How I Lost 100 Pounds

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Hi, my name is Rochelle and I’m an emotional over eater! Okay, now that we’ve got that out of the way, I’d also like to say this: I learned to overcome and manage my disordered eating patterns, and by doing so, I lost 100 pounds. Can I get an Amen?! 

One of the questions people always ask me is, HOW I did it? Well, it’s simple really. Move more; eat less. That doesn’t equate to starving yourself. It means you have to be in a slight caloric deficit, meaning you are taking in less calories than you are putting out. An easy way to do this is by using an app, such as MyFitnessPal, to help you track how many calories you are eating. That is the first step to understanding proper nutrition to fuel your body and help you reach your goals. 

Another question I often get is how did I stay motivated, and how do I STILL stay motivated 10 years AFTER losing the weight? I’ve had two babies, and I’m in better shape now than I have ever been. The truth is this: motivation will come and go. You have to find your reason WHY you want to live a healthier lifestyle, and it needs to be strong.

Maybe you have an event coming up that you want to look and feel your best for. But what happens after that? You have to dig deep and finder a bigger reason WHY. My reason was that I wanted to be a mom. I wanted to have a family and be around long enough to see my kids have babies of their own. Your reason can be as simple as that. Find your reason WHY and write it down somewhere. Refer back to it when you lose motivation. 

Now comes the exercise piece. I mentioned earlier, move more, eat less, right? I started off doing this by simply going for walks around the neighborhood and taking the stairs at the mall instead of the escalator. In other words, I got my step count up! I parked my car farther away from the entrance at the grocery store, and when I felt comfortable enough, I joined a gym.

So how should or could YOU move more? Especially here in AZ now that it’s the summer time?

I don’t know about you, but all I want to do in 110 degree weather is float in my pool and sip on some ice cold sangria. So here is what I suggest: use your pool for exercise. Set a timer and swim laps for 10-15 mins. If you don’t have a pool yourself, join your local YMCA or a gym that does. Get out and swim 3-4 times a week.You can also use recreational activities such as water skiing or kayaking as a form of exercise. Head out to the lake with your family on the weekends and enjoy the water. You could also try a family friendly hike, although you definitely do not want to be outside when it is the hottest part of the day. If you choose to do this, I suggest going early in the morning before the sun comes up. As a reminder, don’t get caught up in the idea that you have to exercise for a certain amount of time.

Something is always better than nothing. 

I also suggest this simple body weight routine that you can not only do in the comfort of your own home, but that you can do anytime, anywhere, like say, on vacation, perhaps? Summer time is usually the time when the kids are out of school and we take family vacations to escape this awful heat, so don’t let vacation stall your progress. How I lost 100 Pounds | East Valley Moms BlogThese exercises can be done in a hotel gym, your hotel room, or at an airbnb. Do these activities 2-3 times a week and BAM you’re moving more! If these exercises become too easy, find things around your house to use as added weight, like gallon water jugs or use your kids. I use my daughter for added weight when I am doing squats. 

Last, but certainly not least, comes accountability. Find someone who will hold you accountable. Grab a friend and meet at the gym or the pool and work out together. You are way more likely to follow through with your workout if you have someone counting on you to be there. Go check out a spin or yoga class. Spin classes are often times held in a very cold and dark room which is awesome for those hot and sweaty summer days!  Grab your girlfriend and try some HIIT classes at your local gym. I promise you, you will quickly begin to reap the benefits of a more active lifestyle.

If you have the means to, hire a coach or a personal trainer. They are life changing! I hired a personal trainer early on in my fitness journey who changed my life forever. He taught me the basics of strength training and how important nutrition is, and ignited that fire within me to pursue my passion and become a certified personal trainer myself. 

So, let’s recap my three main points: 1- move more, eat less, 2- find your WHY, 3- find someone to help hold you accountable. BUT also please know this mama: your body is perfect the way that it is. I don’t offer these suggestions to you to help you lose weight, unless you truly want to. I offer these to you to help you FEEL your best. When we take care of ourselves, we are able to take care of others better. Us moms are the President of ALL The Things. That is our official title. Yep. I may have just made that up, but it’s the truth. So let’s support one another and encourage each other to live our healthiest life!

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