Dieting all the time, I thought, was normal.
Back then, my friends probably would have said that dieting was one of my hobbies…
But deep down, I hated everything about my lifestyle and body.
I remember dieting for my friend’s wedding. I intentionally bought a dress one size too small. That’s how determined I was to lose weight before that special night.
I was already exhausted from eating very bland foods and drinking nothing but water that day.
My mood was horrible. Everything and everyone made me irritable.
I was crying from exhaustion and felt the urge to fix this ASAP. As always, a binge craze kicked in, and I stopped resisting.
There’s a grocery store just down the street. I quickly put a jacket over my pj’s and strolled over there. Almost overjoyed that I would get some sugar again.
And indeed I did. Four packs of chocolate chip cookies and one cola bottle later, I was lying on the bed with a stomach ache, feeling sorry for myself. Again.
I knew binge eating was not only making me gain weight but also causing serious health issues.
At that point, my hair was falling out like crazy. And my skin was almost greyish looking.
All that sugar I was consuming daily caused breakouts on my face, making me look like a spotted teenager again.
Let’s just say I didn’t look as radiant and beautiful as I expected on my friend’s wedding day.
Oh, and of course, I had to buy another dress last minute because I couldn’t fit into the smaller one.
I held my breath as I tried to squeeze my bum into it, but the zipper just wouldn’t zip up due to my wide thighs and belly sticking out.
But I’m not telling you this for you to pity me.
It’s a story about my bumpy, difficult weight loss journey. But it does have a very happy ending.
So, how did I go from hiding my body from the world in my baggy hoodies to proudly fitting in that slim dress I bought for a wedding?
Well, as I’m about to share below, I was approaching weight loss completely the wrong way…
When I figured it out, it was like a lightbulb had gone off in my head.
I managed to get off the diet roller coaster and lived to tell the story.
While I was sad, thinking I had wasted so much time…
I was also glad, knowing I could help other people going through what I went through.
So, here it is…
Binge eating was my weakness. I couldn’t help it.
It was like a mental block.
If I’m not eating my “safe” foods, I’m stressed out and unable to focus.
So, whenever I would try a new diet, I’d force myself to stick to it for as long as I could.
During that time, my work and productivity levels were at an all-time low, looking back.
But hey, I thought this was a normal price to pay for dieting and taking steps toward achieving my dream body.
I had tried just about every gimmicky diet under the sun. I’ve bought into programs that seemed science-based before but would just sap money from me and leave me with soft thighs.
My biggest achievement was losing around 15 lbs with keto, and I thought this was it.
I had struck gold, and I was going to ride this wave out and achieve my dream body.
But, well, one reward here, one craving there, and I was back to square one…
Dieting is like playing Jenga for me.
One thing gets out of place, and then everything gets shaky and tumbles down.
My self-esteem had taken a major hit. Especially after that cookie incident and not being able to fit into the dress for my friend’s wedding.
I thought I was sabotaging myself at every step and would never lose weight.
If I could go back in time – I’d give myself a hug.
But helping other people regain control over their bodies might be the next best thing.
So, I hope you learn from my mistakes.
I remember this one time, right after ditching yet another strict diet.
Looking back, I like to think of it as my “transition period.” I didn’t know back then that my final recipe for success was waiting to be discovered.
I felt lost, and I didn’t know what to do or where to go.
I just wanted a healthier me – is that too much to ask?
At that point, I was just stuck in a loop of reading about mindfulness online and fantasizing about having a healthy, sexy body.
That’s when I realized something important about myself:
Weight loss is a product of sustainability.
It takes time to develop meaningful changes, and weight loss doesn’t happen overnight.
From there, I shifted my focus.
Keeping the weight off – that was my problem!
So, while I was still overweight, I was at least armed with this piece of knowledge that felt like the golden ticket to me.
I just had to find a sustainable diet that didn’t make me feel like I was just starving or torturing myself.
I knew what meals I liked and the kind of lifestyle I wanted.
I just felt like I needed to plug them into some kind of a formula to get the right answer, like some complicated math homework.
Just when I was on the verge of giving up, I saw an article on Facebook about a girl who lost weight due to a new, personalized wellness book.
Going through the girl’s before-and-afters, I thought she was going to promote yet another unrealistic, strict diet.
But instead, I learned the secret name for the missing puzzle piece in my life:
Personalized diets.
Reading through her story, I realized how similar it was to mine.
It was checking all of my boxes, and then it clicked…
I couldn’t maintain diets in my “old” life because they weren’t sustainable.
I would lose some weight, end up snacking, and everything would fall apart because I couldn’t maintain that kind of lifestyle.
It felt like a cycle I couldn’t break.
Then, along came this article that was promising me no real meal restrictions and not starving myself.
In fact, I didn’t even have to change my lifestyle at all!
Unlike all the other diets I crossed out, this felt different to me.
So, I took a leap of faith and signed up for Beyond Body.
What is it exactly?
I had convinced myself dieting meant being stressed, undereating, and being overly anxious.
But I’m very glad to say I didn’t experience a single binge craving during my entire journey with Beyond Body.
Portions were more generous than I expected, and I had healthy snack options in between meals that kept me full.
Before, I thought this was impossible.
But Beyond Body’s personalized approach to diets is different.
You see, what worked for me might not work for you.
And Beyond Body acknowledges this when helping you lose weight!
So, it’s not even a “diet,” really.
It’s more of a step-by-step strategy, developed specifically for YOU and YOUR lifestyle.
Here’s how it works.
Before personalizing your meal plan, they ask loads of questions about your current health situation and goals.
Throughout the quiz, I was smiling ear to ear when I read questions like “How often do you feel stressed out?” or “How much time do you typically have for meal preparation per day?”
I remember thinking — this is it! Finally, a diet that cares about me!
All the other diets I’ve been on don’t even care about this.
Once I completed the quiz, I was told there were 500+ unique food combinations, how much weight I would lose and in how long, and other information.
All this would be compiled specifically for me.
Imagine no longer being ashamed of your body.
Imagine fitting in your old yoga pants again and checking yourself out in front of the mirror before classes.
Imagine finally being able to stop binging on food throughout the day, having a ton of focus, and NOT hating the food you eat!
All these thoughts were running wild in my head when I was filling in the free quiz.
That’s where my success story started, and I couldn’t be happier with the outcome.
After the quiz, there was the option to get an e-book. But I opted for the physical copy as looking at the book with my own name on it gives me the extra motivation to follow through with my plans.
Just looking at the book with Alicia written on it in big, bold letters fills me with joy and inspiration.
It brings me back to that “transition period” when I was on the edge of a mental breakdown… And how this almost magical journey began with a free quiz.
SO, my name is Alicia, and this was my story.
I’ve lost over 21 pounds and have no plans to stop anytime soon.
Did I mention that I have another wedding I was invited to this summer? And guess what – my first dress (the one I was struggling to zip up before) IS TOO BIG NOW.
I will need a new dress again. A bit of irony there!
I noticed other changes, too – my hair looks thicker and shinier. My skin is smooth and radiant – I’ve never had skin this good!
Overall, I just have more energy. I wake up and enjoy life without having to concentrate my thoughts on the next snack I’m going to eat.
And it all became effortlessly easy because of Beyond Body.
I couldn’t feel prouder of myself.
Now, I want you to experience that for yourself too.
What if your dream body was just one quiz away?
Thank you for your comment
My BeyondBody e-book has been an absolute lifesaver since I started working from the office again. I just don’t have the time for elaborate meals anymore, so the quick and easy recipes keep me from ordering takeaway any chance I get.
I wish I found this sooner! I find it so much easier not to binge when I don’t have junk food lying around in my kitchen, and it’s so much easier not to have all that junk food when you plan your meals. I got my copy of BeyondBody 3 months ago, and it’s fixed one of my biggest causes of anxiety – I...
I wish I found this sooner!
I find it so much easier not to binge when I don’t have junk food lying around in my kitchen, and it’s so much easier not to have all that junk food when you plan your meals.
I got my copy of BeyondBody 3 months ago, and it’s fixed one of my biggest causes of anxiety – I don’t get overwhelmed anymore when I go to the grocery store, because I always come with a shopping list for the recipes I pick out.
Don’t get me wrong – I love the simple meals but WHY is nobody talking about the workouts?? For the first time IN MY LIFE I am not wasting money on a gym membership I don’t even use, because I have my entire workout plan, no equipment, and I can do it all in my living room.