Yes, I’ve lost 46 pounds, but that’s not even the most important part.
When I look back at where I started, it’s not just the physical changes I notice. It’s my mindset, my habits, and the way I treat myself now. I didn’t grow up learning about fitness, health, calories, or how food actually works. So everything I’ve learned, I learned from the ground up.
And it’s changed everything.
Then: Eating Without Awareness
Before I began this journey, food was everything, comfort, entertainment, and habit. I would eat even when I wasn’t hungry, to the point of feeling sick from being so full. It was automatic. If lunch was heavy and I was still full by 6 p.m., I’d still eat a big dinner just because that’s what I was used to doing.
I wasn’t nourishing myself. I was numbing myself, with no idea how disconnected I was from my hunger cues.
Now: I Eat When I’m Hungry
These days, I only eat when I’m actually hungry. And that one shift has changed so much.
If I’m bored, I find something else to do. If I still want to snack, I reach for something low-calorie that fits into my goals. But I’ve learned that food doesn’t need to fill every gap in the day, and that comfort can exist in other forms too.
That said, I still eat freely when I go out with friends. I don’t hold back or track every bite. I enjoy it, because going out should be fun. I just make sure the rest of the day supports my goals. One meal won’t ruin your progress. One day won’t undo everything you’ve built.
Then: I Thought Cardio Had to Be Extreme
I used to believe that if I wasn’t dripping sweat or out of breath, it didn’t “count” as cardio. The gym felt intimidating. Running felt impossible. So I avoided exercise altogether.
I didn’t realize that the most powerful form of movement I had was right in front of me the whole time: walking.
Now: Walking Saved Me
I talk about this in depth in my other Fitness & Wellness blog posts. For outdoor walking read: How Walking Became My Favorite Way to Start Losing Weight. Or for indoor read: Walking at Home — My Favorite Way to Exercise Without Leaving the House. Either way, walking changed my life.
Getting my steps in gave me confidence, clarity, and consistent progress, without burnout. I didn’t need a gym membership or a hardcore routine. I just needed to move.
And now I feel better in my body than I ever did when I tried to do it all at once.
Then: I Had No Idea What I Was Consuming
Back then, I had no clue how calorie-dense my meals, and especially my drinks, were. I drank several sodas a day. I didn’t drink water. I grabbed sugary coffees and fruit juices and never once thought about how it all added up.
Now: I Don’t Believe in Drinking Calories
I love food too much to waste calories on drinks, and once I realized that, everything shifted. Now I stick to water, diet soda, or zero sugar drinks like Minute Maid’s zero sugar lemonade. They hydrate me, they satisfy the craving, and they don’t take away from the meals I actually care about.
Also, I honestly can’t tell the difference between diet and regular soda anymore. And I don’t miss the sugar crash.
Then: I Didn’t Know What a Calorie Deficit Was
I used to feel embarrassed admitting I didn’t know what a gram of protein was. I didn’t understand how weight loss worked. I thought I just had to “eat healthy”, whatever that meant, and hope something changed.
No one taught me this stuff. Not at school, not at home. I had to figure it out for myself.
Now: I Track My Food and Understand It
Tracking my food changed everything. It opened my eyes. I finally understood why I wasn’t losing weight, and more importantly, what I could do about it.
All it takes is walking, not eating unless I'm hungry, and logging what I eat, and enjoying diet coke like I normally do. That’s how I lost 46 pounds. Not with extremes. Not with shortcuts. Just simple tools and knowledge that I never had access to before.
And that’s why I care so much about sharing this, and also why I made A Sustainable Guide to Weight Loss. Because if I had known what a calorie deficit was earlier, or what it actually meant to eat with intention, I would’ve started this journey way sooner. I just needed someone to actually teach me.
Final Thoughts
Weight loss isn’t just about seeing a different number on the scale, it’s about learning to live differently. To eat with intention. To move because it makes you feel good. To become aware of your habits and how they’re shaping your life.
I’m still learning, still growing, still figuring it out.
But now I know what works. And I’m passionate about helping others who feel just as confused as I once did.
If you’re looking for real tools and guidance that aren’t wrapped in shame or pressure, A Guide to Sustainable Weight Loss might be the place to start. It’s everything I wish I knew, simplified and honest.