Weight-Loss Win is an original Yahoo series that shares the inspiring stories of people who have shed pounds healthfully.
Folland OConnor is 31 and 51 tall, and she currently weighs 135 pounds. In 2011, she saw an unflattering picture of herself that motivated her to change her lifestyle. This is the story of her weight-loss journey.
The turning point
I hate to say it,but I really never thought my weight was an issue. When I was fat, I never wanted to do anything active, or anything at all really, besides watch TV, eat food, and hang out with my friends. I never had high energy levels or interest in sports when I was bigger, so I never ran into major issues because of my size. What prompted the weight loss was mostly an aesthetic choice. I always wanted to be skinny but never had the willpower to actually get there. I just kind of accepted my body as it was and figured I wasnt built to be skinny. I thought I could never actually lose weight and that I was just built to be curvy or I was big boned.
My parents started expressing their concern for my health more often as I got bigger, but I thought they were just exaggerating and that I was an average weight. Looking back now, I just cant even fathom how I was so ignorant about my size.
I never realized how big I was until I saw a picture of myself from the side. The picture was taken at an event I attended and I happened to be painting something on a canvas when the photo was snapped. I wasnt able to pose or work my angles; it was just a picture of me from the side, not paying attention and I looked huge. The moment I saw that picture I vividly remember thinking, Oh my gosh Im fat. I had this huge epiphany.
I was wearing size 22 jeans, I couldnt buy a shirt in less than an XL, I had to buy bras in a plus-size store, but still, it was seeing myself in that photo that actually hit home. I was 25, 51, 220 pounds, and I was obese.
Folland OConnor saw a photo of herself that inspired her to lose weight.
The changes
Since college, I had always had some diet plan in mind or some workout routine I swore I would finally follow, but I never really committed to anything. I tried to eat healthy for a day or two but quickly fell off the wagon. I had zero self-control and knew absolutely nothing about losing weight or healthy eating.
When I finally accepted the fact that I was fat, I decided to simply start researching diets and weight loss as a whole. It was so overwhelming and complicated. I couldnt figure out whether carbs were bad or good, whether fat made me fat or not, whether artificial sweeteners would kill me, make me skinny or make me bigger.
Working out was a whole other bag of complications. How I should work out. Cardio? Weights? Yoga? I just couldnt get it straight. I decided to find a strict, clean, basic diet plan and just focus on eating first, because, more than anything, I hated working out.
Through my research I found some random site for a naturopath who touted a crazy weight-loss plan, so I met with her and she introduced me to the hCG Diet. Most people will have heard of it by now, and it is pretty controversial, but its what got me on the road to a healthy weight.
For those that dont know, hCG is an extremely strict, very low-calorie diet combined with a hormone shot. It was completely bonkers and probably not the healthiest way for me to lose weight, but it promised immediate results. So I bought all of the ingredients from this holistic voodoo doctor and tried it out.
Folland OConnor initially lost weight with the hCG diet.
Read More
I did two rounds of hCG, losing 60 pounds over the course of about four months. Losing that much weight that quickly was completely surreal and I fell off the wagon pretty fast once the rounds were finished. Over the next year or so I gained 30 back, but my life had been changed forever. I started becoming more active, my self-confidence skyrocketed, and I actually started to realize how unhealthy I was. Even after keeping 30 pounds off, I was still overweight, so eventually I started hitting the gym and actually focused on living a healthy lifestyle. I got my life under control, and my weight followed.
While losing weight, I felt like I could do anything. I realized that everything in my life was able to be changed. I changed careers, left my cheating boyfriend, bought a condo, joined a gym, and started playing roller derby. I felt confident and powerful, and my life was changing drastically in so many positive ways.
Keeping motivated isnt hard when everything in your life is positive. People were constantly complimenting me, my job got easier, I was succeeding in a new sport that I loved, and the weight kept falling off of me.
When I did hit a plateau, I just gave myself a small break, focused on maintenance and then reassessed my diet plan. My new boyfriend was alsovery interested in fitness, and he always had some awesome advice or a new recipe for us to try out together. He kept me strong, confident, and on track through the entire process. Even to this day, he is who I look to for inspiration.
The after
Everything in my life changed. The obvious things of course, my energy levels, my clothing size, and my health, but less obvious things also changed. My self-esteem and confidence levels sky rocketed, and my willingness to take more risks and be more outgoing all changed for the better, but the biggest change I experienced was in how people treated me. People are nicer to me now, they try harder for me to like them, strangers gravitate toward me, and I have to put in much less effort to forge relationships. Its amazing how people treat me like a completely different person, but in the most positive ways.
A few things surprised me about the weight-loss process. It was not actually that hard to lose weight when I was 220 pounds, even though it seemed so daunting at the time. But, with all of the knowledge Ive gained, Ive realized that I was so large I actually had to eat a lot of calories every day to maintain that weight. As soon as I started eating less, I lost weight. It was truly quite simple. Its much harder to cut weight now that Im smaller every calorie counts.
Folland OConnor was surprised by what changed in her life after losing weight.
I lost ring sizes and a whole shoe size! I knew I was losing weight, and a lot of it, but it never occurred to me that my fingers and my feet may have also been carrying extra weight. I went from a size 9 ring to a size 6.5, and I went from a size 8 1/2 shoe to a 7 1/2 shoe. That still totally amazes me.
The maintenance
I follow the Strong Lifts weight routine and hit the gym three to fourtimes per week. I also play competitive-level roller derby with the Anarchy Angels Roller Derby team and practice on skates two times per week. I eat a low-carb diet and try to keep my calorie intake around 1,200. That might sound low, but keep in mind, Im only 51.
I eat with purpose and awareness. No more mindless snacking unless Im on a cheat meal and, yes, I allow myself cheat meals not cheat days every so often. I live life with moderation and try not to reward myself with food. Whatever I do eat, I really try to enjoy. Dieting doesnt need to mean bad food.
Folland OConnor is inspired by her boyfriend.
My boyfriend has lost 55 pounds himself and trains harder than anyone Ive ever seen. He wants to be the best version of himself and pushes me to be the best version of myself. We make tons of different low-carb recipes together and support each other through all of our transitions. He keeps me on the right track and always pulls me back on that wagon when Im distracted by Thai food and doughnuts.
The struggles
Obviously, I have impulse-control issues with food. You dont become 220 pounds without having some issues with eating. I am still constantly fighting my own urges when it comes to my diet. To this day, I can easily out-eat a grown man (including my 64 boyfriend). If I let myself go, stop being diligent, or give up my gym routines, I will quickly lose control again. It is a constant battle, but it is worth it because every pound I lose and every pound I keep off means one more minute on this earth living my life to its fullest.
Advice
Its calories in versuscalories out. At the end of the day, diet was always the most important part. No matter how hard I tried, I could never outrun my fork. I work out, but thats mostly because it makes me better at sports. Diet to look good, lift weights to look good naked.
All photos courtesy of Folland OConnor.
Need more inspiration? Read about our other weight-loss winners!
Weight-Loss Win is authored by Andie Mitchell, who underwent a transformative, 135-pound weight loss of her own.
Have a weight-loss win or beauty story to share? We want to hear it! Tell us at YStyleBeauty@yahoo.com.
Read more from Yahoo Beauty + Style:
Follow us onInstagram,Facebook, andPinterestfor nonstop inspiration delivered fresh to your feed, every day. For Twitter updates, follow@YahooStyleand@YahooBeauty.
Visit link:
The hCG Diet helped this woman lose 85 pounds, but this inspired her to keep the weight off - Yahoo Health
- The HCG Diet: What Is It and Does It Work? - Everyday Health - March 11th, 2024
- By the way, doctor: What do you know about the HCG diet? - March 11th, 2024
- hCG Diet Phase 3: The P3toLife Program - EXACTLY what to cook & eat! - December 2nd, 2022
- HCG Online: Buy HCG Injection 1 Month Kit for Weight Loss - October 13th, 2022
- Buy HCG Injections Online: Pharmaceutical Grade Freeze Dry HCG - September 25th, 2022
- Oral cancer: Causes, symptoms, prevention and treatment - Hindustan Times - September 16th, 2022
- What Are The Causes and Symptoms of Oral Cancer? Expert Answers - News18 - September 16th, 2022
- Analysis of Adverse Events and Medical Errors in Long-Term Hormone Tre | IJWH - Dove Medical Press - September 8th, 2022
- HCG Near Me. #1 Online or Local U.S. HCG Diet Clinic. We ship HCG fast. - July 11th, 2022
- 6 weight loss procedures to consider if youre having trouble losing weight - CONAN Daily - July 3rd, 2022
- A cancer no one really talks about - The Week - May 2nd, 2022
- Diet & Nutrition plan for a Head and Neck Cancer Patient - APN News - January 20th, 2022
- The Dangers of HCG Injections - Women's Health - January 20th, 2022
- Avoid Dangerous HCG Diet Products | FDA - December 10th, 2021
- Breast Cancer symptoms, prevention, and treatment - NewsPatrolling - October 16th, 2021
- The Right Way to Use HCG For Weight Loss (Not the HCG Diet) - October 5th, 2021
- 156 HCG Diet Recipes & Food List For Maximum Weight Loss ... - October 5th, 2021
- 25 Fad Diets That Did Not Stand the Test of Time - Parade Magazine - August 31st, 2021
- Scope of Endocrine Testing Market Size, Status and Top Key Vendors (Abbott, Agilent, Bio Rad, Roche, Quest Diagnostics, QIAGEN) | Forecast to 2028 ... - August 31st, 2021
- Dont ignore those stomach woes - The New Indian Express - August 18th, 2021
- SucSEED Indovation starts their HealthTech Investment with AyuRythm, a Wellness Platform. - Techstory - August 5th, 2021
- HCG Diet Plan ULTIMATE Guide | HCG Diet Info - June 23rd, 2021
- hCG (Human Chorionic Gonadotropin) for Weight Loss ... - June 23rd, 2021
- THE Hcg Diet Food List | Approved Hcg Foods [2021 ... - June 23rd, 2021
- What Happens in the First Week of the Carnivore Diet? - The Good Men Project - March 9th, 2020
- Genuine HCG Regimen - Along the Boards - February 6th, 2020
- How These Practitioners Can Help with New Year, New You Goals - Milwaukee Magazine - January 8th, 2020
- Doctor Creates All-Natural Patch to CURB the Appetite and Maintain Weight Loss - GlobeNewswire - January 5th, 2020
- Lionel Bissoon, D.O. - New York HCG Diet and Weight Loss ... - May 18th, 2019
- HCG New York NY - Corinne Furnari, RPA - HCG Diet New York ... - May 14th, 2019
- The HCG Diet Food List - Your MUST Follow Guide (Jan 2019) - May 14th, 2019
- HCG Diet Meal Plan, Examples & Phases - GuideDoc - April 22nd, 2019
- Louisville HCG Diet Doctor - Brad Cummins, M.D. - HCG ... - April 5th, 2019
- The Science Behind the HCG Diet - hCG Injections Shop - April 5th, 2019
- HCG Diet - Rapid Weight Loss Centers - April 5th, 2019
- Forskolin at GNC | Hcg Diet - April 3rd, 2019
- The Ultimate HCG Diet Plan - HCG Diet - April 3rd, 2019
- HCG Diet Center of NJ - February 21st, 2019
- HCG Diet Info - HCG DIET PLAN AUTHORITY - OFFICIAL SITE - November 6th, 2018
- About HCG Diet - HCG Diet - November 6th, 2018
- Bottled HCG diet - The Real HCG Diet site | The Webs Only ... - July 16th, 2018
- Everett HCG Diet | HCG Diet Weight Loss Center in Everett ... - July 16th, 2018
- HCG Diet Food List - HCG Diet - July 7th, 2018
- The Real HCG Diet site | Buy the Web's only Non ... - July 7th, 2018
- Hcg Diet Plan: Get to Know the REAL Hcg Diet | HCG DIET ... - July 6th, 2018
- HCG Diet Plan Food List & Meal Plan Menu Guide - June 21st, 2018
- HCG Diet System - Lose Weight Fast | Lose 10KGs in 30 Days - June 21st, 2018
- Easy HCG | HCG Diet Drops for the HCG Diet | Easy HCG - October 11th, 2017
- What is hyperemesis gravidarum? Pregnant Kate Middleton again suffering rare severe morning sickness condition - Mirror.co.uk - September 5th, 2017
- Amino Diet Drops - 20,000+ Reviews for Hormone Free HCG - August 16th, 2017
- HCG Diet Drops For Weight Loss : Everything You Should ... - August 16th, 2017
- Ageless Wellness utilizes unique Ideal Protein protocol for weight ... - The Citizen.com - August 16th, 2017
- HCG Weight Loss | HCG Diet - Pounds and Inches Away - November 23rd, 2016
- hCG Diet NJ. The hCG Diet is a physician supervised ... - October 30th, 2016
- HCG Diet Doctor Houston TX | Houston Wellness Clinic - October 28th, 2016
- HCG Diet Injections Mixing Instructions - Nu Image Medical - August 8th, 2016
- Shocking Hcg Diet Report - Read before you buy! | Hcg Diet - November 1st, 2015
- HCG Diet Information - What is the HCG Diet? - October 13th, 2015
- Lose Weight Fast With HCG | Official HCG Diet Plan - October 12th, 2015
- HCG diet: Is it safe and effective? - Mayo Clinic - October 8th, 2015
- Buy HCG Diet Drops | HCG Activate - October 5th, 2015
- HCG Diet Plan | Drops | HCG 1234 | Injections for ... - October 5th, 2015
- HCG Diet | How Does the HCG Diet Work | HCG Diet Dangers - October 1st, 2015
- Weight Loss | Lowcountry Plastic Surgery Center | Mount ... - September 18th, 2015
- Welcome to the Equilibrium hCG Diet Clinic in Atlanta! - September 2nd, 2015
- Buy Real hCG Diet Online | Lose Weight Now - August 1st, 2015
- Introduction to the HCG Diet - HowStuffWorks - August 1st, 2015
- HCG Diet | HCG - July 16th, 2015
- HCG Injections - Read before buying - June 22nd, 2015
- The New HCG Diet | The Dr. Oz Show - June 3rd, 2015