Transformation Tuesday with Chelsea
Today's incredible journey comes from the lovely Chelsea!
How old are you and please can you share your health and fitness journey to date? I am 24 years old and currently have lost 125 pounds. This month marks my one year journey!
I have always been overweight since I was about 4 years old and I thought it was just the way I was meant to be after at least a hundred failed attempts at losing weight. Last summer I went on a vacation to all these beautiful places and my feet were so swollen that I was having extreme pain just walking, I ended up sitting in the car for a large majority of the vacation. I came back home and started doing research on extreme measures to lose the weight such as weight loss surgery, which I never had. Instead I decided to give myself more credit, I could do this on my own, and I started seeing a nutritionist.
I learned about food and not about gimmicky weight loss products. I learned how to eat for the first time in my life. I think marketing schemes have greatly affected the way people view health. They see a label that states fat free and all of a sudden a bag of red vines becomes a healthy snack... it's really a bizarre thing, you choose baked chips or diet soda and you think you're doing better but you're really succumbing to a marketing scam on your health.
What types of foods did you used to eat as a kid and young adult? What's changed since then? As stated earlier, I really didn't know what was healthy, and after numerous attempts at what I thought was healthy I gave up. I'd get the most unhealthy item on the menu at time because I was so fed up with even trying. Pizza, fast food, chips, soda, were all a part of my regular everyday diet as a young child into adulthood. Food was my friend.
Do you play any sports or what sports do you like watching? I don't play sports but I'm starting boxing this month.
What are your interests, passion and what makes you smile? I love escaping, where before it'd be into a box of pizza, now it's more literal. I take long drives, hike, find new places to go. I like being in the desert and finding old ghost towns... I'm my mom reincarnated. That's the best part of my childhood. Adventure is where you least expect it. I also love me some good ol' netflix on days where I'm busy with real life things.
What was the catalyst that sparked your lifestyle change? Realizing that I could actually lose weight. Sure, I went to see a nutritionist but in the back of my mind weight loss surgery was still an option. The first month I lost a recorded 20 lbs and I know that was an average of what I'd gain in a year... If I could lose that in a month then anything is possible. That's what kept me going.
What are some of your dreams/goals you hope to achieve over the next 12 months? I want to join the military, I want to be stationed across seas and do something amazing. I want to see the world.
What tips would you like to share with my readers about your transformation? I never knew a single person who lost weight growing up. My extended family was always on diets and they always looked the same before as they did after. I didn't know it was possible, so I recommend finding people who have done it or are doing it whether in real life or on social media websites such as Instagram. Knowing it's possible, realizing that real people have done this and no, it's not a tv commercial advertising a gazelle or a shake weight, makes it real.
List your social media if you would like people to follow you The best way to follow me and talk to me is on my Instagram
Thanks for sharing your story Chelsea, I never get tired of reading these triumphs.
I’d love to feature YOUR transformation story, click here to share your journey.
Much love and friendship,
XxDani