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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.

Woman Drops 8 Pounds in 2 Weeks Following Viral "SkinnyTok" Method

She claims she has never lost weight so fast.

Lia Rose liasoprano
Copyright liasoprano/Instagram/Shutterstock

The SkinnyTok weight loss method is going viral—do you know what it is? Lia Rose is a weight loss influencer who dropped 70 pounds and regularly shares tips and tricks on how she did it. In a new video, she discussed the latest viral trend. “The SkinnyTok Method is not a joke—she’s a lifestyle now!” she writes. “Been watching SkinnyTok like it’s a full-time job—and I swear it’s changed my life.” Here is what you need to know about it.


She Lost 8 Pounds in 2 Weeks

Lia says that she is “locked in” and has lost 8 pounds in 2 weeks using the principles of the program. “I’ve never lost weight this fast—ever. No more cravings. No more food noise. I feel back in control of myself again. What’s different?” she continues.

It’s a Shift in Lifestyle

“If you’ve been overwhelmed, tired of yo-yo dieting, or stuck in a binge cycle—this might be your sign. It’s not about being perfect. It’s about being consistent. And I’m finally seeing results,” she continues. “It's nothing but a mindset shift. It's not a diet plan, it's not a workout plan. It's simply a set of skinny girl rules to live by,” she adds in the video, outlining each rule.

Eat Less, Move More

Number one? Eat less, move more. “I know you weren't going to like that. It's not a magic pill, it's not a shot, it's not anything. You need to move your body, and you need to eat less. Skinny girls love to eat, too, but they know what to eat and how to eat to keep them skinny, lean, and healthy. That doesn't mean they don't indulge in a burger and fries once in a while, but every meal is an event. We don't live our life around eating.”

Don’t Reward with Food

“Number two is something I had to learn the hard way because this is something I've done for so long throughout my weight loss journey. Don't reward with food. I am so guilty of this. I would lose two pounds, I would eat and celebrate, and then I'd be up a pound, and I'd be playing this dance back and forth for weeks and months on end. So there's nothing wrong with treats once in a while, but you aren’t a dog. Find something else to treat yourself with. Go on a walk, go get your nails done, go buy a new journal, do something else,” she says.

10,000 Steps Per Day

Number three, 10,000 steps a day. “Non-negotiable,” she orders. “If you have two legs that work and you have core muscles that can engage, you should be walking 10 K steps a day. I don't want to hear your excuses. Everybody's busy, everybody has a job, we can all do it.”

Act Like the Best Version of Yourself

“Number five and my final words of wisdom: You need to act like the best version of yourself in order to become. And what I mean by that is you need to walk the way a skinny girl walks. You need to act the way as skinny girl acts. You need to eat the way a skinny girl eats,” she says. And if you enjoyed this article, take advantage of these 15 Quick Ways to Lose Body Fat Percentage in a Week.

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Lia Rose liasoprano
Copyright liasoprano/Instagram/Shutterstock
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.

The SkinnyTok weight loss method is going viral—do you know what it is? Lia Rose is a weight loss influencer who dropped 70 pounds and regularly shares tips and tricks on how she did it. In a new video, she discussed the latest viral trend. “The SkinnyTok Method is not a joke—she’s a lifestyle now!” she writes. “Been watching SkinnyTok like it’s a full-time job—and I swear it’s changed my life.” Here is what you need to know about it.

She Lost 8 Pounds in 2 Weeks

Lia says that she is “locked in” and has lost 8 pounds in 2 weeks using the principles of the program. “I’ve never lost weight this fast—ever. No more cravings. No more food noise. I feel back in control of myself again. What’s different?” she continues.

It’s a Shift in Lifestyle

“If you’ve been overwhelmed, tired of yo-yo dieting, or stuck in a binge cycle—this might be your sign. It’s not about being perfect. It’s about being consistent. And I’m finally seeing results,” she continues. “It's nothing but a mindset shift. It's not a diet plan, it's not a workout plan. It's simply a set of skinny girl rules to live by,” she adds in the video, outlining each rule.

Eat Less, Move More

Number one? Eat less, move more. “I know you weren't going to like that. It's not a magic pill, it's not a shot, it's not anything. You need to move your body, and you need to eat less. Skinny girls love to eat, too, but they know what to eat and how to eat to keep them skinny, lean, and healthy. That doesn't mean they don't indulge in a burger and fries once in a while, but every meal is an event. We don't live our life around eating.”

Don’t Reward with Food

“Number two is something I had to learn the hard way because this is something I've done for so long throughout my weight loss journey. Don't reward with food. I am so guilty of this. I would lose two pounds, I would eat and celebrate, and then I'd be up a pound, and I'd be playing this dance back and forth for weeks and months on end. So there's nothing wrong with treats once in a while, but you aren’t a dog. Find something else to treat yourself with. Go on a walk, go get your nails done, go buy a new journal, do something else,” she says.

10,000 Steps Per Day

Number three, 10,000 steps a day. “Non-negotiable,” she orders. “If you have two legs that work and you have core muscles that can engage, you should be walking 10 K steps a day. I don't want to hear your excuses. Everybody's busy, everybody has a job, we can all do it.”

Act Like the Best Version of Yourself

“Number five and my final words of wisdom: You need to act like the best version of yourself in order to become. And what I mean by that is you need to walk the way a skinny girl walks. You need to act the way as skinny girl acts. You need to eat the way a skinny girl eats,” 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

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 7 pounds in two weeks without going to dietary extremes? Kiki Virk (@kikivirk) is a gut and hormone health expert who regularly shares content about how to lose fat and get healthy by balancing your gut. In one of her viral videos she reveals how to drop weight super fast in a healthy manner. “So I lost seven pounds sustainably and healthily in the last two weeks without changing what I'm eating,” she says in the clip. We also asked The Body Network’s Resident RDN, The Diet Diva, Tara Collingwood, MS, RDN, CSSD, LD/N, ACSM-CPT, a Board Certified Sports Dietitian, to weigh in on her diet.


Her Method Doesn’t Involve Severe Changes

Kiki VirkTiktok.com/@kikivirk

She maintains that her method doesn’t “involve calorie restriction, calorie counting, macro counting, spending hours in the gym,” she says.

Excess Fat Means Too Much Insulin

Young woman touching her belly looking in mirror at homeShutterstock

She adds that “some insight that I had no clue about when I started losing weight is that excess fat is actually a symptom of an underlying cause, and that underlying cause is too much insulin.” “In the presence of insulin, your body's not burning fat,” she points out.

“Three things that keep insulin high in our bodies are refined carbs, eating, and insulin resistance,” she says.

She Eats Within an 8-Hour Period

Intermittent fasting concept with a woman sitting hungry in front of food and looking at her watch to make sure she breaks fast on the correct time. A dietary modification for healthy lifestyle.Shutterstock

“I'm going to focus on eating,” she continues. “So, of course, we need to eat. We need to fuel our bodies, and we don't want to restrict the amount of calories that we're eating over a prolonged period of time.”

Her solution? “Essentially, what I do is time restricted intermittent fasting. I just eat within an eight hour eating window in my day.”

RELATED: 5 Signs You May Have Fibromyalgia Like Lady Gaga

RDN Says: This Might Not Be Sustainable

tara_collingwood6dietdivatara/Instagram

Collingwood isn’t a big fan of intermittent fasting for weight loss. “Just simply fasting and eating during an 8 hour time period might help you lose weight initially but over time it may be difficult to keep it off,” she says. “Be careful of how much you are eating in that 8 hour window. If you aren’t paying attention to what and how much you are eating you could still end up not only not losing but could even gain weight!”

💪🔥Body Booster: If you want to intermittent fast, make sure you are also paying attention to what you are eating during that time period.

@kikivirk

How I lost my summer vacation weight sustainably 🥰 #weightlossadvice #weightlosstips #weightloss #caloriedeficit #intermittentfasting #timerestrictedeating

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
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.

If you have a lot of weight to lose, it can seem hopeless and impossible. However, Samantha Costa, a 23-year-old influencer, lost a whopping 60 pounds in 3 months. In a viral YouTube video, she explains exactly how she did it, and a lot of it had to do with shifting her perspective and overall approach to weight loss.


Losing 60 Pounds in 6 Months with PCOS

Samantha_CostaSamantha Costa/YouTube

She starts with her backstory: In 2018 she was diagnosed with PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome), which resulted in weight gain. “I fluctuate weight a lot and it also affects my periods. With that being said, because I was diagnosed with PCOS, I put on a lot of weight very fast, and it wasn't a type of weight that was healthy,” she said. Costa, who is five-foot-one, topped the scale at around 200 pounds. “Being in a place where I knew I wasn't healthy was really scaring me.” At the time she was able to drop 50 to 60 pounds in “five to six months” by going to Orangetherory and eating right. “I think I weighed around 196 pounds and I got down to around 135,” she specified.

Related: #1 Way to Flatten Your Stomach for Women, According to a Pelvic Floor Expert

The Power of Whole Grains

Wholemeal,Fusilli,Pasta,Whole, GrainsShutterstock

Her main dietary change at the time involved swapping out white carbs with whole grain and whole wheat. “I literally had grilled chicken, pasta, grated cheese, and tomato sauce every single day because that's what made me happy,” she said. After graduating from college in May 2022, “and I honestly was a very steady weight of around probably 129 pounds to 140 throughout all of my senior year of college,” she felt like she was at a healthy weight for herself around 135 pounds. She spent the summer lifeguarding. “I was having a really fun time, and honestly everything was going very well,” she continued.

A Stressful Job Ruined Her Health and Happiness

Samantha_Costa2Samantha Costa/YouTube

However, in August she started her “big job at a big four company” and it was “the downfall of everything,” she claims. “I'm not going to talk too much about it, but the stress of that job, which I am no longer working in, was very, very hard for me.” She stopped working out and spent most of her free time isolating. Over a period of about 7 months she probably gained 60 to 70 pounds, and was “very, very sad,” she says. “I wasn't happy with how I looked and I was having a hard time with it, but it was more that I knew I wasn't healthy and I knew I needed to get healthy because of this. I would always tell myself, ‘You know what? You did it once. You can definitely do it again.’”

From 10,000 Steps to 500

Young adult woman walking up the stairs with sun sport background.Shutterstock/siam.pukkato

She couldn’t motivate herself to go to fitness studio again, “something that I used to love going to do,” she says. While she used to walk 10,000 steps a day, she “was lucky if I hit probably 500 steps a day because I was always at my computer, always doing something for work, and there was really just no time for me to do it.”

She Lost 10 Pounds in a Week and Kept Going

Woman,,Balance,Weight,Scale,health,scalesShutterstock

Every day she looked in the mirror and told herself “in three months from now, you will look so much better. You'll feel so much better, which is the most important, and you will want to do things because you started.” Eventually she started seeing progress, claiming that she lost 10 pounds in one week, which she knew was water weight. Within a few weeks she noticed a “little bit of a difference” and once she started to see that difference, “it was a lot easier to believe in myself and notice that there was real progress happening and that there was change happening, which allowed me to keep going within my journey.”

Related: 11 Shoulder-Sculpting Workouts for Impressive Definition

The Secrets to Her Success

Healthy,Eating,Food,Low,Carb,Keto,Ketogenic,Diet,Meal,Plan,salmon,avocado,egg, broccoliShutterstock

She revealed that she did keto, which is “very hard to sustain,” she admits. “It was very hard for me to eat a certain amount of carbs every single day, and it was very hard for me to cut out sugar. I'm someone who loves sugar, but I knew that in order to be in a healthy place again, and in order to get to my goal in the most efficient way, especially with summer coming up, I needed to do something that would really change and really allow my body to adapt.” She also emphasizes the importance of protein. “Eating carbs is something that obviously we all need. I am not saying don't eat carbs. Please eat your macros. Please eat carbs. Please allow yourself to have the energy that you need. I'm just saying what I did was I lowered the amount of carbs that I ate, but I was still eating enough to feel energized to be able to go to the gym and to give my body what it needs.”

She Increased Intake of Proteins and Exercised

ChickenGrill,grilled,bbq,breast,meat,proteinShutterstock

Amping up your protein intake may help you lose weight. According to clinical trials, consuming more protein than the recommended dietary allowance not only reduces body weight (BW), but also enhances body composition by decreasing fat mass while preserving fat-free mass (FFM) in both low-calorie and standard-calorie diets. She also went back to fitness studio four to five times a week, starting with gentle workouts and working her way up to more intense ones. She also recommends taking rest days.

Stay Motivated and Positive on Your Journey

Samantha_Costa5sam.costaa/Instagram

“In the beginning, you're probably going to feel like you can't do it and it's probably going to feel impossible, and if you are someone who doesn't feel like that, I give you so much credit because I've been there so many times and I felt like it was impossible every single time,” she adds. “The number one thing I want to tell you is to prove yourself wrong. Prove every single person that may have doubted you wrong. The only thing that matters is that you believe in yourself. The only thing that matters is that you have the mindset that will allow you to feel better, and every single time you question yourself, make one of those videos, take progress pictures, tell yourself that you are so much better than you were even one day ago, and if you are really having trouble starting, just try for one day.”

Related: Fitness Expert's $5 a Day Meal Plan for Fat Loss

💪🔥Body Booster: Increasing your protein intake and decreasing your carbohydrates is a scientifically backed tactic for weight loss. However, you still need a sufficient amount of carbs to stay energized.

FACT CHECKED BY Christopher Roback
Expert-Recommended

We've consulted with our team of licensed nutritionists and dietitians to bring you informed recommendations for food products, health aids and nutritional goods to safely and successfully guide you toward making better diet and nutrition choices. We strive to only recommend products that adhere to our philosophy of eating better while still enjoying what you eat.

Kiki (@kikivirk) is a weight loss influencer who has amassed a social media following for sharing all the tips and tricks that enabled her to lose a whopping 60 pounds and keep it off. In one of her viral videos – viewed over 8 million times, Kiki reveals the biggest weight loss mistake she made on her journey – and also what ultimately led to her weight loss success.


She Says Doing High Intensity Workouts Were a “Huge Mistake”

@kikivirk

The plan that helped me shed 60lbs 💪🏽 #weightloss #pcos #pcosweightloss #weightlossmotivation #weightlosstipsforwomen #pcosworkout

“I was so motivated to lose weight and I wanted to see results fast, but I didn't do my research and I jumped straight in, literally into a high intensity, 90 day workout plan. Huge mistake,” Kiki says in the video.

After 45 Days She Hadn’t Lost Weight

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After a month-and-a-half, she didn't feel like she'd lost any weight. “I was overdoing it. The long, painful HIIT workouts were actually doing my body no good. They were causing it too much stress and loads of other problems,” she says.

Related: 5 Pilates Exercises for a Flat Stomach in 14 Days

She Had “Weight Plateaus” and “Felt So Hungry and Fatigued”

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In another video, she specified that she was doing “high intensity cardio” five times a week in hopes it “would burn fat fast and give me my dream body,” she explained. “But instead, I had weight plateaus and felt so hungry and fatigued.

Her Fat Began to “Melt Off” When She Started Strength Training

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“Literally, as soon as I started strength training and less cardio, the fat began to melt off, and the lean muscle mass I gained gave me the tone look I'd always wanted,” she continued.

Her Program: LISS, Walking, Strength and Resistance Training, and a Short HIIT Workout

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Her program starts with doing 45 to 60 minutes of LISS cardio four times a week. She also walks 7 to 12,000 steps every day, does strength and resistance training three times a week, and a 15-minute HIIT workout once a week.

Related: Patrick Mahomes' "Natural Dad Bod" Has Everyone Talking. Here's How to Ditch It, According to Expert

An Expert Weighs In

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“What she says is definitely spot on,” says Kendra Gamble, HIT Fitness Training, Huntingdon Valley, PA, NPTI Certified Personal Trainer and Nutritional Consultant. “Intense cardio and intense HIIT more than twice a week will do the body more harm than good and is not the way to lose fat and get that toned look.” Instead, she agrees that “increasing your everyday steps is more of the most important and beginner things you can do to start losing fat along with getting your diet right.” Unfortunately, “fat loss is not an immediate thing and will take time and dedication but she explains it all perfectly.”

💪🔥Body Booster: If you are a beginner trying to lose weight, starting by increasing your steps and modifying your diet instead of going overboard with higher intensity workouts.

Mr America Jason Kozma mramericajasonkozma
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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 ever wonder what exercises fitness pros do themselves to achieve their award-winning bodies? We have the answer. Body Network asked Mr. America himself, Jason Kozma, a Los Angeles personal trainer, High Performance Personal Training, to spill the beans on his top core exercises for strong abs. Here are seven he swears by.

Hanging Leg Raises

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Why trainers love it: This move targets the lower abs, which are notoriously hard to hit. It also challenges grip and shoulder stability.

How to do it: Hang from a pull-up bar with your arms fully extended. Some gyms have arm loops expressly for this exercise. Keeping your legs straight, raise them until they’re parallel to the ground (or higher for advanced). Slowly lower them down without swinging.

Trainer Tip: Avoid using momentum; go slow for max burn.

Planks (and Variations)

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Why trainers love it: Planks build deep core strength and improve posture by engaging multiple stabilizing muscles.

How to do it: Forearms on the ground, body in a straight line from head to heels. Keep your glutes and core tight—don’t let your hips sag. Hold for 30–60 seconds.

Trainer Tip: Progress to side planks, plank shoulder taps, or plank reaches for added challenge.

Weighted Sit-Ups

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Why trainers love it: Adding resistance helps strengthen and grow your rectus abdominis (the six-pack muscles).

How to do it: Lie on your back with knees bent, holding a weight plate or dumbbell against your chest or extended overhead. Perform a sit-up while keeping control of the weight. Best to find something to anchor your feet or use a sit-up bench.

Trainer Tip: Keep your lower back from arching as you sit up.

Weighted Crunches

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Why trainers love it: A focused, compact move that brings serious burn to the upper abs.

How to do it: Lie on your back, knees bent, weight plate either held behind your head or held at arms length above your face. Crunch upward, lifting shoulder blades off the floor, then lower with control.

Trainer Tip: You can do these on an exercise ball to get a greater range of motion.

Russian Twists (Weighted or Bodyweight)

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Why trainers love it: Excellent for building oblique strength and rotational power.

How to do it: Sit with your knees bent, heels off or lightly touching the floor. Hold a weight and twist side to side, touching the ground on each rep.

Trainer Tip: Keep your chest lifted and back straight to avoid strain.

Dead Bug

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Why trainers love it: Teaches core stability and coordination, great for beginners and advanced lifters alike.

How to do it: Lie on your back, arms extended toward the ceiling, knees bent at 90 degrees. Lower your opposite arm and leg toward the floor without arching your back. Return to start and repeat on the other side.

Trainer Tip: Press your lower back into the floor the entire time.

Ab Wheel Rollouts

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Why trainers love it: One of the most challenging and effective moves for building total core strength and control.

How to do it: Start on your knees with hands gripping the ab wheel. Slowly roll forward, keeping your core tight, until your torso is almost parallel to the floor. Roll back to the starting position.

Trainer Tip: Don’t let your back arch—core tightness is crucial, even if you have to shorten the movement. And if you enjoyed this article, don't miss12-3-30 Walking Method: 20 Proven Tips to Lose Weight Faster

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Expert-Recommended

We've consulted with our team of licensed nutritionists and dietitians to bring you informed recommendations for food products, health aids and nutritional goods to safely and successfully guide you toward making better diet and nutrition choices. We strive to only recommend products that adhere to our philosophy of eating better while still enjoying what you eat.

Are you trying to flatten your tummy before swimsuit season? You can do it – even without any crunches or situps. Body Network spoke with Risa Sheppard, Master Pilates trainer, creator of The Sheppard Method, and asked her for her top ab exercises to tone your midsection. Here are 7 she recommends.

Centering

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Stand with legs slightly apart. Keep all ten toes evenly on the floor. Feel as if you have magnets between your legs, gravitating together. Place your right hand on your stomach about an inch below your belly button and your left hand on your back about an inch above your tailbone. Feel in between these two areas as if there is a laser beam connecting from your abdominals to your lower back. In the middle of your body is what Joe Pilates called THE CENTER. That is where all movement starts and ends.

RELATED:5 Movement Hacks to Shed Pounds From a Sports Medicine Specialist

Lift Ups

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Lie on the floor with your knees bent and heels parallel to your hips. Place your hand on your thighs and lift your head and chest. Lift your hands until they reach the top of your knees, then lower back to your shoulder blades.Repeat 5 to 8 times.

The Hundred

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Place your knees in a table top position with knees directly above your hips. Start with arms above your head, use your "center" to lift your head and chest. Slowly do little pumps with the hands as if you're pulsing in a pool of water. Breathe in for 5 counts, exhale for 5 counts. Keep pumping your arms as if you are in water.-- do this up to 10 counts of 5 inhales and 5 exhales

Bicycle Core

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Raise your knees to a 90 degree angle alternate extending your legs as if peddling a bike. Rotate your torso to touch your elbow to the opposite side. Keep your center always engaged.

RELATED:The #1 Exercise Every Trainer Recommends for Staying Fit After 50

The Plank

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The plank is a popular and efficient way to strengthen the core. A plank involves balancing on toes and forearms as you hold the rest of your body off the ground. Spine is kept in a neutral position meaning the back should be straight from the top of your head to your tailbone. Make sure your hips are not dropping to the floor or hiked up toward the ceiling. Keep your elbows slightly bent. Hold for as long as comfortable, 8 to 10 counts. Repeat 3 times.

Plank with Leg Lift

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Assume the position as described above. This time slowly and with control, lift your right leg up without moving your hips . Repeat the other side 3 to 5 times.

RELATED:Want to Get Shredded? This Fitness Coach Reveals a 60-Day Plan That Actually Works

Leg Raises

Fit muscular man lies on back on yoga mat in living room, performing abdominal exercises with legs raised. His black cat sleeps on sofa. Home workout.Shutterstock

Lie flat on your back with your legs with your arms at your side and palms pressed into the floor. Keep your legs together and and feet in a soft point. Pressing the back to the floor, slowly raise both legs together as you pull your navel to the floor. Only lift as high as you keep the core engaged and don't arch the back off the floor. Exhale as you lift legs up, inhale as you extend legs out. Repeat 5 to 8 times. And if you enjoyed this article, take advantage of these 15 Quick Ways to Lose Body Fat Percentage in a Week.

Gina Amin workoutwithgina
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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.

We've all faced moments when fitness seems impossible without fancy gym equipment or personal trainers. For fitness coachGina Amin, who now boasts over 700,000 Instagram followers, the pandemic lockdown became her unexpected opportunity for transformation. Using nothing but two dumbbells and determination, she went from 165 pounds to 128 pounds, completely reshaping her body and mindset. Her at-home method proves you don't need expensive equipment to see dramatic results—and she's sharing exactly how she did it.

Your Fitness Journey Starts Where You Are

Not everyone begins as a fitness enthusiast. In high school, Gina hated anything related to exercise. "I would actually try and find an excuse to not go to gym class every single time," Gina admits in her post. "I hated fitness. I just wanted to party and go out all the time." This mindset followed her until university, where everything changed when she found herself feeling isolated after her friends moved away to colleges outside the city. Sometimes, the most powerful transformations begin during our lowest moments.

Finding Community Through Fitness

Without her usual social circle, Gina reluctantly accompanied a new gym-going friend to work out. "I ended up going to the gym with her and I was like, you know what? There are so many girls here, and they look amazing," Gina shares. What started as a way to meet people quickly developed into genuine interest. Beginning as a "cardio bunny" too intimidated to enter the weight room, she gradually built confidence and community through consistent gym visits, connecting with trainers and fellow fitness enthusiasts.

When Obsession Takes Over

As her interest in fitness grew, Gina's approach became extreme. "I got to a point where it was actually kind of addicting and obsessive, and I would go four or five times a week," she reveals. Her workouts stretched to two and a half hours while she restricted herself to just one protein-heavy meal per day. Instead of paying attention in class, she found herself watching exercise tutorials and studying proper form. This passion eventually led her to become a certified personal trainer, despite her extreme habits.

The Spiral of Binge Eating

A difficult breakup derailed Gina's fitness journey. "I neglected myself and my health, and I wasn't going to the gym as often," Gina explains. Years of extreme restriction caught up with her, triggering a destructive cycle of binge eating. "I was having like five, six meals at night. If there was a bag of chips, I would eat the entire thing, no problem," she confesses. The next morning, overwhelmed with regret, she would starve herself all day, only to repeat the cycle when evening hunger struck. Combined with the stress of a breakup and increased alcohol consumption, this pattern led to rapid weight gain.

The Pandemic Turning Point

When COVID lockdowns began, Gina took a photo of herself and was shocked. "I looked at it, and I literally could not recognize myself," she says, describing the moment she realized she had gained 25 pounds. The irony of being a personal trainer who had gained significant weight wasn't lost on her. Embarrassed by friends asking if she was "bulking" and worried about her professional credibility, Gina decided the pandemic restrictions would become her opportunity for change rather than another excuse.

Two Dumbbells, One Commitment

When the pandemic hit, Gina realized her limited equipment could become an advantage rather than an obstacle. "I made sure I was consistently working out four to five times a week. This was just at home workouts. I had two pairs of dumbbells," she explains. "Maybe they were like 15 pounds, and I would do full body workouts." She complemented these dumbbell sessions with 30-40 minute bike rides and maintained consistent eating habits. The closed restaurants during lockdown actually helped control her food intake. After just four months of unwavering dedication, she shed 25 pounds and began documenting her transformation through videos.

Beyond Physical Transformation

Gina's weight loss journey transformed far more than her appearance. "It's crazy to see how fitness not just changed my physique, but genuinely changed my life, changed my mental state, changed the way I look at myself," she reflects. The confidence she regained extended to every aspect of her life. She discovered her true passion in fitness coaching, began sleeping better, and completely shifted her lifestyle priorities. Now 37 pounds lighter than her heaviest weight, Gina feels better than ever before. "I genuinely do feel like I love myself. I've never had that feeling before," she shares.

The Simple Formula That Actually Works

For those looking to replicate her success with minimal equipment, Gina emphasizes that the formula is straightforward. "All you really gotta do is be in a deficit to lose fat. Make sure you're training very consistently," she advises. "And when I say consistently, it's like you don't just work out four times one week and then next week you work out once. It has to be consistent." This steady approach was the cornerstone of her transformation with just two dumbbells. For those battling binge eating like she did, Gina recommends regular meals throughout the day rather than restriction. "You are gonna mess up. You are gonna have bad weeks. That's normal. That's part of the journey," she reassures.

Your Two-Dumbbell Takeaway

The physical transformation is only part of what makes Gina's two-dumbbell method so powerful. "If you're only going into it for the physical changes, you're not gonna get very far because you are not ever going to be happy with any changes that you're making," Gina warns. Her approach involves viewing fitness as a complete lifestyle reset rather than just an exercise plan. "I barely drink anymore, ever. I make sure I'm getting in seven to eight hours of sleep. I try and prioritize really healthy meals throughout the day so that I can feel energized," she explains. The results speak for themselves - 37 pounds lost and a completely new relationship with her body and self-confidence. As Gina puts it, "I had never wanted something so bad in my life, but to lose this body fat off of my body. That was my number one priority." With just two dumbbells and the right mindset, your transformation awaits. And if you enjoyed this article, don't miss12-3-30 Walking Method: 20 Proven Tips to Lose Weight Faster.