63 Pounds Down!

Generally I would never post something about weight or diets or weight management, I feel like as women, we should be able to live life the way we want to, and our bodies shouldn't have a say in it! HOWEVER - since we live in a world dictated by social media, and "one's looks" is of the most IMPORTANCE -.- I thought I'd share a little something!

Just in case you didn't want to read the full article - here's the link that finally convinced me to try intermittent fasting -

https://www.nerdfitness.com/blog/a-beginners-guide-to-intermittent-fasting/

Intermittent Fasting -
What is it?
how does it work?
Is it safe?
Does it cost money?
Why do it?

What is it?
Intermittent Fasting is a term for an eating pattern that cycles between periods of fasting and eating.

How does it work?
After doing my research, I simplified things to HOW I WOULD UNDERSTAND them.
- 12/12 - fast during 12 hours, eat during 12 hours
- 16/8 - fast during 16 hours, eat during 8 hours
- 20/4 - fast during 20 hours, eat during 4 hours

Is it safe?
Absolutely! its a much easier life style to follow, and once you've reached your goal - you don't have to continue the diet, me on the other hand, I plan on staying committed to this new life style - I'll continue this explanation in a a moment!

Does it cost money?
No, buy your groceries and relax! The only money being spent is on your groceries, and you don't have to buy specific foods! Your able to eat what you want, I've met people who eat horrible but managed to lose weight! I've met people who stick to the strictest of food restrictions and diets and also lose weight! - for me, eating healthy and maintaining some kind of active life style, and I've managed to lose 63 pounds!

Why do it?
This answer is simple, this "diet" doesn't make you feel trapped. You don't have to calculate points, or calories - UNLESS YOU WANT TO!

... Okay now that is all said and out of the way - lets talk about the actual results - that you can achieve!

Bit of a back story -
At my heaviest weight, I won't lie, I didn't know what to do, at this point I had literally tried everything, yes I'm that person, who yo-yo's with weight, no - I'm not a stress eater, nor do I eat my emotions. I'm not going to sit here and blame it on anything either, I will say tho, that at a point in my life, I stopped caring, there was nothing inside me that wanted to "care for just myself" - I was literally on the verge of self destruction.

I moved from Southern Ontario to Northern Ontario, I left my job, my grandfather had passed, life in my eyes, had completely fallen apart, not to mention the day that I was traveling, I got into a car accident - what a wake up call - no joke.

At this point in time, I was scared, I was depressed and in all honesty - the little care that I did have, was lost. For two months, I was on and off of diets and nothing was sticking, I did lose 9 pounds, but the commitment part was not there, until October 12th 2017 - I was called for an interview, got a new job and looked at my life in a completely different way. It sounds a bit - mundane - but everyone has their own little things that make them take that step back, and just look at the bigger picture.

October 15th 2017 - I was called with the job offer.
Between the day of the interview and the day I was offered the job, I had been talking to my best friend, and she had told me about intermittent fasting. I instantly thought, fasting - absolutely not! I couldn't go a day without food, there was no way. that didn't stop me from looking more into it though, not gonna lie, the idea of losing weight while fasting, was interesting - and the more I researched and talked to my bff, the more it intrigued me and the more I thought, maybe I could do this...

October 16th 2018 - Monday - I decided - Fck it! I'm trying this intermittent fasting none-sense.

Was it hard at first? Hell yes, the first two weeks was the most difficult.

What did I do? I stopped eating at 7pm Sunday night and pushed myself to not eat a single thing until 2pm Monday. Di this almost kill me? Yes - but in one day - I felt amazing. No joke.

I woke up Tuesday morning - no aches, no swollen fingers or ankles, or face. This gave me the push to literally push my self for the following two weeks, and in two weeks, I lost 9.5 pounds. This was - the point in time where I was past that 7 day struggle, the urges to cheat and after those two weeks, I decided to push myself further, and cut out added sugar and salts, I began to eat healthier, and the more weight I was losing the more my body felt good! I didn't even cheat on Halloween.

November - New Me
November 16th 2017 - one month on intermittent fasting - weigh in - 20 pounds down and the feeling is utterly amazing!

December - Struggles
With a holiday like Christmas - who can really say they stick to a diet? I can, but I struggled - no joke, I struggled hard, the Christmas parties and the holiday dinners - did I gain weight? yes, I gained 9.5 pounds.

January - Recommitted
I recommitted - hardcore - I didn't mentally prepare - I didn't give myself that "oh come Monday..." speech, no no, I just hit it hard and it was the best thing I ever did. Since January 1st 2018 - to - May 18th 2018 - I've lost a total of 63 pounds while doing the Intermittent Fasting.

My personal Intermittent Fasting - Routine

When do I eat? When do I stop eating?
I eat every day at 2pm
I stop eating every night at 6pm
I give myself a 4 hour window to eat, and I fast for 20 hours!

Why do I do 20/4?
Because your body gets used to each "level" my body got used to 12/12 and 16/8 - once my body gets used to 20/4, I'll be introducing whole day fasts.

What do I eat?
High protein, low carb, zero added sugar, zero added salt, loads of water!
Typical day;
Breakfast - two hard boiled eggs, couple pieces of bacon, and a fruit.
Lunch - tuna or chicken salad
Dinner - chicken and veggies.
Some days I completely skip lunch and just eat breakfast and dinner.

Do I workout?
Yes! I walk for 45 minutes every day and do at home workouts! All together I spend about two hours working out!

How do I feel over all?
Amazing, hands down, amazing!

... well 6000+ words and I still feel like I could keep talking about this. I do feel like I need to say one more thing - don't allow social media to dictate how you should look, if you want to lose weight, well do it for yourself, not because you think your ugly, or you think anything negative, do it because - YOU want to. Not because someone says you have to.

<3 Ciao for now!