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Mar 18

‘I Overcame Binge Eating By Practicing Portion Control And At-Home WorkoutsAnd I Lost 150 Lbs.’ – Women’s Health

My name is Lacey Renee Fithian (@lacey.fithian), and I'm 34. I live in California and I'm a mother and wellness coach. After struggling with binge eating for years and reaching 285 pounds, I decided to start tracking my food intake and working out with an at-home fitness streaming service. I feel younger now than I did in my 20s.

My weight issues began very early on. As early as elementary school, I struggled with eating disorders. I would hide food in my closet and under my bed. I regularly binge ate in secret. I was much heavier than all of my classmates, and I was bullied terribly for being overweight throughout my school years and into my early adult years. I had trouble finding clothing in my size.

My mother tried so hard to help me to lose the weight and get healthy by signing me up for numerous diet plans. Plans worked short term, but I didnt maintain the results. I had the mindset that I would never change and food would always have power over me. Thinking this way pushed me even deeper into my illness.

Before work, I would go through the drive-thru and order as much food as possible. Then, I would pull over in the parking lot or somewhere unseen and eat it all. This horrible cycle affected my ability to work and live a decent quality of life. I was literally living just to eat.

I began avoiding the doctor because I was always lectured on good food habits and exercise. I was warned that my weight was becoming dangerous for my stature, and I would do some irreversible damage to my body if I didnt make a change. But that didnt stop me.

I had a long list of health issues, many of which I thought stemmed from being overweight. The most notable issues were severe depression, anxiety, chronic hives, fatty liver disease, and endocrine issues. Most of my conditions required strong medications like hormone medications, steroids, and antidepressants. My weight also caused debilitating back pain and fluid in my knees. My entire system was overloaded from the level of neglect I had subjected it to. I was constantly in pain and uncomfortable.

Instead of changing my ways, though, I used food to console myself. At 32 years old, I was at my heaviest weight of 285 pounds.

I was 32 years old, and I woke up in the morning groggy and in pain. It hit me like a ton of bricks that I had finally hit rock bottom. I had eaten myself into a black hole over the holidays and felt absolutely run down. Everyone around me was setting New Year's resolutions and talking about the changes they hoped to make in the new year. I hadnt thought twice about my future until that moment.

I depended on a heap of medications to keep myself semi-functional. I couldnt keep up with my kids and had withdrawn from society. I wasnt exercising and I was on my way to a heart attack. Metabolic syndrome was kicking in on top of everything else. To be honest, I'd just had enough.

I had tried just about every restrictive diet out there and it never worked. The more I restricted myself, the more I wanted to binge eat. I needed something that wasnt just a diet; I needed a mindset and lifestyle change.

It came down to me becoming my own food detective. I focused on portioning my plate evenly and making sure that all the foods I chose were nutrient-dense and not empty calories. I wanted my calories to be worth it and work for me, not against me.

I also started tracking everything. I used to dread tracking my meals and weighing myself because I didnt want to admit I had a serious problem. But once I began tracking my weight, my water intake, my mood, and everything I ate (down to the condiments, dressings, and seasonings!), I was able to get a clear picture of what was working and what wasnt.

I began with walking and swimming at my heaviest weight and gradually worked my way up to more strenuous work, like yoga and cross training.

Now I work out at home using an on-demand fitness streaming service, where I can pick and choose a program that works for me. I typically do a structured program that is a certain length, like eight weeks or so, and each day the workouts focus on a different area, with at least one day of all cardio. I work out in the mornings at least five days a week, and my workouts range anywhere from 20 minutes to an hour.

I like that there's no guessworkyou just follow the videos. I have lost most of my weight this way, and the convenience of it has helped me stay on track. I dont have to pack up myself and my three kids to go work out.

By committing to myself, Ive been able to reverse the damage that was done to my body and eradicate the illnesses that plagued me for so long. I am virtually pain-free and I no longer depend on a plethora of medications to get me through the day. I take vitaminsand thats it!

Gone are the days of binge eating and trying to fill a void with food. I have learned how to properly eat to fuel my body and exercise to improve my overall health and well-being. Im 34 years old, and I feel better and younger now than I did in my 20s. My journey isnt over, its just beginning. This isnt a short-term goal for weight lossits a lifestyle change.

Read the rest here:
'I Overcame Binge Eating By Practicing Portion Control And At-Home WorkoutsAnd I Lost 150 Lbs.' - Women's Health

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