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I Lost 10 Pounds in 30 Days With Walking and Eating Real Food

Here’s how Ashley did it.

FACT CHECKED BY Christopher Roback
Ashley_Fairley_Simple_Life1
FACT CHECKED BY Christopher Roback

YouTuber Ashley (@Fairley Simple Life) lost 10 pounds in 30 days using the most simple, easy, and straightforward methods ever. She makes the point that it’s not something that happens overnight, and by taking it slow and steady, she reached her weight loss goals in a reasonable amount of time and couldn’t be happier with the results. So, how exactly did she do it? Ashley says it’s down to two specific things. Read on to find out more!


Walking 10K Steps a Day

Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Feb 20, 2022. A Person with an Apple Watch Series 7 with a pedometer app on the screen and with a daily ten thousand steps.Shutterstock

Ashley made sure to hit 10k steps every single day. Walking has many benefits for overall health, wellness, and fitness. “Physical activity, such as walking, is important for weight control because it helps you burn calories,” says Donald Hensrud, M.D. via Mayo Clinic. “If you add 30 minutes of brisk walking to your daily habits, you could burn about 150 more calories a day. Of course, the more you walk and the quicker your pace, the more calories you'll burn.”

Weight Watchers

Lafayette - Circa April 2017: Weight Watchers Meeting Location. Oprah Winfrey is a Weight Watchers Spokesperson and Stockholder IVShutterstock

Ashley used Weight Watchers (WW) to get her diet under control and stay in a deficit. “WW is a weight loss program that uses a combination of simplified food tracking and support from coaches and other members to help people lose weight,” Cara Everett, MS, RDN, LDN, says via NCOA. “The company claims you can lose 1–2 pounds per week on the program, which is a safe rate of weight loss according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).”

Slow and Steady

High Angle View Of A Human Foot On Weighing ScaleShutterstock

By losing 10 pounds in one month, Ashley was only slightly ahead of the official guidelines for 1-2 pounds a month for safe, sustainable weight loss. By using WW, she enjoyed real foods while still dropping pounds. “Don’t have a dieting mentality,” obesity medicine physician Jeffrey McDaniel, MD, tells Piedmont Health. “Have a lifestyle-change mentality.”

Interval Walking

Young african american woman drinking water, having break during training outdoors, thirsty black female enjoying refreshing drink after jogging, wearing wireless earphones and armband, copy spaceShutterstock

By focusing on walking, Ashley simplified her workouts and made weight loss easier. Walking can be adapted if you want to burn even more calories. “You can also alternate periods of brisk walking with leisurely walking,” say the experts at the Mayo Clinic. “This type of interval training has many benefits, such as improving cardiovascular fitness and burning more calories than regular walking. And interval training can be done in less time than regular walking.”

Don’t Feel Restricted to 10K

Young,Woman,Enjoying,Her,Vacation,At,The,Sea,-woman,WalkingShutterstock

If you want to walk more than 10k steps a day, go for it. The more calories burned, the faster the weight will come off. What’s important is moving throughout the day. “It takes effort, but we can accumulate 15,000 steps a day by walking briskly for two hours at about a four-mile-per-hour pace,” Dr. William Tigbe, a physician and public health researcher at the University of Warwick, tells the New York Times. “This can be done in bits. Our metabolism is not well-suited to sitting down all the time.”

Incline Walking

Two fit young women friends exercising in a park running up the hill. Active healthy lifestyle and outdoor workout conceptShutterstock

Want to give your walking workouts an edge? Start walking on an incline. “The higher you set the incline, the more energy your body is forced to use to help activate your glutes, quadriceps, and calves, all of which have to put in overtime when the incline is increased,” certified personal trainer Chrys Crockett tells NBC News. “This increase of energy burns more calories and, depending on your weight and cardiovascular endurance, can also burn more fat.”

RELATED: 7 Proven Tips to Build Muscle After 45 (And No, It’s Not Too Late)

Track Your Food

June 20, 2023, Brazil. In this photo illustration, the Weight Watchers (WW International) logo is displayed on a smartphone screenShutterstock

One way to make your WW experience more successful is to track exactly what you are eating. “Registry showed that 74.4% of members who lost at least 20 pounds on WeightWatchers and kept it off for at least a year track their food most of the time or all of the time,” according to WW.

Meal Prep

Set yourself up for success by planning your meals ahead. “When you’re busy and don’t know what’s for dinner, it’s more tempting to go for the easy option, like the restaurant drive-through, rather than the more time-intensive choice of thinking about what to cook, ensuring you have the ingredients on hand, and making a meal at home,” says WW. And if you enjoyed this article, take advantage of these 15 Quick Ways to Lose Body Fat Percentage in a Week.

More For You

FACT CHECKED BY Christopher Roback
Fact-Checked

Our content is fact checked by our senior editorial staff to reflect accuracy and ensure our readers get sound information and advice to make the smartest, healthiest choices.

We adhere to structured guidelines for sourcing information and linking to other resources, including scientific studies and medical journals.

If you have any concerns about the accuracy of our content, please reach out to our editors by e-mailing editors@bodynetwork.com.

YouTuber Ashley (@Fairley Simple Life) lost 10 pounds in 30 days using the most simple, easy, and straightforward methods ever. She makes the point that it’s not something that happens overnight, and by taking it slow and steady, she reached her weight loss goals in a reasonable amount of time and couldn’t be happier with the results. So, how exactly did she do it? Ashley says it’s down to two specific things. Read on to find out more!


Walking 10K Steps a Day

Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Feb 20, 2022. A Person with an Apple Watch Series 7 with a pedometer app on the screen and with a daily ten thousand steps.Shutterstock

Ashley made sure to hit 10k steps every single day. Walking has many benefits for overall health, wellness, and fitness. “Physical activity, such as walking, is important for weight control because it helps you burn calories,” says Donald Hensrud, M.D. via Mayo Clinic. “If you add 30 minutes of brisk walking to your daily habits, you could burn about 150 more calories a day. Of course, the more you walk and the quicker your pace, the more calories you'll burn.”

Weight Watchers

Lafayette - Circa April 2017: Weight Watchers Meeting Location. Oprah Winfrey is a Weight Watchers Spokesperson and Stockholder IVShutterstock

Ashley used Weight Watchers (WW) to get her diet under control and stay in a deficit. “WW is a weight loss program that uses a combination of simplified food tracking and support from coaches and other members to help people lose weight,” Cara Everett, MS, RDN, LDN, says via NCOA. “The company claims you can lose 1–2 pounds per week on the program, which is a safe rate of weight loss according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).”

Slow and Steady

High Angle View Of A Human Foot On Weighing ScaleShutterstock

By losing 10 pounds in one month, Ashley was only slightly ahead of the official guidelines for 1-2 pounds a month for safe, sustainable weight loss. By using WW, she enjoyed real foods while still dropping pounds. “Don’t have a dieting mentality,” obesity medicine physician Jeffrey McDaniel, MD, tells Piedmont Health. “Have a lifestyle-change mentality.”

Interval Walking

Young african american woman drinking water, having break during training outdoors, thirsty black female enjoying refreshing drink after jogging, wearing wireless earphones and armband, copy spaceShutterstock

By focusing on walking, Ashley simplified her workouts and made weight loss easier. Walking can be adapted if you want to burn even more calories. “You can also alternate periods of brisk walking with leisurely walking,” say the experts at the Mayo Clinic. “This type of interval training has many benefits, such as improving cardiovascular fitness and burning more calories than regular walking. And interval training can be done in less time than regular walking.”

Don’t Feel Restricted to 10K

Young,Woman,Enjoying,Her,Vacation,At,The,Sea,-woman,WalkingShutterstock

If you want to walk more than 10k steps a day, go for it. The more calories burned, the faster the weight will come off. What’s important is moving throughout the day. “It takes effort, but we can accumulate 15,000 steps a day by walking briskly for two hours at about a four-mile-per-hour pace,” Dr. William Tigbe, a physician and public health researcher at the University of Warwick, tells the New York Times. “This can be done in bits. Our metabolism is not well-suited to sitting down all the time.”

Incline Walking

Two fit young women friends exercising in a park running up the hill. Active healthy lifestyle and outdoor workout conceptShutterstock

Want to give your walking workouts an edge? Start walking on an incline. “The higher you set the incline, the more energy your body is forced to use to help activate your glutes, quadriceps, and calves, all of which have to put in overtime when the incline is increased,” certified personal trainer Chrys Crockett tells NBC News. “This increase of energy burns more calories and, depending on your weight and cardiovascular endurance, can also burn more fat.”

RELATED: 7 Proven Tips to Build Muscle After 45 (And No, It’s Not Too Late)

Track Your Food

June 20, 2023, Brazil. In this photo illustration, the Weight Watchers (WW International) logo is displayed on a smartphone screenShutterstock

One way to make your WW experience more successful is to track exactly what you are eating. “Registry showed that 74.4% of members who lost at least 20 pounds on WeightWatchers and kept it off for at least a year track their food most of the time or all of the time,” according to WW.

Meal Prep

Set yourself up for success by planning your meals ahead. “When you’re busy and don’t know what’s for dinner, it’s more tempting to go for the easy option, like the restaurant drive-through, rather than the more time-intensive choice of thinking about what to cook, ensuring you have the ingredients on hand, and making a meal at home,” says WW. And if you enjoyed this article, take advantage of these 15 Quick Ways to Lose Body Fat Percentage in a Week.

FACT CHECKED BY Christopher Roback
Fact-Checked

Our content is fact checked by our senior editorial staff to reflect accuracy and ensure our readers get sound information and advice to make the smartest, healthiest choices.

We adhere to structured guidelines for sourcing information and linking to other resources, including scientific studies and medical journals.

If you have any concerns about the accuracy of our content, please reach out to our editors by e-mailing editors@bodynetwork.com.

Do you want to lose weight fast and keep it off? Dropping 10 pounds in the next few months is easier than you think. All it takes is making a few simple lifestyle changes – and learning from other weight loss warriors who came before you is always a great idea. Here are 20 ways 12 people who lost over 10 pounds in 4 months achieved their weight loss goals.


Gen Cohen Lost 10 Pounds in 2 Months by Maintaining a Caloric Deficit

In a recent Instagram post, Gen Cohen, CNC, shared how she lost 10lbs in the first two months of her health journey. “What I would do is eat in a modest caloric deficit, which if you're a woman watching this video means you'll probably be eating an average of 1500 to 2000 calories per day in order to lose weight,” she says.

She Also Used an App

New Delhi, India 4 September 2023:- My fitness pal app on iphone used to calculate caloriesShutterstock

Apps also helped Cohen achieve her weight loss goals. “I would download an app like MyFitnessPal and preplan my meals the day before to make sure I was able to hit my calories and my protein goal while still enjoying my social life,” she continued.

And, She Drank A LOT of Water

Happy beautiful young woman drinking water. Smiling caucasian female model holding transparent glass in her hand. Closeup. Focus on the armShutterstock

Another helpful habit in her weight loss was investing in a big water bottle. “I would drink 16 ounces of water before getting out of bed in the morning, which helps regulate your cortisol and stress levels throughout the day,” she says. “And I would also drink 16 ounces of water before each meal. This will help you feel full quicker while you're still learning proper portion control.”

Blake Sanburg Lost 23 Pounds in 2 Months by Hitting the Gym

@thenutritionnarc

10 weight loss tips

Blake Sanburg (@thenutritionnarc) is a diet and fitness influencer with over 415,900 TikTok followers who lost 23 pounds in two months. His number one tip to lose weight? “Start going to the gym,” Blake suggests. “Do weightlifting and cardio. This will help not only burn calories, but it'll also increase your muscle mass, which will make you seem less fat.”

He Also Avoided “Liquid Calories”

Barman prepares exotic cocktails at the night clubShutterstock

“Number two, avoid liquid calories such as sugary drinks, alcohol, soda, and stuff like that instead of diet soda,” Blake continued. “These are scientifically proven to be the easiest calories to cut out.”

He Amped Up His Protein Intake

High protein food for body builders as meat, fish, dairy, eggs, buckwheat, oatmeal, nuts, bean, pumpkin seed and sunflower seed. Top view.Shutterstock

Blake also amped up his protein intake. “The general rule of thumb is one gram of protein per pound of body weight. So if your goal weight is 150 pounds, try to eat 150 grams of protein.”

RELATED:Wegovy vs Ozempic: Pros and Cons for Weight Loss Treatment

He Took Progress Pictures

Portrait of proud bodybuilder boasting his arm muscles taking selfie in gym mirror flexing biceps after working outShutterstock

And, for accountability purposes, “take progress pictures,” he said. “It is very tough to see changes when you're looking at yourself every single day. So go back and look at the first day.”

Cam Jones Lost 10 Pounds in 50 Days by Rigorously Tracking His Eating Habits

Cam Jones, one half of the brother influencer duo who make up Goal Guys, a YouTube account providing “different goals in fitness and productivity,” revealed in a viral video how he lost 10 pounds in 50 days.

“I genuinely do not understand how I've put on so much weight. I eat pretty healthy. I exercise two to three times a week, so what am I doing wrong?” he says in the video, setting a goal of losing 10 pounds of body fat in 50 days. Cam starts with a goal of “paying careful attention” to nutrition.

“The first thing I'm aiming for a daily calorie goal of just 1900 calories, and as crazy as it is to say I actually think my current diet is pretty healthy, so I'm also going to track every food I eat for the next 50 days to figure out where I've been going wrong,” he says

He Also Cut Snacks

Unsweetened,Baking,Block,Chocolate,,Cocoa,Powder,And,Cocoa,Beans,Shutterstock

Cam points out that the little snacks you eat in the day add up. Just three squares of dark chocolate, half a bag of popcorn in one glass of wine total 660 calories. “I was severely underestimating how many calories were in those snacks because I was having those four times a week,” he says, pointing out “that's an extra 2,400 calories per week. That's more than I'm going to eat today. So no wonder I was putting on weight even though I was exercising.”

Melissa Lattari Lost 15 Pounds in a Month by Reducing Sodium Intake

@melissa.lattari

Replying to @A how to lose 10lbs of water #fyp #wateretention #howtofixbloating #weightloss #weightlosshack #viral

Melissa Lattari (@melissa.lattari) dropped 15 pounds in a month, explaining in a viral video how she did it. “Losing 10 to 15 pounds of water weight is easier than you think it is,” she says in the clip. Melissa maintains that dropping the weight is simple. “The easiest way to lose water weight, okay, listen up, is by switching up your diet,” she maintains. “Water retention happens when we're consuming too much sodium in our diet,” she continues. “Therefore, if you're eating a lot of overly processed foods such as pizza, frozen foods, prepackaged foods or going out and eating at a restaurant where they usually cook most foods with vegetable oils, your body is going to obtain more water.”

Sydney St-Aubin Lost 20 Pounds in 4 Months by Increasing Her Steps Every Day

@sydneystaubin

19 lbs down since january and still going 👏🏻 here’s what i’ve been doing and what i plan to continue to do to reach my goal by hopefully september 🤍 #weightloss #caloricdeficit #athomeworkouts #weightlosstransformation #weightlossprogram

Weight loss coach Sydney St-Aubin, who goes by the TikTok handle @sydneystaubin, revealed that she lost a whopping 20 pounds in less than four months. One of her main recommendations? Not only should you “get your steps in,” but “increase your steps every single day,” she suggests. “Try to get a little bit better.” How many steps should you strive for?

A 2018 study published in the journal Obesity found a link between walking 10,000 steps a day and weight loss and weight management. Other studies published by the Journal of American Medical Association (JAMA) in JAMA Neurology and in JAMA Internal Medicine also linked walking 10,000 steps a day to less dementia and less cardiovascular disease overall, with less heart disease, less heart failure and fewer strokes.

Jenna Evelyn Lost 20 Pounds in Three Months by Meal Prepping

@jennaevelynnn

How I lost 15-20 pounds after my freshman year of college. 10k steps a day, low-cal, high protein meals, and strength training + pilates! #weightloss #freshman15 #howilostweight #weightransformation #healthylifestyle #mealprep #pilates

Jenna Evelyn (@jennaevelyn) is lost “15 to 20 pounds in two to three months” after “gaining the freshman 15” while living on campus during her first year of college. In one viral TikTok video, she reveals that meal prepping and using high-quality ingredients were crucial to her weight loss. “It was so important that I made enough time to meal prep local, high-protein meals so that they were always on hand,” she said. There is scientific evidence supporting the benefits of meal planning.

Studies the more meals you eat prepared away from home, the higher your risk of cardiovascular disease, cancer, and early death. And, one study published in the International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity found meal planning was associated with a healthier diet and less obesity.

Isis Kellier Lost 15 Pounds in 6 Weeks by Intermittent Fasting

Isis Kellier revealed in one TikTok video that she dropped an average of 2.5 pounds a week and 15 pounds in 6 weeks by intermittent fasting, or “OMAD,” she reveals, which stands for “one meal a day. “The Lightly intermittent fasting app helps to keep everything on track,” she added.

In another video, she details what she eats in a day, starting at 2:00 pm with two glasses of green juice followed by a bowl of fruit. For her main meal of the day, “dinner,” she eats at 4:00 pm and enjoys spicy vodka pasta with a grilled chicken breast on top. At 5:30 pm, she drinks two Premiere Protein shakes.

Nour T Lost 40 Pounds in 5 Months by Eating Less

@nourrtann

the best weight loss hack, have you heard of it before? #volumeeatinghack #volumeating #volumeeatinghacks #weightlosshacks #sustainableweightlosstips #sustainableweightlosstip #realisticweightlossmeals

Nour T (@nourrtann/) lost a whopping 40 pounds in just five months with one simple habit. In one of her viral videos, she reveals that no matter what diet you want to go on, simply eating less will result in weight loss. “One thing I will say: Keto, paleo, Atkins, high protein, low fat, low carb, whatever it is, they all work. They all work because you're probably eating less,” she continues. “And also, please remember that eating healthy and eating to lose weight are completely different things.”

She Also Started Volume Eating

Freshly grated raw cauliflower rice in wooden bowlShutterstock

“In my opinion, the most sustainable way to lose weight without tracking calories or stressing out is volume eating. Volume eating is in no means a diet plan. It is actually just a technique,” Nour continues. “You're basically mainly eating large amounts of low-calorie foods, so some examples of that would be like instead of having a cup of rice, you would have a half cup of rice and then a half cup of cauliflower rice,” she says. Another example? “Instead of having a whole serving of pasta, you would split it in half and then have zoodles,” she adds, explaining that you would mix in your cauliflower rice with your rice or zucchini noodles with your noodles. “You're eating the same exact amount as you would've, but the calories you're cut in half, and you're allowing yourself to eat much more vegetables, which are good for you,” she says.

RELATED:I Lost Over 50 Pounds Doing the 75 Hard Method

Briana Farnsworth Lost 30 Pounds in 3 Months by Interval Training on a Treadmill

@brianafarnsworthx

Replying to @$ I like to implement other workouts everyone now and then but I swear by walks!! #walkingroutine #hotgirlwalks #slimlegs #slimarms #weightloss #modelworkout #modelroutine #modelarms

Briana Farnsworth (@brianafarnsworthx) lost a whopping 30 pounds in three months just by walking. “People literally don't believe me when I tell them that I changed my body from this to this just by walking alone,” she says in the clip. Her key to losing weight with walking is doing interval training on an incline. “So my treadmill has this option here, it's called Fat Burner, and I love this one. It alternates between the incline of 1.5 to 4.5, and then I usually keep my speed between 3 and 4,” she explains, adding that if you don’t have that option, you can manually change the incline and speed accordingly.

Blake Also Amped Up His Fiber Intake

Healthy natural ingredients containing dietary fiber. Healthy high fiber diet eating concept with antioxidants and vitaminsShutterstock

Blake (@thenutritionnarc) offers another weight loss tip that helped him get in shape, “eat more fiber,” he says. This is probably one of the most underrated macronutrients. It's not a macronutrient, but it is one of the most underrated things you can eat. It will not only keep you full, it'll improve your gut microbiome health, and it'll also keep you regular,” he explains.

Keisha Lost 40 Pounds in One Month by Filling Up on Healthy Fats

@kickweightwithkeisha

#grocerylist #kickweightwithkeisha @Kick Weight With Keisha

Keisha (@kickweightwithkeisha) is a diet and fitness influencer who lost 40 pounds in just one month. She claims that amping up her intake of healthy fats was instrumental in her weight loss. “Fats are going to consist of things like avocados, olive oil, avocado oil, butter, sour cream, heavy whipping cream, and cheese,” she says.

RELATED: 15 Quick Ways to Lose Body Fat Percentage in a Week

And, by Cutting Out Added Sugar

Coffee blended with ghee butter and MCT coconut oil, paleo, keto, ketogenic drink breakfast.Shutterstock

“Now, the only thing that I drank, water, tea, and coffee,” she continued. However she avoided buying calorie-heavy sweeteners. “Okay, if you're going to do sugar for your tea and your coffee, you want to do a natural sugar substitute, which are things like Stevia, monk, fruit, Truvia,” she says.

Amber Clemens Lost 160 Pounds by Eating Fast Food

@amber_c_fitness

Something I still struggle with after losing 160 pounds ❤️ #weightloss #weightlossstruggle #growingupfat #beforeandafter #fatphobia #thinprivilege

Amber Clemens (@amber_c_fitness) is a weight loss warrior and influencer on TikTok who lost a whopping 160 pounds while still eating fast food. In a viral video, she describes her before meal at Wendy’s: A Four for Four meal with a Junior cheeseburger, four piece chicken nugget, a small fry, “and I would actually order an additional six piece nugget because I wanted 10 and I would get a large root beer and that one meal would be 1,450 calories,” she says, noting “that's not including any dipping sauces that I would get to dip this stuff in, but I couldn't find the nutrition information for that.”

Now, she chooses from two lower calorie alternatives, the apple pecan salad “because it's so filling,” she says. “You get a high volume of food for about 550 calories.” Her other option is a six piece nugget and a small fry paired with a medium light lemonade. “And you can get that meal for 545 calories,” she says. “It's not about cutting things out, it's about finding things that you like equally as much, making swaps in moderation,” she points out. Read about more of her swaps here.

FACT CHECKED BY Christopher Roback
Fact-Checked

Our content is fact checked by our senior editorial staff to reflect accuracy and ensure our readers get sound information and advice to make the smartest, healthiest choices.

We adhere to structured guidelines for sourcing information and linking to other resources, including scientific studies and medical journals.

If you have any concerns about the accuracy of our content, please reach out to our editors by e-mailing editors@bodynetwork.com.

TikTok influencer Megan (MeggyLosing) lost over 100 pounds in 6 months and kept it off despite living with PCOS and Hypothyroidism. “Don’t believe the lie that you can’t lose weight with PCOS and Hypothyroidism. It’s not easy, but IT’S WORTH IT,” she says. Here are the simple lifestyle changes that helped Megan change her life.


Eating Real Food

@meggylosing

How I lost 100 lbs in 6 months part 1–I cleaned up my diet ❤️ #weightloss #pcos #pcosweightloss #pcosdiet #extremeweightloss #hypothyroidism #100lbsdown #100poundsdown #musclegain #losingweight #losingfatgainingmuscle #gainingmuscle #hypothyroidismdiet #fitness #fitnessmotivation #weightlossjourney #weightlosstips #naturalweightloss #beforeandafterweightloss #beforeandafter #progressoverperfection

Megan changed her diet to focus on good protein and vegetables. “The first thing I did and probably the most important was to change my diet,” she says. “I prioritized protein and vegetables on my plate every meal, I ate lots of chicken, tuna, salmon, turkey. I ate lean beef, I ate tons of vegetables.”

Berries and Nuts

Mix of fresh berries in a basket on rustic wooden backgroundShutterstock

Megan added lots of healthy berries, nuts, and complex carbs like sweet potatoes to her diet. She also enjoyed grains such as quinoa as part of her PCOS-friendly diet. “I ate like that for a long time,” she says.

RELATED: 7 Breakfast Ideas to Kickstart Your Metabolism

Technology Help

@meggylosing

how I lost 100 lbs with pcos and hypothyroidism, part 2–clean up the diet and track calories #weightloss #pcos #pcosweightloss #pcosdiet #extremeweightloss #hypothyroidism #100lbsdown #100poundsdown #musclegain #losingweight #losingfatgainingmuscle #gainingmuscle #hypothyroidismdiet #fitness #fitnessmotivation #weightlossjourney #weightlosstips #naturalweightloss #beforeandafterweightloss #beforeandafter #progressoverperfection

Megan used a food tracking app to make sure she wasn’t overeating. “I downloaded the free version of MyFitnessPal and started weighing and tracking my food,” she says. “Women with PCOS often don’t make enough of the hormone that tells your brain you’re full so you’re hungry all the time.”

Get a Food Scale

Steak of salmon fish in a black plate on digital scale displaying 200 gram.Shutterstock

Megan was shocked when she realized the portions she was eating were so much more than she thought. “I had tried just eating real foods without tracking my calories,” she says. “I overate even real foods so I overate.”

RELATED:I'm a Celebrity Trainer and This is What I Eat in a Week to Stay Healthy and Fit

30 Minutes a Day

@meggylosing

How I lost 100 lbs in 6 months with pcos and hypothyroidism, part 3 —exercise #weightloss #pcos #pcosweightloss #pcosdiet #extremeweightloss #hypothyroidism #100lbsdown #100poundsdown #musclegain #losingweight #losingfatgainingmuscle #gainingmuscle #hypothyroidismdiet #fitness #fitnessmotivation #weightlossjourney #weightlosstips #naturalweightloss #beforeandafterweightloss #beforeandafter #progressoverperfection

Megan committed to at least 30 minutes of exercise a day. “Initially, I would do a lot of walking and jogging,” she says. “I also did free YouTube workout videos in my living room because I had three small boys, and alone time just wasn’t going to happen.”

Building Muscle

Fitness,,workout,,Gym,Exercise,,Healthy,In,Exercise,kettleball,weights,kettlebellShutterstock

Megan realized early on that the more muscle she had, the more calories she was burning. “Weight lifting became my number one form of exercise,” she says. “I thought I would hate it and it became my favorite. I would encourage you to at least try it.”

RELATED: 5 Sleeping Positions Destroying Your Posture Overnight – and 3 You Should Try

Calories and Protein

@meggylosing

How I lost 100 lbs in 6 months with pcos and hypothyroidism, part 4–macros? Calories? Protein? ##weightloss##pcos##pcosweightloss##pcosdiet##extremeweightloss ##hypothyroidism##100lbsdown##100poundsdown##musclegain##losingweight##losingfatgainingmuscle##gainingmuscle##hypothyroidismdiet##fitness##fitnessmotivation##weightlossjourney##weightlosstips##naturalweightloss##beforeandafterweightloss##beforeandafter##progressoverperfection

Megan counted calories to ensure she was in a deficit, and counted protein to make that deficit easier to handle. “You want to be able to lose weight without feeling ravenously hungry because the more hungry you are the more likely you are to overeat,” she says. Megan also counted protein to make sure she was building muscle while losing fat.

💪🔥Body Booster: Making sustainable changes will lead to long-term success.

@meggylosing

3.5 years ago I lost 100 lbs in 6 months through changing my diet and exercising. Don’t believe the lie that you can’t lose weight with PCOS and Hypothyroidism. It’s not easy, but ITS WORTH IT. #beforeandafter #beforeandafterweightloss #pcos #pcosweightloss #hypothyroidism #pcosdiet #weightlosstips #weightlosscheck #extremeweightloss #100poundsdown #100lbsdown

Cara_Peterkin1
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Have you been struggling to lose weight but aren’t sure where to start? One expert has some game-changing advice on how to do it. Cara Peterkin is a fitness professional and YouTuber who weighs 250 pounds. “Now I'm 140 pounds, and I'm gonna tell you exactly how I lost the weight,” she says, revealing that the process took two and a half years, “and I've maintained my weight for the past year.”


Childhood Eating Habits Shaped Her Relationship with Food

Cara reveals that she grew up with unhealthy eating habits. “Quick backstory: my parents were all about ease, easily getting food to us, which meant minimal cooking. We go to Chick-fil-A, we'll go to McDonald's, we'll go to the Mexican restaurant, quick box mac and cheese, whatever was easy. That's what they did. And that set the tone for my relationship with food for the rest of my life,” she says in her post.

She Gained a Lot of Weight During Her First Two Pregnancies But Lost It

Weight Gain. Desperate Black Girl Crying Standing On Weight-Scales Slimming, Not Losing Weight On A Diet At Home. Copy SpaceShutterstock

Cara first struggled with her weight when she got pregnant at 15 and went from 150 to 192 pounds. “Typically pregnant women should only gain about 20 to 25 pounds, according to Google, but I gained 42 pounds,” she says. However, she lost it pretty easily because she was young, following a calorie deficit and exercising. When she went to college, the “food inconsistency” and “unhealthy patterns really started to return,” she says. “I definitely gained the college 30, so I went from 150 to 180. Her senior year of college she got pregnant again and went from 180 to 225 pounds.

“That was tough. I definitely looked at myself differently, and I had to adjust. I tried to adjust to the weight and just said, ‘Hey Karen, you may be that girl over 200 pounds, and you need to accept it.’ But I was so uncomfortable. I tried different weight loss methods, and I started with Weight Watchers, which got me down to about 200 pounds.”

She Ended Up 250 Pounds After Her Last Pregnancy and Couldn’t Lose It

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She then “had to kick it in high gear “ and tried to clean her diet and eliminate processed foods. “With diet, exercise, plenty of strength training, and walking, I was able to get to about 160 pounds, which was amazing. Of course, life happened. What does that mean? I went through a depression, I went through different things in my life, and I ended up gaining weight a little bit, a little bit, a little bit, a little bit until it was a lot of it and ended up at about 190 pounds average. And it was tough. I would do different yo-yo diets, try different methods, get down to 180, but always would creep back up to that 190.” During her last pregnancy, she started at 190 pounds and went up to 250 pounds. “I could not even fathom being at that number, but I was there. I will tell you that it was probably the hardest thing for me to accept, but I just made it work.” Then COVID happened, and she remained at 250, battling postpartum depression.

She Hit Her Breaking Point

Overweight unhappy asian woman extra heavy body cellulite sitting on bed at home. Upset oversized lady worry diet weight loss suffering from extra weight. Obesity unhealthily concept.Shutterstock

Cara’s “breaking point” and “aha” moment happened when she had an interview and couldn’t fit into her size 16 pants. “I immediately ran to the store to buy that bigger size. But once I saw the size 18 and that number, it hit me like, Kara, what's going on? You've never been this size. What are you gonna do differently? I did not let myself buy those size 18 pants, and that was my breaking point. I knew I had to make a change because I couldn't buy that bigger size.”

She Lost Her First 35 Pounds with Weight Watchers and OrangeTheory

Lafayette - Circa April 2017: Weight Watchers Meeting Location. Oprah Winfrey is a Weight Watchers Spokesperson and Stockholder IVShutterstock

In March of 2021, she tried Weight Watchers again, pairing it with OrangeTheory, losing 35 pounds and getting down to 215. “I still had a long way to go,” she said, revealing that according to her BMI, her healthy weight range is 140 to 160. You can benchmark your progress with this useful Lean Body Mass Calculator.

Then, She Eliminated Processed Foods

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In 2022, she really changed the game. “That's where the real change began. I eliminated all processed foods and only shopped the outside skirts of the grocery store. So protein, dairy, fruits and veggies. That was my main diet,” she said.

She Also Tracked and Measured Her Food

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“I tracked everything I ate with my Fitness Pal. I measured everything I ate. I prioritized getting that water in, and I minimized fast food or eating out because of the amount of sodium that they put in the food. Once I implemented that change, my weight just started to fall off,” she continues.

The First Month Was Hard, But It Got Easier

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“Now, I will say it wasn't easy. I'm not going to lie to you. It is the hardest thing I ever had to do, and it took me about a full month of getting through the diet change for me to really accept it. After that, I stopped craving chocolate or candy or ice cream, and I was able to just go with the flow on average. I was losing about a pound and a half to two pounds a week, and it just started to fall off,” she says.

RELATED:She Lost 9 Pounds in 4 Weeks With This Simple 1,600 Calorie Meal Plan

She Also Started Walking 30 Minutes a Day

Group of unrecognized people exercise active walking on riverside boardwalk at sunset. Summer outdoor commuting fitness concept.Shutterstock

“Another thing that I did that helped me lose the weight was walking 30 minutes a day. That was huge,” she admits. “I thought I had to go kill myself in another OrangeTheory class or maybe at a boot camp. But walking truly helped me, along with some YouTube videos, like different weights that I could use or different strength training videos that really helped, too. But I didn't have to pay for a gym membership. I just got outside and walked and changed my diet, and the weight started to fall off. “

She Has Maintained the Weight Loss

Smiling Black Female Jogger Checking Running Time On Smartwatch After Outdoor Training, Happy Young African American Woman Drinking Water And Checking Fitness Tracker Data On Watch, Copy SpaceShutterstock

She has managed to keep it off by maintaining the same eating habits, “still walking 30 minutes a day, along with definitely having my treat meals and trying to balance them out, and so far it's kept the weight off beautifully,” she says. And if you enjoyed this article, take advantage of these 15 Quick Ways to Lose Body Fat Percentage in a Week.

FACT CHECKED BY Christopher Roback
Fact-Checked

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We adhere to structured guidelines for sourcing information and linking to other resources, including scientific studies and medical journals.

If you have any concerns about the accuracy of our content, please reach out to our editors by e-mailing editors@bodynetwork.com.

TikTok influencer Liza (@lizamarie_fit) lost 140 pounds and kept it off—and she lost the first 100 pounds without setting foot in a gym. So how did she not only lose the weight but maintain it three years later and counting? Liza made two simple lifestyle changes that led to 40 pounds being lost in the first couple of months alone—here’s exactly how she did it.


She Walked Every Day

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Liza started walking every single day, before getting an activity tracker and making sure she was hitting at least 10k steps a month. “Every single night I would walk anything from 20 minutes to 30 minutes, sometimes an hour with my best friend. And I did that for two months,” she says. “That is the first time I ever saw a chunk of weight go down.”

No More Junk Food

Buffet table scene of take out or delivery foods. Pizza, hamburgers, fried chicken and sides. Above view on a dark wood background.Shutterstock

Liza cut out junk food and started eating at home. “I was eating the majority of meals at home and I was walking every day,” she says. Studies show people who cook and eat at home tend to make healthier choices.

RELATED: 7 Bodyweight Exercises You Can Do Anywhere to Drop Pounds

Calorie Deficit

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Thanks to Liza’s walking and diet, she had a calorie deficit, which is crucial to weight loss. “It’s the secret sauce for weight loss,” she says. “When it comes down to losing weight, it doesn’t need to be that complicated.”

Working Out

Liza_Marie_lizamarie_fit3lizamarie_fit/TikTok

Liza started working out a couple of months into her weight loss journey, excited by the progress she was making. “I would do around two to three at-home workouts a week,” she says. “Which is why I love all my ‘shy girl’ workouts that I share, just to prove to women that you don’t need a crazy gym membership. You don’t need to be doing the craziest workouts to see results.”

Tracking Macros

Liza_Marie_lizamarie_fit4Liza Marie Fit/Facebook

Liza started tracking the carbs, fat, and protein in her food after she lost 80 pounds and wanted to learn more about nutrition. “I was like let’s hop on the train, let’s take this even further,” she says. “I’m still weighing a lot, I’m still in the 200s, and I want to get to one-derland.”

Protein Goals

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Liza focused on maintaining her calorie deficit and hitting her protein goals. “I was trying really hard to hit my protein goal and I was trying really hard to stay within my calorie deficit but I was not perfect,” she says. “There were days when I went over a bit, there were days I went under a bit.”

RELATED: Look and Feel 10 Years Younger in 8 Weeks Naturally

Realistic Goals

Liza_Marie_lizamarie_fit2lizamarie_fit/TikTok

Liza wasn’t hard on herself during her weight loss journey. “If you are striving for perfection you are setting yourself up for failure,” she says. “Doing little things one by one over time and not giving up is what got me here today.”

💪🔥Body Booster: The most simple changes, when made consistent and sustainable, yield results.

@lizamarie_fit

I lost 100 pounds AT HOME !!! Here is my biggest weight loss tip that got me to where i am today. 140 pounds down and maintained for 3 years! #athomeweightloss #weightloss #natualweightloss #weightlosstips #100poundsdown

Dylan Hornof dylanjfit
Copyright dylanjfit/Instagram
Evidence-Based

This content references scientific studies and academic research, and is fact-checked to ensure accuracy.

Our team of licensed nutritionists and dietitians strives to be objective, unbiased, and honest.

We are committed to bringing you researched, expert-driven content to help you make more informed decisions around food, health, and wellness. We know how important making choices about your overall health is, and we strive to provide you with the best information possible.

Are you just getting started on your weight loss journey and are overwhelmed by all the advice you are getting? According to one expert, there is a simple, foolproof approach. Dylan Hornof is a personal trainer and fitness coach who transformed her body and helps others do the same. In a new social media post, she reveals that a handful of habits were instrumental in her weight loss. “5 things I’ve done to lose 20lbs and keep it off for years,” she writes in the post.

Drinking Less Alcohol

You might consider putting down the bottle if you are drinking your calories. Dylan reveals that drinking less helped her lose more weight. “I worked through my relationship with alcohol - I had to break the habit of drinking multiple days on the weekend,” she said. There is another non-weight-related benefit. “This helped me lose lbs and lower a lot of inflammation in my body and face)” she says.

Walking More

Dylan also recommends walking. “A walk a day (move your body more) it’s that simple. We are not meant to sit all day. Outside, on a treadmill - get your steps in!” she says. How much should you walk for weight loss, according to science? A 2018 study published in Obesity found a link between walking 10,000 steps a day and weight loss and weight management. Other studies published by the Journal of American Medical Association (JAMA) in JAMA Neurology and in JAMA Internal Medicine also linked walking 10,000 steps a day to less dementia and less cardiovascular disease overall, with less heart disease, less heart failure, and fewer strokes.

Eating Consistently

It can be tempting to starve yourself to lose weight. However, Dylan points out that you need to fuel your body. “Ate MORE food consistently. Hear me out - when you’re eating 1,200 calories and falling off all the time you’re not going see results. Up your calories and find consistency with your food,” she says.

RELATED: This Is Exactly How to Lose Body Fat This Year

Strength Training with Purpose

Dylan points out that you should focus on quality over quantity in your strength training workout. “I train with purpose. My weight lifting is intentional - I push myself and challenge myself with the weights I use,” she says.

Focusing on Whole Foods

And finally, she cleaned up her diet. “I stopped hitting my macros with whatever food I could fit in. I choose to eat 90% whole foods everyday (I do believe in balance and I am a huge foodie - you CAN fit ‘fun’ foods in) but focusing on more clean foods helped me feel less ‘puffy’.” she writes. And if you enjoyed this article, don't missI’m a Nutritionist and Here Are 25 Weight Loss Truths You Need to Hear.

Jenna Bernhardt jennabernhardt10
Copyright jennabernhardt10/Instagram
Evidence-Based

This content references scientific studies and academic research, and is fact-checked to ensure accuracy.

Our team of licensed nutritionists and dietitians strives to be objective, unbiased, and honest.

We are committed to bringing you researched, expert-driven content to help you make more informed decisions around food, health, and wellness. We know how important making choices about your overall health is, and we strive to provide you with the best information possible.

Do you want to lose weight but don’t want to give up fast food? According to one expert, you don’t have to! Jenna Bernhardt is a fat loss coach and personal trainer who gained and lost 35 to 40 pounds during her three pregnancies. In a new social media post, she reveals her go-to fast food meals that can help you lose weight. “It’s sometimes nice to just go grab fast food! But what if you have goals to hit!? A certain calorie range to stay in? Believe it or not- It can be done!” she writes. “My favorite fast food under 300 calories.”

Chick-fil-A

  • Egg white grill has 290 calories, 8g of fat, and 26g of protein
  • Greek Yogurt Parfait with granola has 270 calories, 9g of fat, and 13g of protein
  • 5 count of nuggets is 160 calories, 7g of fat, and 17g of protein
  • 8 count of nuggets is 250 calories, 11g of fat, and 27g of protein
  • 2 count of Chick-fil-A chicken strips is 200 calories, 9g of fat, and 19g of protein
  • A small mac n cheese bowl is 270 calories, 17g of fat, and 12g of protein
  • A bowl of chicken noodle soup is 255 calories, 5.5g of fat, and 16g of protein.

Starbucks

NEW YORK CITY - MAY 2015: Starbucks store. Starbucks is the largest coffeehouse company in the world.Shutterstock
  • The reduced fat turkey bacon breakfast sandwich is 230 calories, 5g of fat, and 17g of protein.
  • The spinach, feta, and egg white wrap is 290 calories, 8g of fat and 20g of protein.
  • The kale and portabella mushroom sous vide bites are 230 calories, 14g of fat, and 15g of protein.
  • The bacon and gruyere sous vide bites are 300 calories, 20g of fat, and 19g of protein.
  • Their cake pops range anywhere from 140 -170 calories
  • The marshmallow dream bar is 230 calories, 5g of fat, and 1g of protein

Subway

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  • Veggie Delite A 6-inch Veggie Delite on 9-grain bread has 200–250 calories, 2 grams of fat, made with 9-grain wheat bread and contain two servings of vegetables.
  • Any of the salads are under 300 calories WITHOUT the dressings!
  • Add extra meat to load up on protein!

Taco Bell

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All under 300 calories!

  • Grilled Chicken soft shell fresco style
  • Crunchy Taco with beef fresco style
  • Grilled Steak taco fresco style
  • Veggie Power Bowl- no rice or ranch

Taco John’s

Taco John's exterior and sign. Taco John's is fast-food restaurant featuring Mexican-inspired fast-food.

Shutterstock

  • Crispy Taco, Chicken: 160 calories
  • Softshell Taco, Chicken: 210 calories
  • Street Taco, Chicken: 170 calories
  • Potato Oles-1/2 a small order 250😉

McDonald’s

Ayutthaya,Thailand - March 7, 2018 :View in Porto Go Bangpa-in, McDonald's Restaurant in Ayutthaya,Thailand. McDonald's is an American hamburger and fast food restaurant chainShutterstock
  • Egg McMuffin has 300 calories, 12g of fat, and 17g of protein
  • One hash brown has 150 calories, 9g of fat, and 1g of protein
  • 4 piece chicken nuggets has 190 calories, 12g of fat, and 9g of protein and the 6 piece has 280 calories, 18g of fat, 13g of protein
  • Plain hamburger has 250 calories, 9g of fat, and 12g of protein
  • Cheeseburger has 300 calories, 13g of fat, and 15g of protein
  • One sausage burrito has 300 calories, 16g of fat, and 12g of protein.
  • Fruit and maple oatmeal has 290 calories, 4.5g of fat, and 5g of protein
And if you enjoyed this article, don't missI’m a Nutritionist and Here Are 25 Weight Loss Truths You Need to Hear

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Emma Hooker
Copyright emmaa.getsfit/Instagram

Do you want to start your weight loss journey but aren’t sure what exercises to do? One expert has a simple routine that helped her lose big. Emma Hooker is a Certified Fitness & Nutrition Coach who lost weight via sustainable habits and non-restrictive lifestyle habits. “Down 160 pounds,” she writes, sharing a before and after photo and sharing her beginner dumbbell workout.

Focus on Form Over Weight

“Starting your weight loss journey can feel overwhelming, but I promise you, we all start somewhere! This beginner-friendly push workout is perfect if you want to start working out! Remember: Form > Weight ALWAYS! Start light and focus on feeling the movement in the right muscles,” she says.

RELATED: This Is Exactly How to Lose Body Fat This Year

Here Is the Workout

  • Dumbbell floor press: 3 sets of 10-12 reps
  • Dumbbell shoulder press: 3 sets of 10-12 reps
  • Dumbbell chest fly: 3 sets of 10-12 reps
  • Dumbbell lateral raise: 3 sets of 12-15 reps
  • Tricep kickbacks: 3 sets of 12-15 reps
  • Overhead tricep extensions: 3 sets of 10-12 reps
  • Rest 60-90 seconds between rounds.

Pro Tips

She also offers the following pro tips, reminding beginners to “focus on form first. If you need to do fewer reps or take longer breaks, that’s totally okay! Listen to your body.”

• Start with a 5-10 minute walk to warm up your body

• Keep your core engaged throughout each movement

• Breathe! Exhale on exertion

• Take your time between sets

• End with a gentle 5-10 minute walk to cool down

• Stay hydrated!

She Used to Weight 330 Pounds

In another post she discussed her weight loss journey. “When asked what my dream life would be 3 years ago, I would’ve said material thing. Ask me today? This is my dream life. I am living out every adventure that I couldn’t do when I was 330 pounds. I’m doing this for old Emma, who never thought there would be a way out. I savouring the freedom denied to me when I was at my heaviest,” she says.

It’s Never Too Late to Get in Shape

“I am sharing my story with hundreds of thousands of people. It isn’t about the number though. It’s about reaching that one person, showing them that it’s possible. Reminding them that it is never too late and you are never too far gone. I am a warrior, emerged from the shadows, and with a flame ignited within me that will never be extinguished,” she said. And if you enjoyed this article, take advantage of these 15 Quick Ways to Lose Body Fat Percentage in a Week.