Stephanie McKinley, of Marietta, plateaued in her weight loss and needed help losing more weight.
Here is how she did it.
Stephanie, what do you do?
I am a Senior Interior Designer at Peacock Partnership, a commercial architectural firm in Atlanta. I enjoy meeting up with friends and family to listen to live music and going on adventures in the North Georgia mountains.
How did you come to find the group?
I found Sparkle Wellness through mutual friends at Johnson Ferry Baptist Church. I had spent a lot of time doing many things I thought were healthy, but I could not lose weight. I decided I needed some help.
How have your dietary habits changed?
So many foods are marketed to us as “healthy,” and they simply are not. I had to remove things I had been eating for years because of their unhealthy ingredients. Now, I read labels thoroughly, and if I cannot pronounce it or do not know what it is, I do not eat it. I use Thrive Market for deliveries of healthy snacks. I keep these in my purse and car so I am never tempted to impulse buy when I get hungry.
What were your methods for making the changes?
- Step one: Ask for help and sign up with Sparkle Wellness.
- Step two: Put into practice everything I learn tracking calories, protein, and fiber on My Fitness Pal, strength training, and meal prepping.
- Step three: Make my new habits part of a permanent lifestyle change. Stack on new habits as I go.
How often do you work out?
I was a cardio queen, always walking and hiking. Sparkle taught me I had to add strength training to lose weight. I go to Burn Bootcamp 3-4 days a week or strength train on my own at home. Walking days are recovery days. Hiking is for fun!
What was your biggest challenge anywhere on the journey?
The challenge was letting go of eating habits like sugar and alcohol. I have not eliminated either entirely, but I have changed my thinking about it. For example, celebrating someone’s birthday is about that person, not about the food or cake. Going on a road trip, I can bring my own healthy snacks for the car and hotel.
Did you have a mindset that kept you going?
The mindset that has kept me going is that I do not want to end up with the health issues that are prominent in my family. I want to feel strong and keep illness at bay.
How have you triumphed or overcome along the way on the journey?
I learned I cannot wait for motivation or to “feel like it.” I must make exercise part of my routine. When I talk to Jacynta, I want to be proud and report to her my accomplishments. I do not want to have to tell her I went off the rails. That keeps me accountable.
Your 3 Top Tips for Others:
- Track protein daily. Aim for your ideal body weight in grams per day.
- Meal prep on weekends to set up for success during the week.
- Plan your week ahead for when you will strength train and exercise. Understand you may have to improvise on busy weeks.
For more information on Sparkle Wellness, contact Jacynta Harb at www.sparkleanewyou.com or call 404-242-5062.
