Before: 350 pounds
After: 185 pounds
The Lifestyle
Christie Buie, 41, from Monroe, Washington, has struggled with her weight her entire life. "I was a fat teenager and a fat adult," she says. "People ask me about my story, and I don't have any excuses. I feel like I was the most horribly undisciplined person." It wasn't until October 2, 2011, that Christie, who's 5'3" and weighed 350 pounds, decided that she needed to take control of her weight.
The Change
Christie says there wasn't one specific moment when she became fed up with her size; it was a series of smaller things, like her lack of energy and mobility issues she struggled from due to her weight. She also hated that she spent less time with her friends. "I was afraid to go to a restaurant because I didn't want to sit in a booth that I couldn't fit into," says Christie.
One of Christie's friends recommended a book about the Atkins diet. While she was flipping through the pages, a chapter about carbohydrates' effects on a person's metabolism really resonated with her. "All of the symptoms they described—like the food cravings—described exactly what I was going through," says Christie. So she ditched carbs for two months, which kind of felt like "withdrawal period." And to celebrate her commitment, Christie let herself eat whatever she wanted during Thanksgiving. "Within an hour after eating, I felt like crap," she says. "I felt tired, sleepy, and hungry (again). It was such a good reminder of where I'd been and what caused me to get to the way that I used to be." She quit eating anything that came out of a box and started incorporating more lean proteins and veggies into her diet. Her favorite meal: faux mashed potatoes using cauliflower.
As her energy began to increase and she began to lose weight, Christie invested in a home workout kit, which included dumbbells and a jump rope. "The first night I tried jump roping, I couldn't do it," she says. "I couldn't jump my weight over that tiny bit of rope, which was a sign I needed more structure." The first gym she signed up for intimidated her—she was too self-conscious and felt like she didn't belong. Then she tried the Anytime Fitness in her town, which she found "very encouraging and non-judgmental." "I felt like I was too big to use the circuit machines and thought I'd be clumsy around them," says Christie. "But then I made an appointment with one of the trainers, and he showed me how to do everything." And after that, she fell in love with new exercises, such as resistance training. For cardio, she began with five minutes on the elliptical four days a week. Now Christie runs two to three miles three days a week. Thanks to all of her hard work, Christie is now down to 185 pounds.
The Reward
As long as Christie can remember, she's wanted to get a motorcycle—but she was always too heavy to sit and ride on one. Not anymore. "It's my favorite part of [my weight-loss journey]," says Christie. Sure, not having to ask for a seatbelt extender on planes is pretty sweet, "but the biggest thing for me is that I can jump on my motorcycle and just ride."
Christie's Tips
Find a diet that works for you. "Some people can't give up bread, and that’s cool. If you can't live how you’re eating, find something that you can live with."
Have a backup plan. "Everybody is going to fall off the wagon—nobody's going to stick to something 100 percent. Have a plan for your mishaps if you do fail."
Stop setting numerical goals. "I make activity goals instead—like to be able to run a 5K without stopping and walking. Setting non-scale-based goals at the gym for me was huge."
More from Women's Health:
How Many Leafy Greens Can You ID Correctly?
The Easiest Way Ever to Eat Less
10 Awesome Weight-Loss Tips From Women Who've Transformed Their Bodies
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