Wendy’s Amazing 90lb Weight Loss Story!
My name is Wendy and I’m the writer of Daily Dose of Del Signore. I’m a Southern wife and mom who has lost over 90 pounds! I grew up a little chubby, but I really packed on the pounds when I married my husband in 2008. When we decided to have a baby, I figured I got an all-you-can-eat pass! I ate anything and everything because I thought the weight would just fall off once I gave birth. We welcomed a healthy little boy into our lives in November of 2009.
As a new mom, I was overwhelmed. The weight did not magically fall off. I also developed several health problems. My gallbladder failed, I had three herniated discs in my lower back, I suffered from depression, and I had daily heartburn to the point that I vomited blood.
On my son’s second birthday, I got my wake up call. Every family picture I was in felt ruined. I had a beautiful little boy and a handsome husband, but here I was severely obese and slowly killing myself. I didn’t fit in with my own family. Something had to change! I began with baby steps. I’d make one healthy change at a time. Eventually it all added up to a very active, healthy lifestyle.
I noticed that my health issues disappeared after I lost the first twenty pounds. My heartburn disappeared, my back felt much better, and my depression eased. Over time my husband and little boy began eating healthier with me. My lifestyle change influenced them as well. In April of this year, I became a licensed Zumba® fitness instructor. If you’d have told me three years ago that I would be dancing in front of a large group of people and inspiring others to lose weight, I would have thought you were insane. I love having the opportunity to share my story with others!
Wendy’s Weight Loss Diet And Workout Routine
I made baby steps. It takes 21 days to make something a habit and I tried to keep that in mind. I tried things over the past three years. Some things worked well, others didn’t. I kept reminding myself that I did not put this weight on overnight and it wouldn’t fall off that way either. I started with eating one big salad for a meal instead of eating fast food. Once I got used to that, I began drinking enough water for my body. Later on, I cut out a lot of processed foods. Towards the end of my weight loss journey I began counting macronutrients. Everything has evolved over time for me. I try to find things that I can make a part of my life and can do long term. Starving myself isn’t a long term solution. Working out four hours a day isn’t possible. But I am comfortable with the changes I’ve made and they can last a lifetime. That’s the key to making this work!
Weight Loss Diet:
Meal One: Whey Protein Shake and Milk
Meal Two: 1 cup Low Fat Cottage Cheese
Meal Three: Big salad with ranch dressing and my choice of lean protein (This is my largest meal of the day.) I top my salads with all kinds of veggies to keeps things interesting!
Meal Four: Pistachios or Cashews
Meal Five: Lean protein, veggies, and quinoa
Weight Loss Workout:
I teach four hours of Zumba® fitness each week. I normally burn 650-850 calories per hour. I am very high impact during my workouts. I want to begin incorporating weight lifting next.
Wendy Del Signore Interview
Weight Loss Stats
Before: Age: 27, Height: 5’5″, Weight: 232.5lbs, Dress Size: 16.
After: Age: 30, Height: 5’5″, Weight: 141lbs, Dress Size: 6/4.
How Did You Put On The Weight?
I ate a lot of fast food instead of cooking meals at home. I just did not care what I ate! I am a very emotional eater so every time I got upset, I turned to high calorie foods.
What Made You Start Getting Healthy?
My little boy! I felt like I was sitting on the sidelines of his life just watching him grow up. I wanted to be an active part of his life!
When did you start seeing results?
I noticed huge changes after I lost the first 20 pounds. It was so motivating!
How Did You Stay Motivated?
I set mini-goals. I would reward myself every time I reached one. Plus, seeing the changes in your body and having other people notice is a huge motivator!
What Advice Would You Give Someone Looking To Lose Weight?
Make small changes until they add up to a healthy lifestyle. Trying to change everything overnight is overwhelming and probably won’t last very long. Prepare your meals in advance so you won’t be as tempted to eat unhealthy.
What’s Your Number One Weight Loss Tip?
Drink enough water for your body! Most people are dehydrated. One of the earliest symptoms of dehydration is a feeling of hunger. A lot of the times we’re eating when we don’t really need to be! Take your body weight and divide it in half. That’s the number of ounces your body needs each day to stay properly hydrated.
How Do You Feel After Completing Such An Amazing Transformation?
I feel amazing! There’s not one piece of my life that didn’t change. It’s more than the weight loss and looking better. It’s feeling better. It’s the confidence that comes with knowing I took control of my life. It’s not feeling ashamed standing beside your family. Knowing that my story helps others is worth every single struggle I went through. I feel so empowered now. I took control of my out of control life and I conquered obesity. I feel strong, accomplished, and blessed.
For More Of Wendy Del Signore Please Check Out Her:
Website: http://www.dailydoseofdelsignore.com
Instagram: http://instagram.com/mrsdelsignore
Twitter: http://twitter.com/mrsdelsignore
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/mrsdelsignore/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Daily-Dose-of-Del-Signore/
Google +: https://plus.google.com/u/0/+WendyDelSignore/posts