Weight Loss Story!

Weight Loss. Where do I even begin.

According to MyFitnessPal,  7 years ago, I weighed in at a whopping 308 pounds. How Sway?! 

July 2011 - Miserable. 

Behind this ridiculously forced smile, I was SCREAMING inside. I did not want to be photographed. 

Fast Forward to 2014, weighed in at 287 and struggled to maintain any weight loss. Fluctuated between 287 and 299 until June of 2015. I was able to lose 25 pounds by eating more WHOLE foods and actually preparing my foods. Chicken, Turkey and LOTS of green veggies.

I became addicted to weighing out every little ounce! If I didn't weigh my chicken, I couldn't eat it! I wanted to know EXACTLY how much I was eating, no guessing games. 

2017, I knocked weight loss out of the PARK!!

Heading into 30, I knew I wanted to get this weight off once and for all!! 

By adopting a plant-based diet, I was able to lose an additional 20 pounds! Wowzers! 

Transitioning to vegan wasn't as difficult for me because I don't really "care" for meat anyway. Many days, lunch and dinner consisted of Crunch Berries hence my struggle to let go of cow's milk. 

Listen, eating Captain Crunch, Cinnamon Toast Crunch or Fruit Loops with almond, soy or cashew milk IS NOT THE SAME & don't ever let anyone tell you otherwise 😂. I am not here to front. Because of that struggle, a nice cold bowl of cereal is no longer apart of my diet! 😭

As a beginner vegan, I ate a lot of vegan JUNK food...

 Spiral Diner Nachos (AMAZING but the cashew cheese is loaded with calories),

 Loving Hut Spring Rolls and Cinnamon Donuts, along with Jack in the Box Curly Fries!! 

Yes, those are vegan!!!  

*Thanks to PETA here's a fast food vegan cheat sheet Vegan Fast Food Choices*

Ok, let's continue! I plateaued pretty much all of Summer 2017. So, I decided, I think I better kick this up a notch and began looking into the HCG diet. I knew a little bit about it but not EVERYTHING. It's way too much to explain but in short, you inject yourself EVERYDAY with the HCG/B12 mixture while sticking to a diet of 500 calories per day.

 HCG Diet Information

I discussed this with my Doctor, as you all should, and moved forward. 

As a vegan, my version of the diet would be a little different since traditional HCG diet calls for 8 ounces of lean meat per day. With that in mind, I used Google and of course, stumble upon the Vegan/Vegetarian HCG Protocol !! Perfect!

I began the injections AND Soul Cycle on September 28th 

and in 3 weeks time, was down 15 lbs.  😀  🎉 

October 28, 2017
Everything in this photo was TOO BIG!

The weight loss was GREAT but the acne, not so much. HCG is essentially the pregnancy hormone and my body DID NOT LIKE IT. I developed severe cystic acne along the right side of my face so with that in mind, I chose to do a short version of the diet, 40 days! The goal of the diet is to reverse your negative relationship with food forcing you to eat to live vs. living to eat resulting in rapid weight gain. In order to maintain the weight loss, you HAVE to be disciplined or it just does not work. Luckily for me, I have been able to maintain as well as lose more weight post HCG diet !!

In 2017, I lost a grand total of 43.5 pounds!! 

I feel better than I ever have. 

Overall, I have lost 76 pounds & I can't wait to lose even more in 2018.

My goal is to lose another 35-40 pounds and then have skin removal/tightening done. 

Before surgery, I want to focus on toning the areas that are sagging due to excess skin (back fat, tummy, and arms) so I must get back on my workout regiment. HCG kind of made me lazy because as long as I was eating right, the pounds came off! But now the real work starts! 

Fun Fact: Did you know that your feet shrink when you lose weight?! 

During the week, I am subscribing to OMAD or One Meal A Day. So Whole Foods Green Juice and coffee throughout the day and my dinner? Most days, Wendy's Apple Pecan Salad with no chicken and small fry, their fries are vegan TOO!!! WINNING!!!

Thanks for all of the love and support over the years!! 
-Amber-

Health Disclaimer – Readers Please Note:

All posts and information provided within this website is for informational and educational purposes only, and is not to be construed as medical advice or instruction. No action should be taken solely on the contents of this website. Please consult your physician or a qualified health professional on any matters regarding your health and well being or on any opinions expressed within this website. The information provided in this site is believed to be accurate based on the best judgment of the author. However, you as the reader must be responsible for consulting with your own health professional on  matters raised within. I ,the owner of this site, will not accept responsibility for the actions or consequential results of any action taken by any reader.