-132 lb
Before
After
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Why did you want to lose weight?
I've been overweight since I was a child. Like many others, I've tried countless diets. I also lost weight quickly with these. Of course, I couldn't keep the weight off long because they weren't sustainable.
So, I didn't have a good relationship with food for a long time. You can't develop healthy eating habits with crash diets! My weight and my diet have somehow always been an issue and I knew for a long time that I needed to change something. Nevertheless, I spent a lot of time avoiding the problem.
"If you can dream it, you can do it!"
A few years ago, when I was 35, I was at my heaviest at 295 pounds. Walking longer distances or even sitting at a desk for a longer time suddenly became impossible. My body couldn't do it, everything hurt. I felt more and more uncomfortable and would have preferred not to leave the house. Going shopping? That was just a necessary evil, in which I simply tried to find something I fit in.
It went on like this until I finally decided to give it one last try. I downloaded the YAZIO app and, despite my heavy weight, signed up for the gym!
Maybe it sounds a bit over the top for some, but this decision has continued to change my life to this day, in many different ways.
What did you want to accomplish on your journey?
At first, I wanted to get down to under 220 pounds and simply get closer to a normal weight again. In the beginning, it was especially important for me to be more mobile and master everyday life without a lot of effort. Plus, with such severe obesity, you just have a lot of health problems. So, my first goal was to be able to carry the groceries up the stairs.
At that time, I never would have thought that I would make it this far and be in better shape than I ever was before!
How did you reach your goals?
Especially in the first year, I really weighed and tracked EVERYTHING. I was extremely disciplined. I learned a ton about nutrition through tracking. You start to get a feel for what you're actually eating. Some things that I always thought were really healthy actually had way less nutritional value than I originally thought. On the other side, I suddenly didn't feel guilty eating something sweet every once in a while when I knew I would still be in a calorie deficit.
Pia’s Tips
Set realistic goals. Losing weight is a marathon not a sprint!
Integrate more movement into your daily routine. Getting more steps in, for example, can make a big difference!
Don't get discouraged. If you have a setback, just keep going!
I really didn't cut out anything, but of course, if you're hungry and want to stay in a calorie deficit, you'll start grabbing for low-calorie vegetables and protein-rich foods, for example. Or you start to change the portion sizes of certain foods compared to others.
I also made exceptions, for example, when I was invited out to eat. In that case, I just enjoyed my food and didn't track anything. But I never really had proper cheat days.
I also found a passion for strength training, which really helped me mentally! I started with two to three sessions at the gym a week. Today, I can't imagine life without strength training! Plus, more muscle burns more calories, even at rest.
How did YAZIO help you?
I finally understood where I was going wrong in previous attempts and was able to adjust my diet the way I wanted to.
I developed a better feel for portion sizes and nutrients, and I was able to build new, sustainable habits that were good for me and my health. Almost everything can be scanned easily and integrated into my daily routine. Overtime, you get to know yourself better and your eating habits. It was really fun to put foods under the microscope! The PRO recipes are also helpful, especially at the beginning, if you're not sure what you should eat.
Did you have setbacks?
Well, I didn't really have any setbacks, but it was common that my weight would stagnate from time to time. But I just kept going.
Of course, there were also times it was harder for me to pay attention to my diet or when I fell back into old habits. When this happens, it's important not to think, "Now it's too late." Instead, you just restart the next day—over and over again, if necessary.
What advice do you have for other users?
First and foremost, get started! The start is always the hardest part, as it can take a while to develop new habits. It could be that you fall back into old habits quite often, but it's worth it to keep going!
Someone who's learning to walk doesn't just stay on the ground if they fall the first time. On the contrary, this is part of the learning process. Find your own path—one you can imagine following for the rest of your life.
What are your future goals?
I've maintained my weight for over a year now and I'm really happy with it. All in all, I'd like to build more muscle, get into even better shape and then maintain that. My final goal is to tighten excess skin, but there's still time for that.
Why do you want to tell your story?
Success stories from YAZIO and on Instagram were the first things that made me believe in myself again. Seeing that other people who were even heavier than I was could also reach their goal weight really motivated me to finally start!
It helped me see that it IS possible and that I wasn't alone. At some point, I thought, "If others can do it, so can I." That's exactly what I want to give to others today because I know exactly what it's like and how it feels.
If I could do it, so can you. I believe in you!
