Three main principles: how a girl managed to lose 100 kg of weight

Our heroine’s name is Megan Stab and she is 29 years old. She lives in Brick, New Jersey and works as a business development representative for a software company. She tried Weight Watchers (a movement that unites those who seek to lose weight), then followed intuitive eating and stuck to regular workouts to get rid of extra pounds.

The girl admitted that while shopping with friends, the only thing that attracted her was jewelry and handbags, because the other department did not have her sizes. How Megan managed to lose weight and what helped her in this, she told Women’s Health.

Challenging childhood

Meghan has struggled with being overweight her entire life. Perhaps one of the reasons was a difficult childhood. Her parents divorced when the girl was very young – she stayed with her mom. She often had to work at night, so often Megan was left alone and there was no one to watch her. In elementary school, she often ate junk food – sandwiches with peanut butter and jelly, various bars, cakes – and drank it all with chocolate milk. And when the other kids went out and played, she would stay home and watch TV.

In middle school and high school, Megan began to think about losing weight. But then her weight loss could hardly be called healthy: the girl tried to get rid of extra pounds with the help of pills, which she hid from her mother. She ate frozen food, which her mother cooked in advance, and after only a snack.

Megan recalls how one day while shopping with friends, she couldn’t try on clothes because her sizes weren’t available. The only things she could look at were jewelry and handbags.

By the time she was 19, Staff’s weight had reached 200 pounds. After that shopping trip, she vowed to herself that she would change. But by the time she was 20, her weight fluctuated between 260 and 290 pounds. In her sleep, it was hard to breathe and her cholesterol levels had risen. Already at the age of 25, the young girl had to use breathing apparatus.

Megan reached her maximum weight of 315 kg by the beginning of 2018, when she was 26 years old.

The fateful trip to Disneyland

A trip to Disneyland changed Meghan. In November 2018, she went on vacation to Paris and visited the famous theme park. She had just turned 27 at the time, and during her walks, she stopped quite often to catch her breath. Overall on the trip, the weight caused the girl a lot of inconvenience. So she promised herself that as soon as she got home, she would start changing herself and her life.

After some thought, Megan decided to join the WW (Weight Watchers) group. The program was gaining popularity at the time, and the girl saw many inspiring weight loss stories. For the first time in her life, she truly believed in her own strength: if someone was able to cope with excess weight, so could she.

Megan switched to intuitive eating and began to learn how to lead a healthy lifestyle. This approach to nutrition suggests that you eat only when you are really hungry. It’s important to listen to your body’s signals and trust your body.

Two months into the WW program, Megan decided to take a free class at a local fitness club. She was very nervous and wanted to cancel her plans at the last minute, but she still made up her mind. Such courage and determination was surprising to the girl herself. She felt a burst of strength and motivation: after the first training session she bought a subscription and started going to the gym twice a week.

Two months later Megan ran her first 5 km and realized that she could do anything she wanted if she made enough effort. The girl started exercising 4-5 times a week, but soon all fitness centers closed because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Megan did not despair and arranged a gym right in the basement of her house: it became her little refuge. The girl found practical inexpensive equipment in online stores. For workouts, she got ideas from Instagram and YouTube, and also used special fitness apps.

You definitely don’t need expensive gym membership to feel the progress!

When the quarantine restrictions were lifted, Meghan did not return to the fitness club, but continued to work out regularly at home.

The three main principles of weight loss Megan Stab

According to the girl, these three changes most influenced her progress.

First, Megan abandoned the all-or-nothing principle. Previously, if she had a breakdown, she simply promised herself to try again on Monday. Over and over again. Eventually HQ realized that no one can be perfect all the time. And after a breakdown, only one meal separates her from getting back on track – and it’s not critical.

Second, Megan has accepted the fact that she won’t always have the motivation and desire to exercise. She used to use laziness as an excuse for inactivity. But after all, no one can be productive and emotionally charged 24 hours, seven days a week. And really, it’s not so much about motivation as it is about dedication.

Third, the girl started to enjoy the food she was eating. She realized: to consolidate the result obtained, you need to eat what she really likes. After all, on one carrot and buckwheat will not last long. In the past, it was because of the monotony of the diet, Staff always returned to old habits: grilled chicken, French fries and sweet sodas. Ask yourself: “Can I eat like this for the rest of my life?”. If the answer is no, it’s worth reconsidering your habits.

Now Meghan continues on the path of a healthy lifestyle. However, to lose weight even more does not aspire – the girl just wants to be healthy and do not stop improving.

It is often said, “It will not be easy, but it is worth it.” And no matter how trite it sounds, it is. To get rid of bad habits and move to useful, as a rule, is not easy at all. But the result will not disappoint – you just have to start!