HOW I LOST 20LBS DURING COVID

I know, I know, many of you are going to say but Andrea you did not need to lose any weight? I hide it well but I did! And I must admit, the picture in the white T-shirt was one of my worst poses and I probably look heavier than what I was But....Here’s the deal: in August 2019, after Daisy passed I lost 10 pounds and I felt great but over the next six months or so I put it back on. As I was planning a trip to see my dear Kellyann in Florida in March of this year, I decided to start shedding some pounds in February. I upped my exercise game and cut out a lot of carbs and snacking. Unfortunately, Covid put a wrench into my trip south but I had gotten off about seven or 8 pounds and felt great! Enter Covid, while many people slowed down and snacking increased, I was just the opposite! With the initiation of my Instagram walk and talks, I was walking even more than usual. Kellyann and I would also Marco Polo with what we were eating and share recipes and motivation. She too shed the pound she wanted, looks amazing and we were very proud of each other.

February 2020 vs. May 2020

Down about 12 Pounds at this point

I started drinking the Premier Protein Shakes once every other day and put my snacking at bay! By June, I had lost 15 pounds and figured I was OK just stay there. But in addition to my walks and all my exercising in our pool, five more pounds came off and that’s what I’m fluctuating with now and I feel great! My legs are as skinny as they were in high school, LOL! 

SUMMER 1987 (16)

vs. SUMMER 2020 (49)

I know being in perimenopause, that menopause will be in full force just around the corner and I often hear people gain weight so I’m happy to have some leeway to work with in case I do and then I might not feel so bad.

 

And something very important I want you to remember and something that will stick in my mind forever. Never ever call somebody heavy or the “fat one” or the “big girl”, etc. I have only been called heavy a couple times in my life, but I will never ever ever forget it! Especially because I’ve never really been what you would consider heavy but regardless that doesn’t matter, it’s the persons feelings that matter! The most prominent was one time when I was getting my nails done & during that year I did gain excess weight from a medication and my nail girl said her and a client were talking about me and the lady referenced me as, “oh is she the heavy one?” WTH lady! Those kinds of comments hurt any human being to the core!

On Instagram many of you have asked me how I did it and I know that’s what you’re thinking and let me tell you, it’s really the basics! Back in 2002, I was on some medication that made me gain some weight and I was not happy with that at all since I was not used to getting a ton of weight unless it was to have a baby so I did the South Beach diet and lost 36 pounds. Now, this time I was nowhere near that weight and I didn’t want anything gimmicky, just healthy eating and increased movement!

I also have been doing intermittent fasting where I only eat from 10:30am to 6:30 pm, which occasional cheat times on weekend for about 2 years now. I swear by this!

 

I really truly want to stress that you have to be in the right frame of mind! You have to be dedicated and disciplined or it won’t happen. So, here is a list of what it took me to drop the weight, I know everyone is different but here it is:

-Increased Exercise from 4 miles a day 6 days a week to 5-6 miles 7 days a week

-Cut out snacks except occasional healthy ones like nuts, fruit, low carb candy like those from the Adkins line, and recipes like Cookie Dough Bombs

-Cut out most white flour and white sugar, used Stevia sugar replacement as needed 

-Only ate between 10:30 and 6:30 am (Intermittent Fasting)

-Ate lots of low-calorie salads with high protein added like chicken, bacon, nuts, etc. and used low-cal dressings or vinaigrettes

-Replaced one meal every other day with my Premier protein shakes

-Just stayed more active in general. Added in lots of pool exercises which I will miss this Winter but will continue to do stretching or some yoga

  

I swear by these, they are the YUMMIEST!!

BUY PREMIER PROTEIN HERE,  

HERE & HERE

SUMMER 2019 vs SUMMER 2020

Down 20 lbs

To be honest, it’s probably more like 15 pounds lost now considering all the Pumpkin Treats I’ve been indulging in, LOL!

YOU can do anything you put 

your mind too and ALWAYS BE KIND!!

LINKING-UP with Metamorphosis Monday// // Love your Creativity // Hello Monday 

xoxo