Losing weight is a struggle for many. Between our busy schedules and our lack of motivation, it can be hard to make positive changes in our lifestyles.
If you are feeling unmotivated, read these inspiring health journeys.
You will see that gaining strength, losing weight, and reversing chronic conditions are all within reach.
inspiring Health Journeys
Here are 4 inspiring health journeys to inspire you to go on your own journey.
1. Johnelle Burnett
As a former college athlete, Johnelle Burnett was used to being in shape.
Even while she was pregnant, she did all she could to follow a healthy diet and exercise. After she had her daughter, there were 20 pounds of baby weight that wouldn’t come off. She didn’t think much about it and was focused on being a good mom.
When she reached 165 pounds, she got pregnant again and moved across the country for her husband’s job. She relied on fast food to get her by, and she gained more weight.
Once her second daughter reached her first birthday, she was up to 186 pounds. She finally realized her excess weight was from her lifestyle, not from having babies.
She was motivated to get her life back in shape. She signed up for a 12-week weight loss program at her gym. Her workouts were from 90-120 minutes a day, six days a week. The classes she took ranged from high-intensity interval training to Pilates.
Her diet was overhauled. She received a handout of foods she could and couldn’t eat. Although eating healthily was a struggle at first, over time her taste buds adapted to the new foods.
Twelve weeks later, she lost 42 pounds – 22% of her body weight. She currently maintains her figure by exercising six days a week and eating healthily most of the time.
She owes her success to her ability to set a goal for herself and follow through. Her story is inspirational to all moms who struggle to lose weight after having children.
2. Khang Nung
At the age of 24, Khang Nung was 300 pounds. He lived a mostly sedentary lifestyle, watching anime and movies and playing video games.
Whenever he was hungry, he ate whatever he wanted. Those habits added up and, soon, daily activity was difficult.
Climbing a flight of stairs would get him winded. He knew he needed to change his habits. He signed up at a local gym and lost his first 50 pounds by himself within a year and a half. He met his coach T. Chan, and he dropped another 50 pounds.
Khang’s workouts were comprised of strength training and cardio six days a week, with a rest day in between. He discovered that doing cardio sheds weight and strength training builds muscle. Put together, they are a winning combination.
He also adopted the clean eating lifestyle and began a meal plan. He preps his meals in advance two days a week, so he has more time and energy to work out and enjoy life.
Five years later, he is down to 158 pounds and still motivated to keep losing weight to reach his goal. He has inspired his entire family to join a gym, and now they are healthier than ever. His story shows us that being patient in your weight loss journey pays off.
3. Carle Klupt
Seventy-one-year-old grieving widower Carle Klupt was overweight and on medications for high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and depression.
He also suffered from gout, GERD, chronic headaches, and back pain, and he felt he was losing his memory.
His daughter Sharon, a health coach, was attending classes at the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine. She spoke to the PCRM’s president about it, and he told her that the medications Carle was on can cause memory loss. He also told her to tell him to change his diet.
Carle and Sharon made a bet with each other. He would give up meat for three weeks and see if it made any significant change at his next doctor’s visit. If he lost, he would change his ways. If she lost, she would take him to Burger King to get a Whopper.
They made a deal and anticipated the results. Much to Carle’s surprise, his stats were in a much healthier range three weeks later.
His doctor told him that his blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol were significantly lower, and he lost some weight as well. Because of his success, he is off of his statins, antidepressants, and blood pressure medication. His overall health improved a great deal.
He owes it all to his daughter Sharon for convincing him to adopt a nearly vegan diet.
He is a testament to the power of real foods to cure and now, at 78-years-old, he shows that it is never too late to begin taking control of your health.
4. LaCole
Stress eater LaCole was on the verge of developing sleep apnea. Her doctor was concerned about her weight and encouraged her to shed some pounds because her health was in danger.
She hit a low after viewing a photograph of herself on vacation with her friends. She cried because she didn’t recognize herself, and she knew she needed to make a change.
After researching many diets, she decided to embark on clean eating, with an emphasis on preparing high protein and low carb meals. In addition, she measured her food out on a scale for portion control.
She began meal prepping as well, so she would always have a healthy meal to eat.
Plant-based protein shakes replaced the caffeinated, sugary soda drinks she formerly consumed.
She works out 6-7 days a week. Her workouts are a mixture of cycling, high-intensity interval training, strength training, and weight lifting. She finds that switching up her exercises keeps them exciting for her.
The advice she’s learned is that weight loss is mind over matter. You need to look at the bigger picture to motivate yourself to keep going on days you feel like giving up. Keep your eye on your goal, and you will get there. It’s not a competition to get there. Love yourself in the process and don’t give up!
About the Author
Dr. Michael Donaldson is a chemical engineering graduate of Cornell University and now Research Director of the Hallelujah Diet. He has spent the last 18 years studying people who have experienced health benefits through diet and published scientific research on its benefits for fighting fibromyalgia, cancer, diabetes, and other ailments. His work consists of designing and coordinating epidemiologic and clinical intervention studies based on specific symptoms or diseases and focuses on the results of the Hallelujah Diet.