me feel exhausted afterwards. Of course, this may not always be the case and sometimes I don’t get the chance to be prepared, but I try to be as consistent as possible with this.
• Making Time: Performing my physical activity and preparing my healthy meals/snacks is not something that I do IF I have the time. I MAKE time. I treat my fitness classes the same way I would treat an important appointment, and plan accordingly.
• I Love What I Eat: I will never eat a bland chicken breast with a side of tasteless greens – I like to enjoy my food and will make sure I do. I always try to pick out healthy foods that I actually like and make them flavorful: Tuna avocado sandwiches, juicy chicken breasts with seasoned rice and my favorite veggies, delicious breakfast wraps, etc…
• HealthIFYING my Meals: I like fried chicken? I cook it in the air fryer/oven instead of deep-frying it! I like chocolate cake? I put less sugar/unrefined sugar/natural sweeteners in my batter. There are so many simple swaps that make a big difference in the calorie count.
• Smart About it: I eat high volume-low calorie food! Strawberries, popcorn, lupin beans, edamame, salad greens are some examples. These will make me feel like I’m eating a lot and give me a sense of fullness without sacrificing my calorie goals during the day.
• I EAT (not drink) my Meals: I used to put 5 cubes of sugar in my coffee/tea and top them with all sorts of syrups/cream. Now, I get my beverage without any added sugar, and enjoy it with a small slice of cake/pastry, which most of the time I try to make at home to control the ingredients. This makes me feel full for longer and it feels like I had an actual snack.
• Saying NO: I can still recall all the times I felt the need to finish a huge plate of food just because I didn’t want it to be thrown away or I felt shy in front of guests, etc.. I learned to say no to myself and stop when I am full, instead of eating to the point where I am uncomfortable. I can wrap the remaining food for takeaway and enjoy it whenever I am hungry again.

These are just some of the things that worked for me, but the most important of all is that I am focused on the reason I want to stay in shape, which is to be as healthy and fit as possible, for myself and for the people I love. I want to feel lighter, happier, and stronger while at the same time enjoying good health and having occasional treats.

What do you do to stay in shape? Let’s brew some tea in the comments below!