Losing weight is never easy, and it seems like the more weight you have to lose, the harder it is to lose it.
Amanda “Mandie” Wood knows this all too well, but she wasn’t about to let the difficulty stop her. She was tired of being tired, feeling slow and unnoticed. She wanted her life back, and she wanted to feel good about herself again. She weighed 375 pounds and wore a size 28 at age 37. She knew it was now or never, and she was ready for the change.
But where should she start?
In the fall of 2015, she contacted a nutritionist to get help. The nutritionist told her she needed to do three simple things to start losing weight. It seemed easy enough, so she decided to give it a try.
She explained:
“I follow balanced macros, which for me means that I try to ensure I am getting 35 percent of my calories from carbs, 25 percent of my calories from fat, and 40 percent of my calories from protein.”
Exercise was important in the process.
If she wasn’t active, her body couldn’t burn calories, and it would take even longer for her to lose weight, even if she was counting calories. She wasn’t even sure what exercises she needed to be doing. She consulted a personal trainer and found that she actually enjoyed working out.
She continued,
“Now going to the gym is one of my favorite times of the week.”
Perhaps the most important thing she had to do to lose weight and get healthy was to find balance.
Trying to lose her goal weight of 200 pounds was an overwhelming thought, but if she set several small goals, they seemed more easily obtainable.
She added:
“Five pounds is much more manageable than the 200 pounds.”
She encourages people to simply be kind to themselves as no one is perfect, saying: “Just don’t give up.”
She also started drinking more water.
She even talked about the importance of drinking enough water on her Instagram page.
She said:
“Before I start d my weight loss journey I drank maybe 1L of water a day and never felt thirst. I have now worked my way up to about 4L of water per day and crave it all the time.
“I’ve replaced all my calorie-filled beverages with zero-calorie options, keep my body well hydrated and feel so much better! I have way less headaches, more energy, less hunger pangs, clearer skin…there are tons of benefits of staying hydrated.
“The trick for me was to find the right type of bottle – some like small ones, others large. Some with a narrow opening, some with a wide one. Find what works for you.
“This is my favorite bottle – metal so it keeps the water cool even without ice, 40oz and a wide mouth. I fill this at least 3 times a day at work and carry it with me to all my meetings! “
It wasn’t easy in the beginning, but once she got into the routine of things, it became part of her daily life.
In just two years, she managed to lose 150 pounds. She looked amazing, had more energy and self-confidence, and was happier.
She believes that if she can do it, anyone can do it, so she has shared her photos and story on social media.
She hopes to inspire other people to get healthy, too. She insists that getting started is the hardest part.
She said:
“You will have days where you want to give up, where you get off track, or where you struggle. Just don’t give up. Grant yourself grace and get back on track with your next meal or next workout.”
She is clearly an inspiration to many. Hopefully, she will continue to set obtainable goals for herself and stay healthy. If she can motivate others to do the same, even better.
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