In August 2012, Jennifer L., a 38-year-old, stay-at-home-mom to 2 girls, ages 8 and 11, decided to get serious about losing weight. “I was tired of having to wear plus-sized clothes. In my town there aren’t a lot of choices for larger women, so I hated what I looked like in the clothes I had to wear,” says Jennifer. “I didn’t want my children to be embarrassed to have an overweight mum, who wasn’t able to do things with them. My self-esteem was low and I felt invisible.”
She knew she needed a change, so she decided to try MyFitnessPal. “It’s so easy to keep track of what food I eat because of the huge food database & the scanner,” she says. “Before I started losing weight, I wasn’t exercising at all, unless we took the family to a zoo or something. I was eating WAY too many calories—a lot of sweets including chocolate, pastries, ice cream—and not enough real food. MFP helped me watch my food and nutrition, because it showed me which macro levels and micronutrients to focus on. The forums were also very helpful whenever I had a question. In the end, the content of my diet hasn’t changed too drastically. I go by IIFYM (If It Fits Your Macros), so I don’t discount anything from my diet.”
A few weeks after kicking off her weight loss journey, Jennifer bought a Fitbit. “I wanted to start tracking my activity and calories. I quickly started using it 24/7 and became obsessed with my stat tracking and goal-setting. I started with the Fitbit Ultra, and now have a One, which is awesome. It’s so small and discreet! I love that I can see my calories burned throughout the day and know that I’m on track with my activity.”
In just 7 months of tracking her food and exercise, Jennifer achieved a huge milestone. “As of March 30, 2014, I lost 75lbs. It’s so hard to believe I was that much overweight, and I still have about 15lbs to go. That’s a lot of extra fat for anyone, let alone someone who is 5’2″! I went from size 18/20 jeans and 2XL shirts to size 10 jeans and small/medium shirts.”
Nowadays, Jennifer stays in shape with walking. “When I started using Fitbit, it definitely made me want to add more activity into my day. I started by walking 2km every time I went out, and now I walk at least 10km per session, with my max right now at 16km. I’ve also tried some at-home DVD workouts and using the treadmill for running intervals, but I prefer walking outside to anything else. About 95% of my daily exercise is walking.”
Jennifer acknowledges that getting serious about her health is the best thing she has ever done for herself. “I love MyFitnessPal and my Fitbit. I couldn’t have been as successful as I have been without either one of them!”
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This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for medical diagnosis or treatment. You should not use this information to diagnose or treat a health problem or condition. Always check with your doctor before changing your diet, altering your sleep habits, taking supplements, or starting a new fitness routine.
I can’t find my calories in VS out tile
Yes! Finally something about IIFYM Program.