Weight-Loss Win is an original Yahoo Health series that shares the inspiring stories of people who have shed pounds healthfully.
Molly Lowe is 28, 5′9″, and currently weighs 161 pounds. In January 2014, she weighed 267 pounds. This is the story of her weight-loss journey.
The Turning Point
My weight has been a struggle my entire life. I was always the heaviest and tallest girl for as long as I can remember. There are a several memories from my childhood, and even into my early adolescent years, that replay in my mind and make me question why I never saw my weight as an issue sooner than I did. But, the reality of it is that I just became so comfortably uncomfortable with who I was that I became blind to the real issues.
I am the definition of a yo-yo dieter. It wasn’t until after I gave birth to my daughter in 2012 that I had lost all control. I would assume that most people who go to their first post-baby doctor appointment see a drop in weight. Mine? Not so much. I wasn’t surprised, though. The number reflected my life. It was higher than what I was capable of handling, or at least that’s how I felt — 232 pounds! So here I was — huge, miserable, and crying. However, my misery didn’t stop me from leaving that appointment and heading off into a several-month-long binge. In fact, it steered me right into the Burger King drive-thru and probably to the nearest Dunkin’ Donuts for dessert.
The rest of 2012 came and went, and most of 2013, and my weight continued to climb up — to 267 pounds. During that time, I was diagnosed with postpartum depression and polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), which ultimately only added to my weight problem. Even after being diagnosed with those two very life-altering factors, I still didn’t find the courage to change my habits. I had to hit rock bottom first.
When my marriage began failing and I was losing all sense of self-worth, I knew I needed to make a change. I hated being a wife, a mother, a daughter, and a friend. I knew so many of my problems were a direct result of my weight, especially the depression and PCOS. So, on Jan. 1, 2014, like many others, I made a New Year’s resolution to lose weight and start rebuilding my life.
The Changes
I knew I needed something that I could make into a lifestyle. Cutting out refined carbs, removing sugar, and not eating ice cream ever again were NOT options. Endless hours of cardio and running marathons weren’t solutions, either, because I had gone those routes before and it never lasted more than a few weeks. This time, I found flexible dieting and I instantly knew it was the plan for me. I’m easy to please, but restricting my food will never end well — not for me or any member of my family! Flexible dieting is easily the simplest plan I have ever followed: I count macronutrients (carbs, fats, and protein) as opposed to just counting calories alone. Doing that made me aware of what I was putting into my body and helped me to reestablish a healthy relationship with food. If I want a burger, I eat a burger. If I want grilled chicken, I eat grilled chicken. I stopped labeling food as “good” or “bad” and started to fuel my body. In many ways, I started enjoying food again, too.
I waited a month or so before I added in workouts. I started with cardio and weight training five days a week. However, the further I got along in this process, the more in love I fell with weight training. There is just something so incredibly empowering about feeling strong. And feeling physically strong helped me feel mentally strong.
The After
Now I feel like I can do anything. I mean, really! There were so many times throughout this process where I thought, “There is no way I can do that.” Then, I did it! That happened over and over again until I started to believe in myself. Losing this weight has given me all the confidence in the world. I love life again. And most importantly, losing weight has freed me of depression and the symptoms of PCOS.
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