At 250 pounds, Cassie had a sedentary lifestyle and felt lonely and unattractive.
Hear how she learned to treat herself better, and how she kept herself motivated through plateaus.
“If you’re tired of starting over, stop giving up.”
Weight Gain Background and Contributing Factors
Cassie traces back her weight gain to her early twenties, when she met her husband and life became “comfortable.”
She was also diagnosed with PCOS which can cause weight gain and weight issues.
Cassie also admits that her lifestyle did not involve much physical activity.
“Basically, I became lazy, is what it amounted to.”
Cassie is 5’6” and reached a peak weight of 250 pounds. (113.6 kg)
How Being Overweight Impacted Cassie’s Life
Cassie opens up about body image issues she developed as a result of her weight. She was self-conscious in public and often felt insecure and lonely.
“I felt worthless. I felt unattractive… undesired.”
Cassie admits that while she wanted to lose weight in the past, she had never really committed to changes or even researched program & diet options.
The Turning Point
For Cassie, 2011 was a year of changes that added up to her “waking up to [her] laziness.”
In July, she learned she had an eight-pound ovarian cyst that had to be surgically removed. A few months later, she had a career change and launched a new business of her own.
Poor eating habits combined with the stress of life changes led to some rough times for Cassie that year. Once she began taking control and focusing on herself, she experienced immediate relief.
Starting The Weight Loss Journey
Cassie immediately cut out soda, sugar, and processed foods. She limited eating out and began closely monitoring her portion sizes.
She also began walking regularly.
“It was the Christmas season… I used the excuse of Christmas shopping… to get out, walk around, and just get some fresh air.”
Cassie began exploring new activities like skiing, golfing, and continued her focus on “eating healthier and eating less.”
Staying Motivated
Cassie shares that the transition was very difficult. The key for her was not completely eliminating foods that she enjoyed, but instead being diligent about portion sizes to avoid over-indulging.
“Even though it was difficult to eat less, I still had something to look forward to. I could still enjoy my food.”
Cassie credits her husband with being a fantastic support throughout the process, not just in encouraging her but also helping educate her about food.
To counter old stress-eating habits, Cassie would take nervous energy and use it to be creative. When she felt stressed, she would go into her studio and dive into craft projects. Over time, her new, healthier go-to activity became the new outlet for stress.
What Cassie Learned About Food, Exercise, and Herself
Cassie opens up about ongoing issues with “thinking like a fat person.”
“I still, in the back of my mind, think of myself as the fat, funny friend… but it’s an unhealthy way to think… I still struggle with it, to be honest.”
One of the ways Cassie handles this is to remind herself of how far she’s come, and that she is not defined by her weight and/or appearance. It also helps to focus on good things around her, and on helping others.
An unexpected surprise was that Cassie’s food tastes changed.
“I used to hate asparagus and beans and mushrooms, and oh god, I hated avocados with a passion… and now, I can’t get enough of it!”
At first, Cassie thought it would be difficult to change her food patterns, but that actually ended up being one of the easiest parts. These days, Cassie eats a whole-food, plant-based diet.
Cassie also did little exercise at first. She didn’t like the gym environments she’d experienced in the past. That has changed.
Cassie is currently training for a 5K and has fun being active. She shares that it doesn’t feel like exercise when doing something she enjoys.
Obstacles and Challenges
For Cassie, plateaus were a frustrating problem that reoccurred after every 20-30 pounds. She had to change things up every time to keep losing.
To stay motivated and focused, Cassie made her journey public. She shared her weight & stats on Facebook and received an outpouring of support and encouraging feedback.
“It really helped me keep going. They wanted to see my results. They wanted to see me make these changes in my life… it really helped me keep the drive up.”
Cassie’s Advice For Your Journey
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Respect and love yourself. Treat yourself and your body right.
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Live and enjoy your life.
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Get up and walk!
Resources Discussed In This Podcast
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/ProgressPics – transformation photos forum on Reddit.com
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/LoseIt – weight loss support forum on Reddit.com
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Oh She Glows – Cassie’s go-to Vegan recipe blog
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Weilos (IOS) app
On Cassie’s Workout Playlist
Contacting Cassie
Cassie enjoys crafting, board games, and can be found online at the following places:
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