The Power to Change
Even as a young child, Nightraine always dreamed of being at a healthy weight, but growing up within an obese family she was never taught proper eating habits. In her late teens she realized that she had the power to change these unhealthy habits, and has since lost 70lbs by eating balanced meals and incorporating physical exercise.
She contacted us through our Share Your Story feature, and provided the following answers to our questionnaire.
1. What made you decide to lose weight this time?
I've been overweight all my life, and I remember even as a young girl every year for my birthday, instead of wishing for a Barbie playhouse or a pony when I blew out my birthday candles, I wished to be thin. In the Freshman year of high school when I went for my physical, my doctor came in and talked to me about my weight, which had sky-rocketed to nearly 200 lbs. Even though I didn't do much about it that year, that coming school year I was determined to become healthier, especially after realizing during soccer's "hell week" that I could barely run a half mile, let alone the 2 miles we had to run twice a day. That's when I had the realization that I had the power to change who I was.
2. What other "diets" (programs, products, plans, or services) had you tried in the past?
My mother has been on and off Weight Watchers for as long as I can remember. When I was 9 or 10 I went on it and lost 20 lbs, only to gain it back and more.
3. What changes did you make to your usual diet, activity, lifestyle, and attitude?
The first and most important part for me was simply the change in my mindset. For all my child-life, I thought that I could just wish my weight away. I never took the steps to eat healthy foods, because, coming from a nearly completely overweight to morbidly obese family (with the only healthy ones at the moment being a 9 year old and a 5 year old), I was never really taught how to eat healthily. I was always encouraged to eat more. If you didn't eat 2 plates full of food, it was an insult.
During my sophomore year in high school, I started playing soccer again, where at least during "hell week" we had to run 2 miles twice a day. I tried to keep up my activity level from that for the rest of the year. I also started slow with my diet changes, by simply trying to eat slower and resisting the urge to eat more than one serving of food. It was definitely hard at first, but it really paid off because I started to enjoy my food more.
This part isn't for everyone, but that May I made a huge change: I gave up meat. It was for a number of reasons, but one of the most important reasons for me was for the fact that if I stopped eating meat, I'd cut down on the fried and fast foods, which really did consume a lot of my eating habits. It also helped me to break away from my family's unhealthy eating by making my own healthier foods and measuring out only what I needed. I never seriously counted calories until recently, but from the beginning of sophomore year to the end of sophomore year, I ended up losing my first 35 lbs.
4. How did Calorie Count help you to lose weight?
Calorie Count is so helpful with figuring the calories of foods and also how much I burn when I go on runs. I also love the support you get from the forums. Whenever I have a question or concern, someone is always there for support and advice, and I love the community we have here.
5. What was most challenging about losing weight?
It was definitely all the times I've been perpetually caught on a plateau. They're always so frustrating, and it feels like no matter what you do, you can never get off of it!
6. How long did it take you to see results?
I couldn't even say. I don't think it was until last summer when people really started to comment on how much weight I lost. I got comments from people I had rarely talked to saying how great I looked. I think it took others' comments to really start seeing it for myself.
7. When did you realize that you were a success?
It was a combination of two recent events. First, after prom was over and all the pictures were up and circulating around Facebook (what can I say, I'm a teenager!), I looked at pictures that were of my friends and I, and I noticed that from the side I looked slimmer than one of my thinner friends!
Second, I've had to buy jeans for college recently, as all of mine were too big on me. I've worn a size 13 ever since I started wearing jeans, and even though I was wearing a size 10/11 at the time, I didn't think I could fit into anything much smaller. For giggles, I decided to try on 8's, and they fit! So I bought those. However, when I went home and wore them around one day, I realized they were loose. I went to the mall with my friend the following week to *possibly* exchange them for 6's, which I figured I'd try on for more giggles. However, when I tried them on, I realized... they fit perfectly! I was officially not what I thought were "bigger" sizes and instead something that was acceptable for a teen girl!
8. How do you prevent relapse?
I don't really keep pictures of myself from my bigger days, but I do keep a pair or two of my size 13 or 15 jeans around in case I need a little nudge in the right direction. I mostly use my memories of feeling yucky and undesirable to keep me from relapse. Although I may gain a few pounds from indulging a little too much, I have to say that I freak out too much over a few pounds to ever gain 70 more. Why would I ever want to go back to big and unhappy anyway?
9. How has your life changed now that you've lost weight?
Although I have a long way to go in the ways of self-confidence, I've really gained a lot of self esteem and am so much happier than I used to be. I'm so much more comfortable in my own skin.
10. What five tips do you have for other dieters?
- Start slow. Nothing's worse than being overwhelmed and quitting!
- Don't be too hard on yourself. We all have our off days, or weeks,
but that doesn't mean we're failures or that we're not strong enough.
Just pick yourself up and learn from your mistakes. - Love yourself first. I've been in contact with so many young women
who hate themselves and try hard to lose weight, only to spiral into
eating disorders. In order to be truly successful, we need to love
ourselves first and know we're all worth a healthy, gradual, and
beautiful change. - Keep track of your fiber! Don't forget the other essential
vitamins and minerals, but fiber is your best friend if you're looking
to lose weight. It makes you feel fuller for a longer period of time,
and it also slows down the fat and sugar absorption process, which
helps to stop the accumulation of body fat. - Weighing isn't the only way to document your progress. Although I
weigh very often, many people I know use measuring tape to take their
measurements, which could be much more beneficial, as instead of just
looking at a number, you're actually watching your body getting
smaller!
If you would like us to feature your success story, you can submit it here. The most insightful stories will be featured on this blog and in the weekly "Success Stories" newsletter.
Comments
Aww...that is so awesome. Congratulations!
Congratulations!! You are beautiful, thanks for the inspiration!
look amazing. if i have a figure anything close to yours at the end of my journey, i will be a very happy puppy!!
all the best X
I am happy to have read this story.This made my morning, you are an inspiration!Thank you so much!
hey, you look sooo awesome!!! You really inspired me girl!!! Can you share some tips on how to eat heathily when your family members are eating all those junk food?
You look totally awesome and you truly are an inspiration. I wish I had gotten my weight under control as a teen instead of waiting until I was in my 30's.
Best of luck in college and beyond!!!
wuda said u look Fabulous but thats kind of an understatement!!!!
well done girl 
Congratulations! You did it all the right way. Healthy foods, excercise and changing your mindset. VERY impressive and a great role model for the rest of us! WooHoo!
wow...you inspire me to continue on the journey. such a lot of wisdom in someone so young! keep up the good work!
Congratulations on the weight loss! I'm working on a lifestyle change myself. The thing I have to congratulate you the most on though is going vegetarian. It's the single healthiest thing you can do for your body, no matter what weight or age you are. I myself am vegetarian and love it. I've actually become more confident since cutting the meat. A suggestion to everyone reading this: going vegetarian will not only drastically improve your health and for most people their weight, it is also a huge step toward stopping animal cruelty and it helps the planet.
Great job! What an awesome discovery at such a young age. Now you know, if you can accomplish this at such a young age, oh the things you can accomplish with the rest of your life! Yours should be a story to be told to middle and high school girls. Congratulations!
Your story is almost exactly like what I've been going through! That's incredible and I'm happy for you.
Thanks for the inspiration (it's great coming from something I can really relate to).
Congratulations on all your success! I have been in a very similar situation as you from a very young age as well, and I'm glad to see that others can do as we have done. You look fantastic, cangrates once again!
Original Post by: flabbynomorehey, you look sooo awesome!!! You really inspired me girl!!! Can you share some tips on how to eat heathily when your family members are eating all those junk food?
First of all, thanks to everyone for the wonderful comments :]
In response to your question, it can be so hard to lose weight when everyone around you is very much enjoying themselves in their package of oreo cookies or fast food meal. My advice really depends on what they're eating. I'm an oreo fanatic, so the rare times that my family buys Oreos, I'm dying! On stuff that you really love but know isn't so good for you, your best bet is to indulge, but just a little! We all like to think that a serving size is 5 or 6 oreos (I know I do!) but in reality, the serving is only two. So take those two cookies and ENJOY them, don't just gobble them up.
It can be trickier for other things, like what you're eating for dinner. I realize being a vegetarian isn't for everyone, but it helped me a lot since I really stopped eating all the fattier foods my family was. If you're not ready to give up your steak and chicken, don't! But be mindful of the portion size (I believe the rule of thumb is about the size of your closed fist), and try to fill up on a salad or vegetables too. If your family isn't buying a lot of healthy vegetables or making a lot of healthier recipes, a good quest is to talk them into buying a few extra healthier things a week, and maybe even once in a while tracking down a good healthy recipe that you can help your family try. I've proposed so many different recipes with my family, and while they sometimes weren't a hit, it forced the family to try new things (Spinach & Artichoke Lasagna anyone?) and opened them up to eating a little healthier.
YAY for you young lady! I wish I had the discipline and motivation to take better care of myself when I was your age...
Hey.. Its great to read ur story !! U r truly an inspiration.. :)
I have couple of questions for you though..
1. Did you do any special work-out training? Please give details.
2. Which is your favourite work-out?
3. I have lost 17 pounds too.. But I want to lose the ponch on my tummy.. How to do that? What is the best way to attack abs?
Congrats on your loss! I must say, you don't look bad in your before pic, but in addition to looking slender, you certainly look a lot happier and more confident in your after photo. Keep up the good habits.
I think the most amazing part of your story is how you didn't let yourself off the hook just because the rest of your family was eating poorly and were all overweight or obese. You could have just thought "There's nothing I can do about it", but you didn't. And even though you had no good role models, you perservered and educated yourself and sought support in places like CC. Good for you!!!
Thanks for the inspiration.
Awesome story! Years ago I ate vegetarian and did lose about 20 lbs. It might be time to try it again or at least not have meat in each of my dinners. The tip on fiber is also helpful...do you think something like benefiber would work or is it best to get your fiber from a natural source? Congrats to you! You look fantastic!
Your story has really encouraged me. I have a 11 year old daughter who i would like to take the weight loss journey with me and you have inspired me. I have lost 15 pounds so far and have another 25 to loose. I know my daughters bad eating habits were started by me because of course I am the one buying the food. I am slowly introducing healthier choices for her but I know she is a kid and likes treats every now and then so i am looking for balance.
I will share your story with her, thanks!
You are amazing and have such a great attitude and are a great example to young girls struggling with the same issues. I am glad that you learned to be happy with you before anything and it did take time and discipline. Way to go!!
You look absolutely fantastic. I can't congratulate you enough. Have a wonderful college experience, I hope you have the absolute time of your life. After all of your hard work, you deserve it.
wow u look wicked awesum! lol i think u putting ur story up helps teens like myself get the encouragement we need thanks!
GOODEVENING Nightraine. few curious questions for you my dear. btw you look absolutly beautiful in those pictures..you better look better than my wife!
- NOW..who was the most negative impact along your journey like negative energy coming from others?
- What made you think you had to loose weight in the first place?
- I am suffering from anneroxia I need some help are you eating at all times of the day?
Well contact me back young lady and good luck in the future sweetheart :]<3.
Thanks for sharing your story! You are wise beyond your years and it is truly inspiring that you made a change and took charge of what you could for your health! Keep on keepin on- even during college!
(If you think your family was full of bad eaters!? Wait till you get in that dorm!)
Congratulations on loosing all that weight, you look fabulous! I only hope I can lose the weight I want to ( 40 lbs ). It is going to take me a while, but I hate how I look. I too realized that I didn't like the way I looked when I reached a size 14 in jeans... I'm hoping to get to a size 8!! You are truly and inspiration to me. Good luck with everything!
You have really inspired me. You did this all on your own in what can be one of the most difficult times in a persons life! That is so amazing! Thank you for sharing your story!
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Congratulations on meeting your goal! You look fabulous! :)