I am determined to lose the Quarantine 50
Hey everyone. This is my first post on here. A lot of recent posts have really inspired me recently. I have been incredibly overweight for a large portion of my life. Every year, I begin to work out and eat moderately healthy by counting calories, which in the past has helped me to lose about 30lbs. But nothing has helped me keep it off. I've tried everything. I tried cutting soda, counting calories to be in caloric deficit, going paleo, trying keto, you name it.
A couple of years ago, around May or so, I started swimming, which was really helping. Back in high school, even though I was overweight, I quit football to join water polo/swim and fell in love with those sports. So I figured it would be good for me, which was true. Until the winter came. My pool doesn't have a heater, so when I began to freeze just swimming from one side to the other, I just stopped and gained all of the weight back.
Last year, I got a gym membership so that I could swim and lift weights. That worked for awhile. I gained a lot of muscle and began to feel good about myself. And then the holidays came. Around February, however, I began going back and getting into a good rhythm. But then the quarantine came. Seeing as I am an essential worker (non-profit), I got a lot of added stress, which led to me making excuses to eat unhealthy food.
My roommate has been on a great fitness journey and he inspired me to begin working out at home with resistance bands. I even began going on some walks. However, my eating habits didn't change. About a week ago, he exchanged his photography services with a friend to get her to help with nutrition since she's a personal trainer. She started getting him on macros and paying attention to those. I decided to hit her up and see what she said.
I got down the number of calories I needed to eat with my current exercise amount along with the macros needed for my body type. I began to shop for cleaner and healthier food (pretty much all Trader Joe's). For the past week or so, I've been really good. Under my calorie limit every day and trying to meet my macros. In the week I've done this, I've lost 10 pounds (20 pounds total since my heaviest) and counting. I have felt so incredibly free. I have actually been eating more meals, but all of it is much cleaner than the fast food I've been eating. My body has felt amazing. I have had more energy, more motivation, and more confidence than I think I ever had.
Today me and my roommate had our only cheat meal for the week. We got our town's Korean version of Raising Cane's (chicken tenders). I decided to get a smaller meal than I normally do. And I was amazed. Not only did it taste so much better than when I have it one to two times a week, but I also felt incredibly satisfied with 3 tenders instead of 5. Afterward, we both realized how tired and strange we felt. We really felt the difference between the clean food we've been eating and the fried empty calories we've both been eating for so long.
I think I've finally found a method that works for me and I am excited. I now research nutrition constantly, looking for foods that I can eat in order to meet macros and other nutrition levels. I was surprised when I was able to make 2 chili lime chicken patties (from Trader Joe's) with some egg whites, spinach, and a ciabatta roll and have it not only make me feel satisfied but also make me feel good. Plus that was my third meal of the day and I was still under my calory levels. Normally I have 2 meals and I'm over my calorie limit.
I still have about 30 more pounds until I lose the Quarantine 50, but I am determined. And for anyone who may want to know what to do, just look up how to determine your macros. But also, it is incredibly helpful to have someone do this with you. I think my success (so far) is only because I have someone who is pushing me and keeping me accountable as I do the same for him. If it would be helpful for anyone, just let me know, and I will post how to calculate your correct calories and macro levels.
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