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,  

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!!




xoxo


39 comments:

  1. You look incredible my friend!! I am so glad you started this journey and motivated me! Love you to pieces!
    xo,
    Kellyann

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  2. Literally just the other day I came across your picture on IG and thought how thin you looked but then told myself you were already thin so my mind was playing tricks on me. But I was right!!!! That's awesome Andrea and I know you feel so much better!!
    Sarah at MeetTheShaneyfelts

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  3. You always look fit and healthy! I'm glad you feel good, that's what's important!

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  4. You look amazing, but you always have! I found the 20 pounds you lost, so I guess it's time for me to get to business. This covid stuff and the stress over how it did/could affect our daycare and school situation has prompted a pretty nasty nightime snacking routine. I need to quit that ASAP!

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  5. Oh, Andrea, you look so beautiful! I love that you have made some healthy changes, found where you feel your best, and are there!!! I know the feeling too. After having my third baby, I started working out and eating right and was in the best shape of my life. It felt amazing! On the note that nobody should ever call someone "fat," I will add that nobody should ever make comments about them being too skinny or too healthy. I got those comments before and they hurt too. :( I am proud of you!!!

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  6. Wow... good for you for feeling healthy & good! Never about the weight, right? But GIRLLL - let me tell you - menopause has kicked my butt with the weight around the middle so you're doing it right getting in front of it from the start. you're going to whiz right through it.
    This is so inspiring to me. Keep being the most healthy YOU! :)

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  7. You look amazing but like everyone else had already said, you looked stellar before as well! Way to go! I have some covid pounds I wouldn't mind shedding! xo, Biana BlovedBoston

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  8. So inspiring! I've heard great things about fasting and it's helpful to know it worked for you as well. "Covid" snacking has been my problem lately - and yes, menopause did a number on me! Ugh. Right now I'm walking 2 miles a day, 5 days a week but now you have me motivated to do more. You look great. Thanks for sharing your tips!
    Shelley

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  9. Congrats on this healthy lifestyle change! You look amazing Andrea. I would love to add intermittent fasting to my lifestyle. Need to check out these shakes too.

    https://www.kathrineeldridge.com

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  10. You are such an inspiration, my beautiful sis!! Thank you for sharing!! You look beautiful and as a person w a small frame like you, I understand how it can be. I am going to implement the intermittent fasting again!! need some of that pumpkin spice Premiere Protein! LY🧡

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  11. You look fabulous! I cant imagine anyone ever referring to you as the heavier lady. No way! Do you eat three meals a day while doing IF? I was doing IF when I was hard core keto earlier in the year, but started eating breakfast again in the mornings when covid hit. I work out at 5am and was having a hard time making it past 8 or 9 without wanting to die. But for awhile there when my workouts weren't as tough...it was easier. But I wasn't eating three meals, I was only eating 2 and a snack. And I wonder if it was more the fact that I was eating less in general than when I was eating, you know? Anyways, you are one hot mama!

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  12. I had no idea you'd need to lose anything, but great job! I would like to try intermittent fasting, but I normally start my day with my exercise and I get nauseous if I don't eat first.

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  13. WOW!!! my mouth is on the floor! you are amazing inside and out and just inspired me to get rid of the rest of this weight from COVID.

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  14. You look amazing! Cutting out those carbs will do it every time!!!

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  15. You look AH-mazing and of course I would love you no matter what you weighed!! Thank you for keeping me walking and focused during this awful Covid season. P.S. Will it ever end?

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  16. Girl, you look fabulous and you always have! I've always told you you look like a dang teenager!!!! You seriously seem to age backwards! Haha. I'm so happy for you and the healthy changes you've been making... first and foremost it's about feeling good!

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  17. Andrea- you always look amazing but thank you for sharing this post- I devoured every word- you are so inspirational and I will keep coming back here to read this and keep motivated XO

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  18. I thought you were looking extra slender. Well done, Andrea!

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  19. Way to go! I love hearing that is it is the good old fashioned way of eating healthy and exercising when someone loses weight! Looking fabulous!

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  20. You look fantastic!!! I'm off to buy more Premier Protein...LOL
    XOXO

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  21. You look great!! I was doing awesome with keeping my weight in check... until I've had to spent the last few weeks mostly in bed. I can not wait to be cleared for hiking/ exercise again.

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  22. You look GREAT!! I too have been in the best shape I've been in since probably before kids since Covid. I started to work out 6 days a week and I'm doing longer runs instead of short runs and I've kept up with my weight days. What has really helped me look my best is I've cut out a lot of saturated fat, I try to stay at 16-20g a day and by doing that I really can't eat a lot of processed junk and it is mostly healthy fats... which is fine with me! Plus, goodbye cellulite! Those premier protein shakes are the best. My husband stocks up on them at Costco. I did just see the cinnamon roll one at Target today and bought it. But, the chocolate flavor is my fave. I have 1 of them a day since I always struggle to get my 84g of protein a day! I love whole foods, etc. and then I get lots of fiber and all the other good things in them! I do allow myself a venti Starbucks once a week and then I'll sometimes have a cheat dinner on the weekend or an entire cheat day if I feel I've been really good. I am def. not perfect! LOL. I've also been moving to a more plant based diet, which Hello Fresh has a lot of great veggie options packed with protein still.

    Keep up the good work! I need to do more walks!!

    Carrie
    curlycraftymom.com

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  23. Ok you look great in both photos, but wow. I feel like I have lost weight since Covid as well. I try to limit my snacking to healthier items. I eat more salads. I work out 5 days a week and then go on walks the other two. I eat smaller portions and try to just get up more often. I do need to cut down on the alcohol and I am sure I would lose more. But basically you rock. I totally understand why you wanted to lose weight. we all just want to be healthy!

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  24. You always look amazing Andrea. It's great that you lost the weight during Covid and feel better. I too lost some weight during Covid as I'm exercising so much from my Zumba and yoga classes. We too are trying to eat healthier meals. I'm lucky as my husband makes us healthy protein shakes every morning! Congrats to you Andrea! :)

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  25. You look incredible my friend! My sister does intemittment fasting and I may try that. I have been doing the Daily Burn since Covid started and it is finally starting to pay off. I just wish that my butt would get smaller. Definitely gotta work on that. :-/ Anyway! A healthy lifestyle is very important to me so thank you for sharing all of this! XO

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  26. Dang girl! You always look amazing but I'm so happy that you feel good!
    I've been noticing how tiny your waist has been looking lately! I've been noticing my metabolism is not what it once was! I think it's hard to take time to make these changes and you have clearly rocked it!

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  27. WOw!! 20 lbs is a whole lot! You look wonderful. SO glad you found something that works for you but honestly, you are so beautiful on the inside, it just radiates on the outside as well!

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  28. Wow, that's fabulous Andrea!! It truly helps to cut down on the intake and increase the outtake!!
    OOXX
    Jodie
    www.jtouchofstyle.com

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  29. You look freaking amazing! So proud of your dedication!

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  30. Great job!! I think you look amazing in ALL the photos, and the most important thing is that you feel better! I too took the time during quarantine to step up my weight loss game. Since January I'm down 15! And I hear ya on the pumpkin snacks...I've probably gained all of it back by this point! lol luv ya!!

    Shauna

    www.lipglossandlace.net

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  31. Congrats...you look gorgeous!

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  32. You look amazing! Good for you for making these healthy lifestyle changes! You are so diligent! I always have the best intentions but I can't seem to stick to them!

    Jill - Doused in Pink

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  33. I seriously began noticing this a few months ago and was wondering! Great job! Kevin has lost 30 doing intermittent fasting and eating low carb with me, it really works. I am going back to work next week and plan to keep my portable stair stepper at my desk since I will be chained to it in zoom meetings and hiding from my coworkers, lol! Hopefully that will pop off the Covid 5 I gained. So proud of you friend!

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  34. You look fab before and after. I have heard a lot of great things about Intermittent fasting. I admire your determination. Great job!
    xoxo
    Lovely
    www.mynameislovely.com

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  35. I haven't had the dedication to stick to intermittent fasting but I have found recently that increasing my water intake makes a huge difference. I need to get back to it after 5 days on vacation. I do try to eat within a shorter frame of time and need walking/running has helped me not increase my weight. Now to get my butt off the couch and drink my water!
    You look great in both pics: but I know how the pounds creep up and being ahead of the game and feeling great is important.
    www.chezmireillefashiontravelmom.com

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  36. Congratulations!! You look great! :)

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  37. Andrea, you look great. Don't fall for the notion that menopause makes weight gain inevitable. Two things keep my weight perfectly stable: 16/8 intermittent fasting (3 years now, will never stop) and never consuming more than 6 teaspoons of sugar in a day (many years now, will never stop).

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  38. You look great. Unfortunately, I gained 15 during Covid and doing everything I can to lose it and just can’t! As you know, I am a Nutrisystem success story and lost 50 lbs. I had to give up a lot of NS foods to go on a low salt diet. I still try to eat according to their plan but sitting at home all day an no job (still) I am plumping up. Not sure what to do. I upped my exercise and eat healthy with occasional snacking. I will eat a sandwich sometimes for lunch. Maybe I should try replacing a meal with a shake too.
    Thanks for sharing!
    Lisa

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  39. You look great! Kudos to you. I tried, and tried, and seems no matter what I did, the pounds did not want to budge. I have a treadmill coming soon, so I'm looking forward to that.

    Alexandra
    EyeLoveKnots.com

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