GabyTransformative Weight Loss Journeys of My Friends
I wanted to share the experiences of my friends who lost 44 pounds and have managed to maintain their new weight. The first, my best friend, came up with her own set of rules after analyzing why her previous attempts had failed, despite her efforts. Of course, it all started with a burning desire, a sense of hopelessness, and the belief that she could succeed! She concluded that not eating in the evenings wasn’t working for her, and her suspicion fell on hearty breakfasts. So, she decided to skip food until noon, drinking only water, tea, or coffee without sugar. I think not eating until lunch is a great habit—it gives the body a break from what was consumed the day before and allows for genuine hunger to set in! However, her body was telling her that eating in the evenings was unnecessary too, and her rule transformed into: “Don’t eat until noon and after 4 PM.”
Additionally, being the smart girl she is, she transitioned her entire family to a healthier lifestyle: nuts, dried fruits, olive oil… and she incorporated one fasting day a week (just water or tea without sugar). According to her, her favorite jeans fit comfortably within a week, no longer requiring her to lie down and suck in her stomach! These were the first steps toward conquering herself. Then she added yoga to her routine, and within two months, those troublesome 161 pounds turned into 121! And now, two years later, she has firmly maintained her weight at 121 pounds.
In my opinion, she’s amazing—strong and brave. She believed in herself enough to reach her goal without veering off course or losing hope. Her efforts have paid off in spades—she’s beautiful, slender, youthful, and confident. She’s the pride of her husband and their four-year-old son! And, of course, mine too! 🙂 But it’s tough to stick to such strict boundaries. You lose weight quickly, but your skin can suffer. It’s better to take it slow and steady.
Now, the experience of my second friend was less radical: she had one rule—“Don’t eat or drink after 4 PM.” Nothing, not even water. As she jokingly put it, “I just taped my mouth shut!” She also focused on healthy eating and chose one exercise for each major muscle group, doing them every day (!) for 50 repetitions: for abs, the standard torso lift; for legs, basic squats; and for her waist, twists without lifting her feet. What a smart approach! It was tough, but over three months (which happened to be the entire summer—so convenient with plenty of fruits and vegetables), she said goodbye to 44 pounds! Now, no one would believe that she ever weighed that much.
P.S. Some might consider this nonsense, but not everyone is lucky enough to eat whatever they want in enormous quantities, avoid exercise, and still look great! Often, it takes tremendous effort. But those who have gone through it know that it’s absolutely worth it.
