Breaking Through Barriers: How Mother of Two Children, Lost 95 Pounds and Transformed Her Life
Name: Ariel Haley Denemark
Age: 31-35
Gender: Female
Height: 5 feet 5 in (65 in, 165.1 cm, 1.65 m)
Location:
State: Florida
Country: United States of America
We're excited to learn more about your weight loss journey. To start, please introduce yourself and tell us a little about your background.
My name is Ariel. I'm 32 years old. I'm from Cocoa Beach, Florida, and for the past year or so, I have grown a passion for fitness, weight lifting, and healthy eating habits.
We'd love to know more about your weight loss journey. For example, how much weight have you lost, and over what time?
I started at 256 pounds and am now down to 161, 95 pounds so far. My weight loss journey began in June of 2022, and I'm still on my journey, considering my goal is 150 pounds.
What was your primary motivation for losing weight? Was it health-related, personal appearance, or something else?
My primary motivation is my two beautiful children at the age where all they want to do is play, and I couldn't because I never had the energy, and my weight made it hard for me to do any physical activity with them. So I knew that if I ever wanted to be the mom they deserved, I had to lose the weight and start taking care of myself, so they knew that's how you are supposed to treat your body.
Could you share your starting weight, current weight, highest weight, and the lowest weight you've reached during your weight loss journey?
Starting Weight: 256 lbs
Current Weight: 161 lbs
Goal Weight: 150 lbs
Lowest Weight in the Journey: 161 lbs
Waist size changes can be an important indicator of progress. Can you share your highest, lowest, and current waist circumference?
Current Waist Size (inches): 31
Let's talk about your diet plan. What kind of foods did you avoid or include? Did you follow any specific diet, like keto, paleo, or low-carb?
Giving up fast food and soda was the hardest. Those two spoils were my kryptonite. Because I had terrible postpartum, I began to drown my sorrows in food, which caused me to gain weight, and knowing I would have to give that up for a while was hard for me to accept. But I found that when I started to eat healthier and wean off the fast food and soda, I was much happier, to my surprise. I started replacing Coke with lollipop prebiotic soda and poppy prebiotic soda, and I replaced fast food with making meals at home, and I grew a new passion for cooking. I mostly make chicken and veggies, but sometimes I like to make fish dinners and other healthy meals.
How did you set realistic goals for your weight loss journey? Did you have any milestones or targets along the way?
I started my weight loss journey by walking a mile a day for the first week because that's all I get as I could do, but each week I would add a little bit more distance to make sure I was progressing. I also started doing little exercises at home, like lifting light weights and doing crunches and push-ups; granted, I couldn't do many, but anything was better than nothing, and with each week, I would add more workouts to my regimen. Eventually, I felt confident enough to start going to the gym in May. So for me, it was all about doing a little bit at a time but always trying to ensure I was progressing weekly.
How did you determine the right amount of calories for your weight loss, and what was your average daily caloric intake?
I multiplied my goal weight (150) by 12 (1800), then added how many calories I burned that day during my workout. So if I burned 500 calories that day, I would eat 2300 calories.
Sleep is important for overall health. How many hours of sleep did you typically get during your weight loss journey?
7-8 hours
Exercise can play a crucial role in weight loss. Can you tell us about your exercise habits before and after your weight loss journey, and share some of the routines you followed?
Well, my routine now is very different from what it was in the beginning. It is a lot more intense. I usually spend around 3 hours at the gym almost daily, where I lift weights for the first hour, do cardio for the second hour, and for the third hour, I enjoy running around 4 miles on the treadmill. My routine changes every time I go depending on what I want to work out that day; so, for example, on leg day, I'm doing Russian Deadlifts (RDLs), different squat variations, leg presses, leg extensions, hip and thigh abductions, glute hyperextensions, and for cardio, I use the elliptical, the Stairmaster, and the treadmill on a 15% incline.
Did you use any apps or technology to help you with your weight loss? If so, which ones?
My fitness pal has been super helpful in my journey to help me manage my diet.
Were you part of any weight loss programs, or did you work with a coach? If yes, which ones?
Nope, I was solo on this journey.
Did you take any medications or supplements for weight loss? If so, which ones and how did they help?
Nope, I was all natural for this.
What tricks and techniques helped you stay on track during your weight loss journey?
The main thing that helped me stay on track was how good I felt every time I finished a workout and ate better. I also had an incredible support system cheering me on every step of the way, I have my fiancé, David, and my parents to thank for that.
Were there any specific moments or turning points that made you realize the progress you were making or that motivated you to continue?
When other people started to notice, I was getting smaller. I see myself all the time, so it was hard sometimes for me to notice a difference in my weight the way others who don't see me as often could. That started happening when I broke out of the 200-pound range.
Did you face any challenges during your weight loss journey? How did you overcome them?
My biggest challenge was giving up what I loved to eat until I got a better grip on my diet. I was addicted to food, so that I couldn't have cheat days in the beginning, or else it would have just been like a relapse, and I would have ended up binge eating. I am at a point now where I can trust myself with some fun treats once a week or every other week until I have hit my goal weight; then, I may allow more. Moderation is key.
How did you deal with setbacks, cravings, or temptations during your weight loss journey?
Giving things up entirely is near impossible, so I had to find healthy alternatives to the foods and drinks I loved. Publix has a lot of great options as well as Whole Foods.
Did you have any medical conditions or medications that may have contributed to your weight gain or affected your weight loss journey? If you're comfortable, please share some details.
I don't have any medical conditions that necessarily hindered my journey in any way, but I do take Zoloft for depression which can make you put on weight, making it difficult to lose weight.
Is there any history of obesity in your family? If so, and if you're comfortable sharing, please tell us about it.
No history of obesity
Did you have any medical problems before your weight loss that have since improved or resolved?
My knees used to kill me daily just walking anywhere. But now I run four miles a day.
How has your life changed since losing weight? Have you noticed improvements in your health, personal life, or professional life?
I look much better, but my mental health was the most significant change. I am overall much happier and more motivated.
How important was the support of friends, family, or online communities during your weight loss journey? Can you share any experiences where they made a significant impact?
I don't think I would have been able to do this without the support from my parents and my fiancé and the fantastic community (aka my second family) at my gym. The support has been overwhelming and amazing, and I couldn't feel more blessed to have all these people in my life.
What advice would you give to others looking to lose weight?
Contrary to how it may feel, the hard part is starting. Lifting the weight isn't hard; eating the salad instead of the burger isn't hard, but convincing yourself to do so can be, so once you get past that, it's smooth sailing! You got this!
Is there anything else you'd like to share about your weight loss journey?
It helps to have at least one person willing to support your journey, whether it be going to the gym with you or even just texting you to remind you not to skip the gym today or not to eat junk today.
As you've achieved or are on your way to your weight loss goals, how do you plan to maintain your current weight and continue leading a healthy lifestyle?
Once you start getting used to eating and living healthy, it's hard to want to live any other way. But I wouldn't ever want not to feel as good as I do now, so nothing is worth giving up what I have.
Can you recommend any resources or programs that you found helpful during your weight loss journey?
Use my fitness pal and journal what you have eaten during the day, which will help with your diet.
