When I moved to Peru, I got a stomach parasite that forced me into a 50 pound weight loss. When I came home, the doctors flushed my stomach and I healed (mostly)… and then I regained *almost* all of the weight I left in Peru.

There is no quick fix that will give you life-long results. Do it the right way, and enjoy the fruits of your labor.

I’ve been considered overweight for most of my life. I’m a tall woman with broad shoulders and hips, so I just assumed I would always be “big boned”… Not the case.

Think of any weight loss gimmick — I’ve tried it. Anything that doesn’t cost loads of money? I’ve tried that, too. You might be looking for an easy answer that I simply cannot give you…

The thing that really did it in the end was diet and exercise. Now hold on, I don’t mean “diet” like Keto, Paleo, WeightWatchers, or whatever.

1. I mean awareness of what I give my body.

In August of 2023, I chose to adopt a meatless diet, specifically Lacto-Vegetarian. This means I don’t eat meat or eggs, but I still eat all dairy. Check out my recipes here.

I’ve never liked meat – not the way it tastes, the texture, or even the way it makes my stomach hurt. Going plant-based helped me because when I cooked meals with meat, I would often overcompensate with dairy (cheese, mostly) to cover the flavor/texture of the meat. Doing that would add lots of calories to my meals and I would over-consume. When I went plant-based, I noticed I used a lot less cheese to cover other flavors.

I also used the MyFitnessPal app to track my foods to become more aware of my eating habits. I was hit with a rude awakening when I got annoyed with myself about how frequently I was picking up my phone to log another snack, watching the calories pile up….

2. Exercise – Specifically cardio

I call myself a runner. I like to run/jog/walk, but I haven’t always been very good at it.

I like the app Couch to 5K. It helps you start as a beginner (or couch potato) and coaches you through 9 weeks of training to run/jog a 5K! I’ve used it for over 5 years and I have restarted the program at least 6 times by now.

Cardio works for me because I like how my legs feel after a good run. It’s also a journey of mind over matter. Through this coaching app, I’ve learned to push myself mentally to reach physical goals.

Cardio also burns fat, and I knew when I started, that even if I tried lifting weights, I wouldn’t see results because I had too much body fat. SO I stuck to running only.

It wasn’t always glamourous… but it was always worth it

3. I manifested this – and then I worked for it

I will never doubt the power of manifestation. It has gotten me to where I am in life and I couldn’t be more grateful.

Your mindset REALLY matters!!!!!!

Through the years, I was stuck in a cyclical pattern… workout successfully for two or three weeks. I didn’t see immediate results, so I gave up. Or I was “too tired” or “one cheat day won’t hurt”…

GIRL — YES. IT. WILL.

Believing “I never reach my goals” and “I can’t lose weight” will become your truth if you keep telling yourself that. This book taught me everything I know about manifestation.

The way you THINK is the way you LIVE

4. Bonus tip: Having a habit tracker has helped keep me accountable because I can see the days where I was slacking and other days where I really went for it! I like to use this one.

I am still working towards my goals and getting stronger everyday. I now follow the Blogilates workout calendar online and do Pilates in my living room in the morning before work. I also workout at the gym at my workplace on my lunch breaks.

💪 A body in motion stays in motion