At 14 years old, I stepped on the scale and weighed 230 pounds. I was obese and had been for my entire childhood. 

I was bullied, discriminated against, and ashamed of how out of shape I was at the ripe young age of 14. Then one day I decided to do something about it. 

Two weeks before my freshman year in high school started, I decided I was going to lose weight and transform my life forever. So, I went for a walk, quite literally taking the first steps towards my weight loss transformation. 

One year later, I was 100 pounds lighter and starting my sophomore year in high school as a different person. Losing 100 pounds completely changed my life and this is how. 

1. 1. More Confidence
2. 2. No More Stomach Problems
3. 3. More Energy
4. 4. No More Headaches 
5. 5. Sick Less Often
6. 6. More Disciplined and Motivated
7. Losing 100 Pounds: The Takeaway
8. Check Out Whitney’s Book!

1. More Confidence

My entire life I’d felt self-conscious because of my weight. It was the source of my misery. Losing 100 pounds opened up an entire new world for me. 

A world where I wasn’t ashamed of my size or scared to be seen. I was finally able to wear the clothing I wanted to wear and felt more comfortable in my own skin. Losing 100 pounds also made me less fearful of speaking up and being heard. 

I’d been shy my entire childhood, mostly from fear of drawing attention to myself. Growing up bullied, you learn that the less attention you draw towards yourself, the better. 

But the newfound confidence I gained from accomplishing my weight loss goal allowed me to feel more free and worthy of attention. 

2. No More Stomach Problems

When I was fat, I was consistently overeating. Even worse, I was overeating things that I would later find out I was allergic to.

My stomach was always upset, bloated, or constipated, but I never stopped eating long enough to figure out why. It didn’t help that most of my diet was processed foods or fast foods. Too much sugar, grease, and dairy can wreak havoc on your digestive system. 

Learning to not only eat less but eat healthier options made a world of difference for my digestive system. Losing 100 pounds meant I no longer had debilitating stomach aches that would leave me sitting on a toilet for half an hour. 

It sounds crazy to think that I never made the connection before to my stomach problems and how much I was eating. However, food is a hell of an addiction. 

3. More Energy

Who knew that feeling tired and sluggish all the time wasn’t normal? I certainly didn’t. 

My normal routine consisted of coming home after school and heading straight to the couch to do my homework and watch television. 

The most exercise I got was walking home from the bus stop after school. Combine almost no exercise with a diet full of processed foods and it’s no wonder I was low on energy all the time. 

Exercising regularly was a total life changer for me. It made me feel more energetic and healthier than ever. It was so exciting to see what my body was capable of doing.

I had no idea I would love exercise as much as I did or that it would open up new worlds for me, like running marathons, going for hikes, and lifting weights. 

Losing 100 pounds gave me the confidence and the fitness to be more adventurous with my life and do things I never would have imagined doing when I was fat. 

4. No More Headaches 

One thing I noticed after losing 100 pounds was that I didn’t have headaches anymore. In Elementary and Middle school, I remember having throbbing headaches that would come and go. 

After losing weight, I haven’t had one since. Nope, not even after drinking too much wine. 

To be fair, I don’t know that I can completely attribute this strange coincidence to weight loss. However, considering so many other things got better for me after losing weight, I wouldn’t be surprised if this was another positive side effect. 

5. Sick Less Often

When I was fat I got sick a lot. It felt like I was always coming down with something whether it be a common cold or sore throat. 

After losing 100 pounds, I rarely had any sick days. One school semester I even got an award for perfect attendance. Looking back on it now, it made sense that I was getting sick less often. 

Not getting sick meant I had a stronger  immune system, which is a result of eating healthy and regular exercise. I didn’t know it then but being fat was quite literally making me sick. 

To this day, being sick is a rare occurrence for me. 

6. More Disciplined and Motivated

My weight loss journey taught me how to work hard and make sacrifices for the things I want. It taught me that my actions determine my outcome, a lesson I think everyone should understand. 

Losing 100 pounds made me feel more powerful and confident than ever. Not just because I liked how I looked, but because I realized what I was capable of. 

It made me feel as if I could do anything I set my mind to, which  is an incredibly powerful and motivating feeling that I wish everyone could experience for themselves. 

Losing 100 Pounds: The Takeaway

Being obese held me back from being my healthiest, most successful version of myself. 

Losing 100 pounds was one of my greatest accomplishments and best decision of my life. 

The truth is, obesity kills. When you finally admit to yourself that your weight is a problem and make the changes necessary to lose weight, you will be amazed at the different life you will be living. 

Don’t let your weight be the reason you don’t live the life you dreamed of. Remember, it’s never too late to start but waiting one more day could be too late. 

Start now and don’t ever stop.

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Thanks for reading! If you’d like to hear more about my weight loss story, check out my book 1 Year 100 Pounds. 

Also, be sure to follow me on Instagram, Tik Tok, and YouTube for weight loss tips and workout motivation!

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Check Out Whitney’s Book!