Briana Shaffer Briana Shaffer gained weight after the death of her best friend. One day, she had a wakeup call and began practicing the 80-20 rule and overhauled her health.Hi! My name is Briana Shaffer (@brianakfitness), 25, and I'm from Carlsbad, California. I'm the CEO and owner of a fitness apparel corporation (check it out at @brianakcollection). A personal tragedy led to a period of weight gain for me, but after a wakeup call moment I decided to change my lifestyle and lost 70 pounds in the process.
After my best friend died in a car accident, it turned my world upside down. I gained 70 pounds and became depressed. My doctor told me if I didnt make a lifestyle change, I could end up having even more serious health issues down the line.
So I finally said enough was enough. And in September of 2015, I start logging everything that I was eating, a suggestion from my doctor. I was 190 pounds at only 5-feet, 4-inches when my weight-loss journey began.
I feel like its been awhile since Ive talked about my weight loss journey so here it goes. - Back in 2015, I was 70 lbs overweight. I had developed binge eating problems, depression, and lost every once of confidence that I had. I would go through the Taco Bell drive thru order 2 burritos..eat them in 2 seconds and then head home for dinner. I would sit in the parking lot and feel so empty eating my food. I thought it would make me feel better but afterwards I would feel sick to my stomach. My best friend died in 2012 and if affected everything for me. It ripped out my heart, punched me in the face, and robbed me of my happiness. I felt alone, empty, miserable. All I wanted to do was eat and feel sorry for myself. When people asked me where I was going in life..I didnt know. I didnt even want to be here. I struggled a lot. - Flash forward, I have now lost 70 lbs and kept it off. Im in the best shape of my life at 25. Im the happiest Ive ever been. My mental health has skyrocketed. I now know Im a badass b*tch haha that can do anything. I own a freaking corporation. I have an amazing team, an incredible community that weve all built. I live by the beach with my high school sweetheart and the most adorable fur babies. I do what I love every single day. I feel empowered and fueled every single day. There isnt a thing that I cant handle. Next time you think youre stuck..next time youre sitting on the floor crying wanting to give up..DONT. Fix your crown and keep going. Theres nothing in this life that you cant have. You have to be willing to work..and I really mean work. Do it for the right reasons. Make sure youre heart is 100% in it. Go after whatever it is that you want and dont stop fighting. It will get hard..you will fail, but hey thats what makes it even more worth it.
A post shared by Briana Kathleen Shaffer (@brianakfitness) on Nov 10, 2019 at 3:59pm PST
I started meal prepping and followed the 80/20 rule with my diet: 80 percent of my diet was nutritious, healthy foods, and 20 percent was treats. The 80/20 style of eating has worked best for me because I am able to still enjoy the treats I love here and there, rather than only eating healthy all day every day, which isn't always sustainable. What didnt work was trying to eat chicken and broccoli every single day.
The 80/20 rule has also helped keep me from binging over the weekend. If I let myself have a cookie or a decadent, special meal during the week, I'm not looking ahead at the weekend like this rare time I have to go crazy. It's all about balance.
The 80/20 diet (although you really don't even have to think of it as a diet at all!) is also more maintainable for my lifestyle. I am still able to go out with family and friends without feeling anxious about what to eat.
Eventually, I got a gym membership and started lifting weights five times a week. Strength training helped me cope with the death of my best friend, and after every single workout, I felt stronger, happier, and more confident.
My workout schedule is currently: two full-body days, two leg days, and one arm day. I also decided that its not best for me to weigh myself. Im all about non-scale victories. Instead, I go off progress photos and how my clothes fit.
Fitness is so overwhelming, and I think people complicate it. Ive always taken it one step at a time with working out and my diet. I didn't just wake up one day able to work out five days a weekit took time and practice.
I also had to learn to let go of guilt. If you slack off one day, dont beat yourself up. Start fresh the next day. Feeling guilty will only hurt you and your progress. It's important to be kind to yourself and appreciate even those small accomplishments. You should be doing this because you love your body and want to put it first. Be proud of those baby steps that will eventually add up to the bigger goal.
You dont need supplements, weight loss teas, and pills. You dont have to give up food that you love or miss out on functions. Its all about finding that balance.
It took me two years to lose the weight. Starting my health and fitness journey changed my whole life. It helped my self-confidence in addition to my physical health. It has also helped me build a solid foundation to continue working out long term. And honestly. the biggest change has been on my mental health.
Fitness gave me a platform to help other women achieve the same self love that I now have. Fitness also opened up the doors to me now running my own company and doing what I love every single day.
Gallery: 30 things you should never, ever do at the gym
Originally posted here:
'I Gained 70 Lbs. After A Personal Tragedy. I Started Strength Training To Cope And Got Stronger Than Ever' - msnNOW
