There is no “one size fits all” approach to gaining health and losing weight. Everyone has to decide what’s best for them. For me, that meant taking a natural route, without the medical intervention of weight loss surgery or medication. That doesn’t mean it’s the right path for everyone. But I do believe it’s important to share (and specifically point out) that I lost 215 pounds naturally. Not because it’s the “right” way, but because I want people to know it’s possible. I hear from people all the time who say they want to lose weight naturally but didn’t know it could be done… until they found me. Maybe their doctor told them it wasn’t realistic to lose 100+ pounds without medical help. Maybe their insurance doesn’t cover medication or they’re scared of surgery. Whatever the reason, there are people out there who want to know if natural weight loss is even an option and I want them to know that it is. It honestly blows my mind how often people accuse me of lying about how I lost weight. So many truly believe it’s not possible to lose over 200 pounds naturally. But it is. Because I did it. That’s why I use the word naturally when I share about my journey. Not because I think it makes me better than anyone else (I don’t think that), but to challenge the belief that it can’t be done. I’m living proof that it can. If you chose an alternative route, whether that’s surgery, medication, or something else, I’m cheering you on too! We all deserve to pursue health in the way that’s right for us. There’s no shame in that. My story isn’t about comparison, it’s about possibility. If you’ve been wondering whether a natural path is even worth trying, I hope my story gives you hope! 🤗 These are the 3 main things I’ve done to achieve healthy (for me) weight loss! 1. I shifted my mindset. I went into this health journey trying to focus on gaining healthy habits more than focusing on losing weight. I aim for consistency in my habits over perfection of their execution. I accepted this as a lifestyle change rather than a temporary diet just to reach a goal. And I’ve learned that motivation is fleeting and we have to follow through whether we feel motivated to or not. 2. I track my calories to stay in a deficit. It is essential to consume less calories than you are burning in order to lose weight. Tracking is how I make sure I’m in a deficit. I also focus on eating mostly whole and minimally processed foods so that I can feel better and get healthier from the inside out! You can google “best BMR calculator” to find a pretty good estimate for where your calorie intake should be for weight loss. 3. I move my body intentionally everyday. Some of the activities I have incorporated on this journey are: marching or jogging in place, walking, hiking, pickleball, swimming and strength training. I’ve experimented to find forms of movement I enjoy and make sure I include things (like strength training) that I don’t always enjoy but I know are good for me! I started by aiming for 8k steps at the beginning and then switched to 10k. Now I just focus on making sure I have moved my body in a way that serves me well each day! Give yourself permission to start small! Focus on slowly adding habits into your life that feel sustainable rather than drastically changing everything at once! Sustainable changes will take you farther than fast and extreme changes will! #naturalweightloss #weightloss #howilostweight - @leahhopehealth