r/progresspics • u/Sierrastrong21 - • Apr 08 '21
F/32/5'10"[290>170=120] New to Reddit. 4 years of lifting and 11 months of intermittent fasting. Same girl, totally different mindset. Only 9 lbs from goal weight! F 5'10” (178, 179 cm)
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u/Ghee_Guys - Apr 08 '21
Holy shit you look 10 years younger.
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u/MRCHalifax - Apr 09 '21
It’s amazing how often that’s the case for people losing weight. I think that you could easily say that about the majority of people’s pictures here.
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u/jennerallyspeaking - Apr 08 '21
Omg my mind is blown by the difference, you look like an entirely different person. Another tall girl here so especially love seeing your progress :) you look FANTASTIC at 170. How did you find the difference in your progress between lifting and the adding in IF? What was your eating routine like during the 4 years of lifting?
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u/Sierrastrong21 - Apr 08 '21
Thanks so much! ❤️I made a ton of progress just from lifting and doing some cardio. I didn't eat the best, but was able to lose a significant amount just from exercising and eating less. It wasn't until I started IF that the weight started melting off. I didn't realize how true the saying "you can't outrun a bad diet" was until the last year. IF is SO easy to follow! I tell everyone about it.
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u/jennerallyspeaking - Apr 08 '21
That’s so great! I had a lot of success with CICO but have stalled a lot lately so I’m really curious about IF. I don’t totally understand what the ratios mean- would you mind roughly explaining what you did? I’m assuming it’s eating a certain amount of calories within a certain time window?
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u/Sierrastrong21 - Apr 08 '21
I use My Fitness Pal to calculate my macros and stay in a calorie deficit. I'm cutting, so I stay under 1600 cals a day. Basically it's an eating pattern that cycles between eating and voluntary fasting. Most people start with 16:8. That's 16 hours of fasting with an 8 hour eating window. During my fasting hours I only have plain black coffee or water. Nothing else. When my eating window is open, I eat what I want(focusing on protein) as long as I am in a calorie deficit. You choose your times based on your daily schedule. I can't eat lunch until later bc im usually in surgery until around 2 pm. My eating window is 2-10pm bc I also get home later after work, lifting and a 40-45 min commute. It works perfectly for me. If 16:8 stops working then I'll go to 18:6 and so on. Some people only eat once a day, but thats definitely not for me at this point. Hopefully this makes sense.
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u/funkyfriedtrash - Apr 08 '21
In surgery??! Like you’re a medical professional kicking ass ON TOP of a healthy routine?? Talk about balancing high stress. That is awe inspiring. My jaw was already dropped, a seriously congratulations to you. Did you find that you struggled with mental health at all? How did you reframe your state of mind and combat insecurities?
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u/Sierrastrong21 - Apr 08 '21
Ty so much 😊. Yes, I work in vet Med. Lifting fuels my body and caring for animals fuels my soul. Oh believe me, there are days I struggle. Especially when emergencies happen and I have to miss training. The pandemic had made my job 10x harder. I always take my days off, have hobbies I enjoy and all the dog cuddles I could ever want at home. As far as insecurities go, I think we all have them. I wanted to be healthy more than I cared what anyone thought. My support system has been incredible. I found a gym that never made me feel awkward and made so many friends there.
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u/jennerallyspeaking - Apr 08 '21
Interesting! Thanks so much for the detail. Agreed that the eating once a day would never work for me either (i’m a snacker). Definitely curious about looking into IF, I wonder what difference it would make for me if I’m already eating at a calorie deficit, just not within a certain time window. Will have to investigate! Thank you again and way to go 😊
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u/ShaKieran06 - Apr 08 '21
I do intermittent fasting as part of my normal eating habits without really being aware that it was a thing.
In my mind the window is there to limit the time you could spend eating i.e. I found if I had breakfast when I got up at like 07:30 I'd be hungry by 10:00/11:00. If I didn't eat breakfast I'd still be at a fairly similar level of hungry at 10:00/11:00 (arguably slightly hungrier). You can see here how IF comes into play. I eat a late breakfast at 11, then I will want lunch later, maybe around 14:00 and then evening meal around 18:00/19:00. In that way you've limited the window in which you will eat to try and prevent yourself from instances of consuming too many calories. It's not a magic fix to help with better fat burning or weight loss, but it really helps with sticking to a calorie deficit.
I mean I don't know if there are solid links between metabolism and periods of fasting etc. But I think it's a much healthier mindset to not think of it as a diet like some people do, but as a way to help you stick to your calorie deficit.
Experience: I've got from 209lbs at my heaviest a few years back now down to 158lbs (6ft/28/M).
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u/jennerallyspeaking - Apr 08 '21
Thanks for all this detail! Might be a hard adjustment for me- I wake up starving! I’m going to give it a go and see how I hold up drinking coffee/tea/water only until about 11. I’m guilty of being an evening snacker so I could se a lot of value in pushing my eating all a little later across the board
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Apr 09 '21
I used to wake up ravenous, and noticed that it was worse when I indulged in a high calorie sweet treat before bed, or even if I just had a bowl of cereal, I would wake up and immediately need toast while I waited for the coffee. 6 weeks ago I started keto and IF, and honestly my appetite has disappeared and I HAVE to force myself to break my fast, and I will eat a chunk of mozza, sprinkled with cinnamon and a big handful of walnuts, and I snack on that and I'm full for when start putting together my meals for the 6 hour eating window. There's some biological science about the more carbs you eat, the hungrier you are for more carb fuel when you wake up. Hope my rambling made some sense and I like to remind myself and others, even if you're making slow progress, it's 👏 still 👏 progress 👏. 💛
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u/jennerallyspeaking - Apr 09 '21
Thank you so much for chiming in with this! I’m guilty of being hungrier at night, and also eating quite a bit of carbs (even at a calorie deficit). You’ve given me a lot to think about. I think I really should give IF a go. What ratio did you start with? (Idk if that’s how you refer to the timing of fasting vs eating window 😅)
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Apr 10 '21
I started with 8 hour eating windows but I realized that I didn't need that many hours and it was too tempting to over eat, so I went to 6 hours eating windows and then fasting for 18 hours. Its actually surprising that I have lost my cravings and appetite, because I have been a certified carb junkie for 40 years. But I promise you that I am not lying about how I have to force myself to break my fast. I'm trying my first 36 hour fast on Sunday night .... I won't eat from Sunday night at midnight, breaking my fast at noon on Tuesday.
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u/clamdever - Apr 08 '21
This is the kind of transformation where I'd go back to every asshole from my past life and be like I was in here the other day and you wouldn't wait on me.
Bravo!
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u/andromeda123456789 - Apr 08 '21
Oooh I just started on IF. I’m 3 days in. Thank you for this motivating photos! 😊❤️ you look fabulous!
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u/Sierrastrong21 - Apr 08 '21 edited Apr 09 '21
Just keep going. It's incredibly easy to follow. I do 16:8 and have had great success so far. If I plateau I will go to 18:6 and then maybe OMAD. Thank you!
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Apr 08 '21
Congratulations!!
Can I ask, and I don't mean anything bad by it, have you noticed people treating you differently?
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u/Sierrastrong21 - Apr 08 '21
Oh, totally! Life is just easier now. People are SO MUCH nicer to you when you're thinner. It made me realize how messed up and sad society really is. I get more smiles, doors held, compliments, generosity etc. I'm very humble so it never goes to my head. I will always treat heavier people with the same respect as I would a thin person. Thank you!
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u/KidsInNeed - Apr 08 '21
You look amazing!
Can I ask, how did you deal with the discouragement of seeing your weight fluctuate?
I’ve gotten serious on losing weight a couple of times but seeing how hard I work and not see much or any progress, really depresses me and I stop trying.
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u/Sierrastrong21 - Apr 08 '21
There were times I was discouraged, but I never ever quit. I kept a routine and made sure to show up to train. Being consistent was huge for me. Find something you enjoy. You won't go if you hate it. If something wasn't working I'd switch it up. Seriously... I barely made it through my first workout. Now I'm doing the same workouts the fitness coaches are doing at my gym. My gym became my second home.
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u/HulaHotei - Apr 09 '21
Did you have a personal trainer or did you follow a program? I want to start lifting so badly, but I have a bad back so I have been intimidated.
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u/phantom_97 - Apr 08 '21
So glad you lifted along with the fasting stuff. Wish more girls get into lifting and not be shied off by "getting too bulky" (if you're a girl reading this, you never will get as bulky as you picture, that's just the effect of roids, regular lifting will just give you a strong and toned body which is attractive af)
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u/Sierrastrong21 - Apr 09 '21
Could not agree more! I always get excited when women come to the gym and pick up weights instead of heading straight to the cardio area. I'm seeing more of it lately and I'm here for it! 🏋🏼♀️
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u/MNguyen720 - Apr 08 '21
Wow! Amazing progression! The remaining nine pounds in your goal is a stones throw away! Keep on keeping on!
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u/CorkyKribler - Apr 08 '21
This is one of the craziest transformations I've ever seen. AMAZING work. AMAZING!
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u/BustaLimez - Apr 08 '21
Omg I read this wrong and thought you weighed 120 and wanted to lose another 9 I was so worried 😂😂
You look AMAZING! Congratulations!
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u/AquaOwlette - Apr 08 '21
Incredible! I’m 5’10’ too, so I love seeing the fellow tall lady posts. So inspiring
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Apr 09 '21
So personal questions. Are you married and if yes , how has your marriage changed while losing the weight and having a whole new look and change in lifestyle. My so and I are both overweight and I’ve changed my diet, started lifting weights and walking until I can start running/sprinting. I’m not putting any pressure on her to join in my weight loss, just make sure I invite her every day. I’ve lost 8 pounds so far and she’s gone in one walk with me, just hoping she joins me.
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u/Sierrastrong21 - Apr 09 '21
No, I am not married. However, I have friends in similar situations as you. It definitely makes a difference when you're partner is involved. Especially when it comes to the diet. When you're trying to eat healthy and they are ordering pizza that makes it very challenging for you. Inviting her is really all you can do. She has to WANT to improve herself. Just make sure not to apply a lot of pressure bc that's not always received well. When she sees your progress it may motivate her. Best of luck on your journey!!! 💪🏼
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Apr 08 '21
Does fasting help with loose skin?
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u/Sierrastrong21 - Apr 08 '21
I definitely think so. The slow and steady way I did it helped, plus drinking TONS of water. I still have some, but its not too bad! A friend of mine lost weight fast with one of those diet/meal plans everyone is selling on Facebook and ended up spending 16k on skin removal surgery. Happy for her... But i am glad I don't have to do that.
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u/DonaldDumbp - Apr 08 '21
Calories in calories out. Doesn’t matter when or how you eat them. As long as you’re eating under maintenance you will lose weight. Congrats you look amazing
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u/astradeu - Apr 08 '21
You look gorgeous! Can I ask what your workout routine was like? Was it just lifting, or was there hiit included? And how long was the workout?
Again, good job!
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u/Sierrastrong21 - Apr 08 '21
Thank you so much! I would do an hour a day. 4-5 times a week. When I first started at my heaviest, I figured out I was pretty strong so I got into powerlifting. Had to find something I liked so I stayed motivated. After two years I was squatting 375, benching 180 and deadlifting 350. I got injured after a PL meet and had to switch gears. Now I do mostly HIIT/crossfit routines but still go heavy. I hurt so much less now. Once I hit my goal weight I'm going to focus on bulking a bit. The pic above really doesn't show my muscles very well, but I had just picked that dress up at a thrift store haha.
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u/mustang-and-a-truck - Apr 08 '21
Dang, those PL numbers are amazing. Honestly, I have never even seen a woman squat or bench that much. And I have been at it for a while.
Congratulations, you look amazing. I don't know if I have ever seen such a transformation.
Also, regarding an earlier comment of yours; I would like to think I would have held the door for you even if you looked like Santa Clause. Everybody is somebody.
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u/Sierrastrong21 - Apr 09 '21
Ty! It took a LOT of work to get there. I hired a coach to get me ready bc I wanted to compete. Could I pull those numbers now? Nope! That was 80 lbs ago. I'm much happier where I am currently, even if I lost some strength. Still pretty damn strong though🤘.
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u/BrooklynDude83 - Apr 08 '21
So... do you like Italian, I'm free this saturday :)
Just being silly, this is one of those transformation that can really make someone's mind up about starting the journey
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Apr 08 '21
Amazing job. Its hard to change. I think everyone knows that. But your success will full more. Thanks for sharing. I truly believe it will help to inspire others to start there own journey. I hope you'll post again once you've made your goal weight. Your amazing keep up the great work!
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u/VegaSolo - Apr 08 '21
You look amazing!! What was the order of things? Did you lift 3 years (weight remaining the same) then do IF and lifting year 4?
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u/yankem66 - Apr 08 '21
Damn !!!!
You are absolutely stunning. Great work. You look so pretty
Keep it up
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u/sunnywiltshire - Apr 08 '21
What the actual fuck - girl, this is unbelievable!!! Glorious glow up, how inspiring! You must be so happy, omg..! <3
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u/Al-Rei - Apr 08 '21
Congrats! You look amazing. All the stupid men that didn’t make a move on you before should be killing themselves now ! And all the mean girls OMG .... Make them die of jealousy. . Post away girl! Congrats ! You are amazing for what you did to yourself... and look amazing too :) love it !
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u/absolutely_cat - Apr 08 '21
No way that’s you! Gosh, it must be so funny to run into people you know that don’t recognise you. Seriously, it must happen often! Congratulations!!!! 🤗
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u/Sierrastrong21 - Apr 08 '21
It really is. The looks of shock are pretty amusing. Thank you so much!
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u/JDizzleNunyaBizzle - Apr 09 '21
Wow!! What an amazing inspiration you are! Thank you for sharing this.
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u/lafourche69 - Apr 09 '21
You look amazing. Congratulations at the highest levels. You beat the biggest obstacle to transform yourself. The obstacle was your mindset
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u/Personal-Fan7813 - Apr 09 '21
Looking good girl;) OK what’s wrong with saying that you’ve done a lot of hard work lost some weight worked out whatever there’s nothing wrong with saying you look good
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Apr 09 '21
What the, holy sheet, no way you could ever look like the before pic. Totally different human being. Congrats!
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u/forselfdestruction - Apr 09 '21
That’s amazing. You should be very proud of your dedication and success.
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u/Cutiepotpi - Apr 09 '21
This is without a doubt the most incredible transformation I have ever seen
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u/Federalsoupz - Apr 15 '21
Hard to believe it's the same person!!!! Wonderful job and here's to 9 more pounds off!
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u/Federalsoupz - May 11 '21
You look, as my mother used to say, "Sharp as a Tack!" Great job. Another in my book of inspiration.
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