Do you ever catch a glimpse of yourself in the mirror or look at a photo and realize the image in your head no longer matches what you see? Maybe you’re staring at a closet full of clothes that no longer fit, wondering how your body became a stranger overnight. You’re not alone. I was there too—staring down nearly a 100-pound surplus that had crept up like an uninvited guest who wouldn’t leave. My weight loss journey wasn’t a straight path; it was an obstacle course of plateaus and slip-ups. But here’s the good news: every hurdle has a hack, and every story (mine included) proves it’s possible to leap over them.
Real Weight Loss Stories: Unfolded
Deb Levine lost 55 lbs. after an unexpected discovery that she was diabetic. When her eyesight suddenly improved dramatically, her eye doctor urged her to report it to her primary care physician, suspecting diabetes or something even worse. Once diagnosed with diabetes, with her blood sugar regularly in the 200s, Deb began her quest to reclaim her health. She drank lots of water and ate small snacks several times a day, aiming for 100 calories with 10-15 grams of protein and under 15 grams of carbohydrates, spaced 2-2.5 hours apart to allow her blood sugar to stabilize. For main meals, she stuck to 5-7 ounces of lean protein and vegetables while increasing her activity. Deb shares that even walking for 5-10 minutes after a meal, often with her beloved Bernedoodle, Reggie, made a difference. Today, Deb routinely aims for 10,000 steps daily and attends Barre fitness classes three times a week.
Deb shares that one of her biggest hurdles was mindless eating. She soon realized that a handful of anything, even healthy options, could add up and derail her weight loss efforts. Deb’s hack? Eat intentionally! She learned that planning snacks and meals, and pre-planning flexible indulgences, kept her on track. Mindless grazing, regardless of how healthy the choice, was a surefire way to stall progress. To combat sweet cravings, Deb used a unique trick: eating pickles and drinking water. She told herself that if she still wanted the treat afterward, she could have it, but the tangy trick always worked!
After learning she was prediabetic and had high blood pressure, Laurie Bono began her journey to lose 53 lbs. and reclaim her health and energy. Laurie started with Zepbound. After losing 25 lbs., she began strength training, which she describes as one of the best decisions of her life. Laurie acknowledges that without her initial weight loss, she might not have had the confidence to join a strength training class. “I started using Zepbound as a tool, and in addition to vastly improving my fitness activity, I fully embraced changing my eating habits,” she says. One of her biggest challenges was the perceived pressure to drink alcohol and eat at social events, including her daughter’s recent wedding. While she didn’t feel she had a problem with alcohol, Laurie realized she felt better without it. Her strategy for handling peer pressure, like “Come on, it’s only one drink,” is to decide in advance whether she wants a cocktail, owning her decision rather than letting expectations sweep her away.
Fending off a ferocious sweet tooth was another hurdle in Laurie’s journey. Desserts were a significant factor in her initial weight gain. To tackle this, she swapped her beloved Brigham’s Ice Cream for Yasso Bars, finding a treat that satisfied cravings without undoing progress.
Awareness is key to her success: knowing her favorite ice cream is in the freezer would tempt her, but having a healthier option keeps her on track without feeling deprived.
Disclaimer
The Content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
