A One Year Weight Loss Journey: Naturally Regulating Hormones Helped Shed 20 Lbs

Dragonkalila's 20-Pound Weight Loss Story over One Year

Internet user dragonkalila's one-year journey to losing 20 pounds started in the summer of 2021. Despite running, her joints would ache under the extra weight, impeding progress. Inconsistently going to gym and bouts with winter colds derailed her weight loss goals until November when she started training for jiu-jitsu, and doing calorie counting. Weight loss still did not occur due to low iron and vitamin D, and high estrogen, and low progesterone imbalance discovered in full blood work by a naturopath.

Diet and Inflammation Intolerance

Addressing dragonkalila's gut and inflammation issues through specific diets, supplements, and prenatal vitamins helped normalize her hormone balance, leading to gradual weight loss. CICO, a popular weight loss theory, started working again as a result. Her journey highlights the importance of seeking more than one health care professional before her diagnosis and continued the journey.

Maintaining Optimal Weight through Caloric Intake and Muscle Building

After losing 20 pounds from May to July, dragonkalila opted for a maintenance break between August and September so she could consume more calories and focus on building muscles while losing weight sustainably. She continues to eat around 2100 calories, track her progress, and aim for a 300 calorie deficit, gradually getting closer to her goal weight of 140 pounds.

Small Habits Lead to Big Victories

Dragonkalila prioritized feeling good and overall health through proper nutrition, vigorous training, and professional medical attention. She refused to settle for the next quick-fix fad diet trend and found support in natural paths like jiu-jitsu, a regulated naturopathic doctor, and prenatal vitamins with iron to restore her balance slowly. It's easy to feel overwhelmed by the prospect of losing weight, but dragonkalila's journey proves that small habits done consistently can eventually create significant results.

Motivation through Identity Shift

Dragonkalila made an identity shift, prioritizing feeling better over the desire to look better, which became the primary motivation to keep going. Her experience reinforces the wisdom of the identity shift James Clear discusses in Atomic Habits. Dragonkalila insists anyone can change habits and patterns with positive habits, diet, and exercises. Hopefully, her story will inspire others to seek natural paths to losing weight, prioritize feeling good and overall health, and understand the value question of asking for professional medical attention.