Health Improvement Journey Story

After starting a diet and exercise routine in mid-August, I lost nearly 15 pounds by mid-November—an average of 5 pounds per month. What’s even better? It was all done in a healthy, organic way, without resorting to medications like Ozempic.

It all started when I got back from the French Riviera. After indulging in one too many croissants, I hit an all-time high on the scale. It was time to face the facts: my health had taken a turn. I knew it was time to explore new diet and exercise routines after hitting a new low.

Looking back, I realized that years of juggling grad school and work had caught up with me. I had gained weight as a way to cope with the stress, and my focus had been on mental endurance rather than physical fitness. If I hadn’t been so focused on academic work, I would have likely spent more time on physical exercise to maintain a healthier weight.

Interestingly, getting laid off from a job I didn’t love turned out to be a blessing. It gave me the opportunity to focus entirely on my health and begin the search for a more fulfilling career. I truly believe this was the turning point that put me back on track, with a life centered around joy, passion, and good health.

A Wake-Up Call: Health Diagnosis

I took a routine blood test at my primary care doctor’s office, and the results were eye-opening. I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism, which means I had an underactive thyroid and a slower-than-normal metabolism. This was affecting my energy levels, and it all started to make sense—especially since I had been feeling unusually tired and had developed psoriasis for the first time in my life. While hypothyroidism doesn’t cause psoriasis directly, both conditions share similar underlying factors, so it wasn’t surprising to me.

The Diet: Bio-Hacking My Way to Better Health

I ended up listening to the ‘The Four Hour Diet’ audio book and ultimately followed the advice to bio-hack my health disposition. This book, while quite extreme, helped me change my mindset around my beloved carbs and sugars and overall diet habits. I will not be baking any more bagels in the foreseeable future; or ordering rice or french fries with any meals.

I started creating rules around what I could and could not eat. It began by giving up high sugar and high carb foods. A bit later I decided I’d give up dairy and not buy any butter, half and half or cheese at the grocery store. A bit later I met someone who was sober and I really loved their outlook and decided, well, I’ll go sober too!

It’s actually quite fun to see how creative you can get within the parameters of a mainly veggies and protein diet. I started cooking really healthy meals and eating eggs for breakfast almost everyday. I feel like my cooking skills have improved greatly and I can better intuitively cook great tasting dishes with a variety of spices, garlic, shallots, onions, etc.

I love my beast smoothie maker and make amazing cocoa nib, banana, date, chia seed & oat milk smoothies when I am in the mood for chocolate. When I feel like I need sweets, I try to turn to nutrient packed fruits or fruit juices without added sugar. I also buy the fake sugar sodas for a sweet 0 calorie treat – even though the fake sugar is known to not be great for you and actually cause weight gain.

Workouts: From Couch to Marathon

On the exercise front, I started with the V-Shred app and focused on Vince’s high-intensity workouts, particularly the ab exercises.

What really motivated me, though, was my decision to train for a marathon. I downloaded a Couch-to-Marathon training guide, and for the first four weeks, the focus was simply on acclimating my body to running daily. I wasn’t in marathon shape, so I started with small, manageable goals—running about 3.1 miles every day for the first month.

Now, I’m 12 weeks into my marathon training and am halfway through my journey to the Los Angeles Marathon in mid-March.

Here is the training plan I’ve followed thus far:

Week	Date	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday	Sunday	Total Milage
1	09/21/2024	3.1	3	rest	3.98	rest	solidcore	3.1	13.18
2	09/28/2024	rest	1.84	3.49	rest	solidcore	4.16	4.64	14.13
3	10/05/2024	3.81	3.33	rest	3	rest	5	rest	15.14
4	10/12/2024	solidcore	3.1	rest	3.1	3.1	rest	rest	9.3
5	10/19/2024	rest	3.81	2.68	4.8	3.1	3.81	5.1	23.3
6	10/26/2024	4.85	3.45	3.1	3.4	3.4	3.1	8	29.3
7	11/02/2024	3.1	rest	3.76	rest	8	8	3.1	25.96
8	11/09/2024	3.1	5.5	yoga	6	solidcore	10	rest	24.6
10	11/16/2024	3.1	rest	4	XX	massage	XX	XX	7.1
11	11/24/2024	3.1	yoga	5	rest	5	solidcore	9	22.1
12	12/01/2024	rest	1.5	5	yoga	4	solidcore	6	16.5
13	12/08/2024	rest	4	5	rest	4	solidcore	11	24
14	12/15/2024	rest	4	6	rest	4	solidcore	9	23
15	12/22/2024	rest	4	6	rest	4	solidcore	13.1	27.1
16	12/29/2024	rest	4	6	rest	5	solidcore	12	27
17	01/05/2025	rest	5	7	rest	5	solidcore	14	31
18	01/19/2025	rest	5	7	rest	5	solidcore	16	33
19	01/26/2025	rest	5	7	rest	5	solidcore	18	35
20	02/02/2025	rest	5	7	rest	5	solidcore	14	31
21	02/16/2025	rest	5	6	rest	5	solidcore	20	36
22	02/23/2025	rest	4	4	rest	4	solidcore	10	22
23	03/02/2025	rest	3	3	rest	3	solidcore	6	15
24	03/09/2025	rest	3	rest	rest	rest	2	26.2	31.2

I’ve tried doing more complex workouts for the marathon training and then find myself just not doing it all together, so I’m sticking to the easiest marathon training plan.

Tracking Progress: Seeing the Results

To stay on top of my progress, I purchased a Renpho smart scale that tracks various health metrics. I also bought a Renpho measuring tape to track body measurements. I love how the app provides visual data trends, giving me a clear picture of my progress as it helps me visualize my weight loss over time. While weight loss isn’t always linear, I can see positive trends if I stay consistent with my efforts.

Additionally, I’ve been taking photos in my sports bra throughout this journey. I store them chronologically and whenever I need a boost, I scroll through the photos. It’s definitely satisfying to see my transformation in real time.

Summary: Looking Ahead

I feel fantastic about the progress I’ve made so far. My body is naturally metabolizing weight, and in 2024, my true success has been regaining control of my health and prioritizing a lifestyle centered around wellness.

Ultimately, I believe that adjusting your diet is crucial if you want to improve your weight and health. Being mindful of the foods you eat and how they impact both your physical and mental well-being is key to long-term success.

Looking ahead, I hope to shed another 10 pounds by the end of January or by the time the marathon arrives in March. While I feel significantly better than I did just a few months ago, I know I’ll feel even better once I return to a weight I maintained in 2018. It might sound extreme, but it’s an attainable goal, and I’m excited to continue my health journey into 2025.