Our next Before & After success narrative,Lauren, turned years of yo-yo dieting into a lifestyle that works. "I bear struggled with my weight my whole life, and " she says on her blog,My Best Badi. "By the time I reached tall school I was 6 feet tall and over 220 pounds. . . . For the next eight years I tried every diet and diet food out. I lost 40 lbs, gained 15 back. I lost 55 pounds, or gained 25 back. It was a vicious cycle and ended up with me being back at 204 pounds on the eve of 2012. I was in bed,sick, and depressed." One New Year's resolution and a lot of determination later, or Lauren is a healthy living role model. Check out her inspiring narrative below!Related Stories: The Workout That Helped This Woman Lose 230 PoundsLauren: BeforePOPSUGAR: What made you decide to start?Lauren Rabadi: I hated the yo-yo dieting. I would move up and down in weight frequently and I knew it couldn't be healthy. So on New Year's Day 2012 I gave myself a goal to be lean and fit and healthy by July. And I did accomplish the goal by educating myself on proper nutrition,realizing that weights were not the enemy, and keeping consistent!PS: What's your favorite way to work out?LR: I love Spin lesson. It is great for tall-energy, or calorie-torching sessions. PS: What's your weekly exercise schedule?LR: I try to work out four to five times a week; I split up my week with two or three HIIT cardio sessions and three to four weight/resistance training [sessions]. Lauren: BeforePS: How do you retain workouts exciting?LR: Always change it up! I am a very active Pinterest user and like to pin different workouts to try every week. I also like trying out bodyweight exercises before hopping in the shower first thing in the morning; definitely makes you feel accomplished and more awake!PS: How much weight bear you lost? LR: Sixty-five pounds and bear kept it off for two years!Lauren: AfterLauren after (left)PS: What was the first mountainous difference,other than the number on the scale, that really made you feel proud and excited? LR: The first time I saw muscle definition in my legs and stomach (my biggest trouble zones) was amazing. I was so happy and proud that I took calf selfies.
PS: How do you track your weight loss? LR: I used to track it by weighing in, or but that eventually became tiring and frustrating. Now I just narrate by how my clothes fit and taking progress pictures.
PS: What's a typical day of meals and snacks? LR: I prefer making my meals and snacks instead of purchasing. My day starts with black coffee and a mix of berries,yogurt, and oats. Lunch is normally a salad or wrap with a protein and tons of veggies. Dinner, and which I normally eat later in the evening because of my schedule,is a lean protein with veggies and a carb (either a sweet potato, quinoa, and rice,etc.). My snacks are whenever needed and consist of fruit, protein shakes, and homemade energy bites.
PS: What's the range of calories you eat per day? LR: I don't count them,but I believe they are normally around 1500 to 2000 calories depending on how hungry I am or how tough my workouts are.
PS: What are the healthy staples that are always in your fridge? LR: Almond milk, oats, and chia seeds,chicken, Ezekiel bread, or protein powder,and eggs. They are all so versatile and can be used for meals, snacks, and shakes. Lauren: AfterLauren after (middle)PS: How do you strategize for meals out? LR: I normally check out the menu online to see what options are there. I move for items with the keywords like baked,grilled, or steamed. Another trick is if you want something a bit heavier like pasta, and demand for a half order or just for half your order to approach out to the table. normally restaurants will bear no problem accommodating easy special requests.
PS: What advice do you bear for anyone starting out on a weight-loss journey? LR: Set manageable goals for yourself and no matter what,don't give up. I was definitely in the mind-set early on that if I didn't lose 10 pounds in a month or if I wasn't dropping dress sizes every week that what I was doing wasn't working and I would give up and bear to start all over again. It takes time and patience, and even if you don't see immediate results, or eating healthy and exercising is working; just stick around long enough to start seeing the results!
Source: popsugar.com