Triumphant Journeys in Weight Loss – [Part 4]

I’m thrilled to share the final part of this amazing weight loss journey series: Part 4! We have another fantastic success story about a full-time mom who shed 100 pounds, embraced a healthier lifestyle, and even launched her own health and wellness business.

Here’s another inspiring transformation that teaches us what it truly takes to achieve significant weight loss. We focused on three main questions:

1. How did your mindset change?
2. What about your exercise routine?
3. How did your nutrition change?

Here are some insightful takeaways:
1. Keep an open mind. Try new ways to cook and exercise—you might find something you love!
2. Always remember your “why.” If your progress isn’t connected to your reasons for starting, it won’t last.
3. Food should be enjoyable. If you don’t like it, don’t eat it.
4. Exercise fuels your energy. You’ll never regret moving more.

Losing a significant amount of weight is impressive, but the real challenge is keeping it off sustainably. Many people fall back into bad habits after reaching their goals, but not Jenn! Despite the difficulties, Jenn committed to her goals, lost over 100 pounds, and has kept it off for over 14 years.

Jenn described her journey, “My mindset was critical to my success. My main goal was to live a long and healthy life. I achieved weight loss in my senior year of college after my grandmother passed away. She was a role model for me. I maintained my weight loss through marriage, the birth of two children, and a career change.”

I never thought I was unhealthy, even though I was 100 pounds overweight by age 20. My pediatrician advised me to eat more veggies and less fried food, but I ignored her. Even an emergency gall bladder surgery at 17 didn’t change my eating habits.

It wasn’t until my grandmother passed away when I was 20 that I reevaluated my lifestyle. Grandma Espinosa lived a long, healthy life, always active and never missing a family event. I realized I wanted to live as long and healthily as she did, and within a year, I lost 100 pounds.

My family was always active—we hiked, biked, and played sports together. However, there’s a difference between being active and being fit. I hated running because I wasn’t good at it, but I found fun ways to exercise. I started with fitness videos and community classes and eventually discovered weight-lifting and High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT). Now, I do intense cardio several times a week and lift weights at home on off days.

I also embraced Dr. Levine’s concept of NEAT (Non-Exercise Activity Thermogenesis), which encourages finding moments for movement throughout the day, like taking the stairs or parking farther away.

At 18, I stubbornly told my family I would never eat anything green. However, today I’m a vegetarian. To motivate myself to eat better, I started by writing down everything I ate. It helped me be honest with myself and gradually reduce portion sizes. I then tracked calories, fat, and fiber.

This mindful approach to eating led me to vegetarianism, and I found that I enjoy it. By trying various diets, I discovered that the most effective one is the one you enjoy. It aligns perfectly with my goals since vegetarians tend to live longer.

I’m now a full-time working mother of two daughters and run a company called Weightless. Losing weight not only improved my health but also freed me from negative thoughts about myself. It upsets me when women neglect their health while caring for others because getting healthy doesn’t require much time or money.

My mission is to help overwhelmed women regain their health through private coaching and motivational speaking. I offer free resources with 5 healthy habits to get started.

This wraps up our incredible weight loss series with stories of amazing transformations—from a Broadway performer losing over 125 pounds to a psychologist losing 70 pounds to a mom losing 40+ pounds in a month. These stories totaled 528 pounds lost, showcasing the power of commitment and lifestyle changes.

If you’re ready to make a change, try implementing these six steps for weight loss success. We’ve seen stories from people who have taken their lives back—now it’s your turn to make a change! We’d love to help you on your journey.