A woman who shed an impressive 41lbs has opened up about the true essence of weight loss. She debunked the myths around magic diets and extreme calorie restriction that often result in adverse effects like mood swings.
Documenting her journey on TikTok under the handle @mersfitness, she describes her former self as being “unhappy, very overweight and insecure”. Yet, within the span of five months, she witnessed a transformative change.
The secret, as she and many others have come to understand, isn’t found in quick fixes but rather in consistent efforts over time.
Alongside her video, she encourages others by saying, “Five months can change you!!! If you start now, you will thank yourself down the line. I’m so proud that I pushed myself on the days I didn’t feel like going.”
Although she acknowledges she hasn’t reached her target weight, her commitment to consistency remains unshaken. “I’m happier and feeling more confident,” she admits, crediting her improved wellbeing to regular gym sessions and a slight reduction in calorie intake.
Her story has spurred others in the comments section to cheer her on towards enduring success through perseverance. One person commented, “Keep on going, you got this! I also need to do the same,” Another supporter added their enthusiasm: “Girl, you look so good! You should be so proud of yourself. Let the haters’ jaws drop”.
Others praised her, saying she was “smashing it” and providing “inspiration” for those struggling with unhappiness and fitness. In the comments, she also revealed her routine, writing: “Treadmill to warm up, then I do at least 20-30 minutes weight training and stair master at the end, 3-4x a week. I also usually do 10k steps on the days I don’t go to the gym”.
According to the NHS, adults should engage in some form of physical activity daily. Even exercising just once or twice a week can lower the risk of heart disease or stroke.
Adults should aim to:
- do strengthening activities that work all the major muscle groups (legs, hips, back, abdomen, chest, shoulders and arms) at least 2 days a week
- do at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity activity a week or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity activity a week
- spread exercise evenly over 4 to 5 days a week or every day
- reduce time spent sitting or lying down and break up long periods of not moving with some activity
You can also achieve your weekly activity target with:
- several short sessions of very vigorous intensity activity
- a mix of moderate, vigorous and very vigorous intensity activity