Hello, I’m Sara.
I’m participating in the 30 Day Clean Eating Challenge as part of a full-year commitment, and I wanted to offer you some motivation along the way.
So far, I’ve dropped 10 pounds and 10 inches, and I feel incredibly motivated to continue.
My history with weight has been a cycle of gaining, losing, and regaining. Back in my freshman year of high school, I shed over 30 pounds and maintained that loss for several years. I weighed 116 pounds when I finished high school, but by the time I graduated college, I was up to 154.
A year later, I had dropped back to 125 pounds and was still losing. During each of these phases, I adjusted my eating habits and exercised. The biggest mistake I made was becoming complacent once I reached a comfortable weight and abandoning my nutrition plan.
The real problem was the concept of a “diet.” I hated it. I always felt like I couldn’t eat anything tasty, and I was constantly denying myself certain foods.
Unfortunately, I married someone who was highly manipulative and abusive in many respects. My first pregnancy took a heavy toll on my body. My stress levels were through the roof, and I turned to food for comfort. I started that pregnancy at 146 pounds and ended up delivering at 184!
After my beautiful baby was born, my stress only increased. Juggling work, new motherhood, and a controlling husband meant I only managed to shed half the weight before I became pregnant with my second daughter two years later. My marriage was chaotic, and so were my eating habits—and my workouts, or lack thereof.
During my second pregnancy, I gained only 20 pounds, but I was still morbidly overweight for my height of 5’1”. December 2015 marked the end of an era for my girls and me. I had emergency gallbladder surgery just before Christmas. That was the start of the NEW me! In January 2016, I began walking after work. My daughters and I would go on daily walks of 2 to 5 miles. I started meal prepping, and the weight began to melt away. I rediscovered a passion: kickboxing! By summer, I had lost 25 pounds.
I started dating again and met a wonderful person. We’re still together and very happy.
When it came to my health, I realized that if I didn’t learn how to eat properly for the rest of my life, I’d end up right back where I always did—overweight.
Savory Turkey + Chickpea Skillet Recipe
In January 2017, I discovered CleanFoodCrush. I was looking for clean recipes when I stumbled upon the site. I first signed up for the free 30 recipes, but that soon led me to join my first 30 Day Clean Eating Challenge in May.
At first, it was a bit overwhelming to grasp everything, but I gave it a try. I lost 6 pounds fairly quickly, but by week three, I fell off track. By the end of the challenge, I realized I needed more long-term support, so I signed up for the yearly membership. It hasn’t always been easy, but with each 30 Day Clean Eating Challenge, I’ve learned more and have the support I need to keep going!
Over the past year, the CleanFoodCrush community and Rachel have given me so much. I’ve learned that clean eating can be enjoyable and full of flavor! I was never comfortable understanding what clean eating meant until Rachel came along. Her website and Pinterest boards are my go-to when planning meals. My journey is far from over.
Finally, by staying consistent, I’ve successfully lost a total of 10 pounds and over 10 inches!
Here are just a few of my AMAZING RESULTS:
- I have more energy
- I feel more focused at work
- Most importantly, I feel better about myself!
- My 5-year-old loves most of the meals I cook, too! (I’m still working on my 3-year-old.)
My goal is to continue this lifestyle change so that I can reach my next target of 135 pounds by the end of May 2018, with my ultimate goal of 125 pounds by Christmas 2018.
I’ve learned that each day is a fresh start, and to avoid dwelling on the negative (especially the scale), but instead focus on the small victories. If I could share one thing I’ve learned through this process, it’s that no two people are alike. Love yourself for who you are and don’t compare yourself to anyone. Everyone’s body is different, but if you nourish it with the right nutrients, you’ll see results. Take your time… one of my favorite lessons comes from the classic tale The Tortoise and the Hare: slow and steady wins the race.
If you join, I’ll see you inside the private groups, along with Billie and Daisy, who support us all so wonderfully.
Lots of Love, Sara CleanFoodCrush family member ?
Sara’s Year-Long Clean Eating Weight Loss Journey
Share Your Thoughts Below
..
