Good morning friends! Many of you asked me to share how I lost 12 pounds and today I’m going to do just that. I first decided that I wanted to lose weight after I weighed myself at the end of February. I knew I had gained weight since last year, because all of my clothes were tight and uncomfortable. I stayed away from the scale for over a year and ate chips, candy, chocolate, ice-cream, etc. Then after eating all that junk food my stomach would get bloated. I knew God was trying to tell me that I was eating the wrong food.
Here’s my weight loss debut photo shoot! 12 pounds off! You can see the full outfit post here.
SHOP THE LOOK
Madewell One Shoulder Ruffle Stripe Dress-last year (see similar styles below) // J.Crew Espadrilles-last year (see similar styles below & here) // Mar Y Sol Beach Tote // Essie Blanc Nail Polish // Celine Sunglasses (similar) // Convertible Strapless Bra (best ever)
So my hubby encouraged me to weigh myself and I was a little annoyed at first, however I’m so happy I did! I weighed the same amount I weighed right before giving birth to my kids years ago. Yikes! It was a little painful to have gained over 12 pounds in the last year. That’s the most weight gain in one year ever for me, except for my pregnancies. But, I didn’t stay upset for too long, because I wasn’t going to let 12 pounds depress me. I made a plan to eat healthier and exercise and set a goal date.
Here’s a photo of me before the weight loss and you can see the full post here. One thing I have to say is that this pink flutter sleeve top fits me so much better now and I can tuck in the front.
I started out by making a pledge to myself to STOP EATING JUNK FOOD! That means- no chips, candy, chocolate, ice-cream, donuts, fried food, french fries. Actually, I cut all fried food out of my diet. The first week I lost 4 pounds, which was exciting, but most of that weight loss was from not being bloated. Either way, I felt like I could make this weight loss happen if I kept it up.
Honestly, I’ve had no bloated feeling except for my *monthly* and the bloating was minimal. Since removing all the junk from my diet, my stomach doesn’t hurt either from eating greasy foods and that’s because I’m not eating any of that.
What I eat on a daily basis consists of fruits, vegetables, and protein such as chicken, nuts, beans, and boiled eggs. My carbs are from rye bread and pasta. My hubby is Italian, so we have pasta a couple of times a week. I don’t have a huge plate of pasta, only a small amount. I drink lots of water and stay away from fruit juices that are high in sugar. I do have my morning cup of decaf coffee with a small amount cinnamon cream creamer.
I also exercise at least 6 days a week for an hour by walking and I count my calories. I try to stay around 1,200 calories a day. I found some online information about healthy weight loss to help me with this journey. Make sure you consult with a dietician or physician before you decide to do any weight loss.
Overall by the grace of God, I lost about 2 pounds a week and now I down 12 pounds! I would say it’s one of the biggest accomplishments of my life staying away from baked barbecue chips! LOL! I would like to lose a few more pounds and plan working out with weights to tone my muscles. Stay tuned for that! Thank you so much for stopping by today! If you have any questions, please leave a comment below. XO, Desiree
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He has made everything beautiful in its time. Ecclesiastes 3:11
Congrats on the weight loss Desiree. You look amazing. I found out in the fall that unneeded to take dairy out of my diet along with a few other things. It was amazing to see how fast it reduced inflammation and the weight finally came off!!
Congrats – you look great! I have been slowly gaining a pound or two here and there and I can definitely feel it in my clothes. I refuse to go up a size so my only choice is to start working on it now! I usually eat pretty healthy but lately I have been slacking and snacking too much! Thanks for the motivation! Have a great day!
Shelley
You are SO beautiful–inside and out! Thanks for sharing your healthy eating plan and journey. You have inspired me to do the same! Alleluia! đ
Im so happy I stumbled on your blog!! I’m from Houston , but have been living in Moscow, Russia for the last 4 years for my husbands job with NASA and LOVE looking at your tropical and sunshine-y pics….especially during the LONG , cold and grey winter! đ
I too had gained weight in the last year. I decided to do something about it after seeing pictures of myself after our January cruise. I have worked hard the last 10 weeks and lost 9 pounds doing just what you are! Lots of walking and staying away from junk foods! I’m going for 1-2 more pounds before a girls’ trip to Mexico next month! Rewarded myself with a new Albion fit swimsuit. You should check them out if you haven’t already! They are amazing!!
Well done – I thought you looked amazing before but wow you look even better now! Thank you for the inspiration. Like everything in life, it take hard work and dedication. You have made me realise that I need to focus – set a goal weight (12lb loss like yours) and an achievable date – actually stick to it, and believe I can do it….. đ Would you consider to post some instagram or blog pictures of your food ideas as that would also help? Good luck with the weights.
I enjoyed reading your post! We all need that extra motivation and you look great!
You look fabulous Desiree. Losing weight is hard, thanks for sharing how you did it. Very inspiring!
Way to go Desiree! I am in the middle of my second Whole 30. While it’s not a “diet”, it is a nutritional program designed to change what you eat and how you look at food, more of a short term nutritional reset.
For 30 days you eliminate ALL SUGAR, DAIRY, GRAINS, LEGUMES, SOY and ALCOHOL. It was created to put an end to unhealthy craving and habits and restore a healthy metabolism. Although it’s not a weight loss program, YOU WILL LOSE WEIGHT!
Look into it if you are serious about changing your eating habits long term!
Keep up the good work!
That’s awesome! Way to go! I’m so bad about eating junk food. I seriously need to cut back.
Congratulations Desiree! You look fabulous and love your blog. I have also gained a few lbs within the last yr and want to stay committed and motivated to exercise. My downfall are sweets. And have noticed now that I am 45 my metabolism seems to have slowed down a bit. I also love a brisk walk in the park and am focusing on that!