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/ Source: TODAY
by Meghan Holohan
Over a year ago, Tori Lewis was on vacation with friends in North Carolina. The weather was beautiful, but she felt like she could not enjoy it. At 300 pounds, Lewis felt so uncomfortable that she refused to go to the beach. Instead, she coped like she usually did: eating and drinking too much.
"It was not a great vacation. I did not get a bathing suit ounce. I was embarrassed to go to restaurants. I have a lot to say, "Lewis, 28, of Lynchburg, Virginia, told TODAY. "I was like, 'OK, this is a mess. I am living like this. '"
Like so many others, Lewis originally gained weight in college when she stopped paying attention to what she ate and drank. Each year, she felt more unhappy. She tried a lot of diets, but none of them ever worked.
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"I was just in a vicious cycle where I felt terrible about myself and I used to feel better," she said. "I knew that things were getting bad and I kept on ignoring it."
But after the vacation she knew it was time to change. She spent so much of her life feeling embarrassed about how she looked and hating herself – it was exhausting.
"From the moment I would wake up, go to the bathroom and stand in front of the mirror first I would have 'Oh my God, I hate myself,'" she said. "Walking into a grocery store would cause me anxiety because I was self-conscious of how I looked."
Ketogenic diet, a low-carb diet, high in fat and protein. Lewis wondered if this could work for her, too. She started researching it and began eliminating sugar and simple carbs and adding healthy fats, such as avocado and olive oil.
"I think it is a perfectly balanced diet. I stopped eating sugar, which sounds really loud when you hear someone say it. I stopped eating crappy carbs. I am eating meat and dairy and vegetables, "she explained.
At first, Lewis was skeptical that keto would make a difference.
"To me, a diet was always something that you went on for a period of time. I have completely rewired my brain about the way that I look at food, "she said.
Since October 2017, Lewis has lost 120 pounds simply by focusing on what she eats and now weighs 175 pounds. While she loves the way she looks, she truly loves how much stronger she feels emotionally.
"Physical changes are not the only changes I have undergone. I am happier. I am more willing to do things, "she said. "I'm just a normal person who did this and other people can do this too."
Lewis shares tips on how others can make healthier choices and lose weight.
1. Have a buddy.
Lewis' husband Travis, 31, also committed to keto and has lost 90 pounds. Following the diet together made it easier for you.
"We talk about our weight loss every single day," she said. "It was fun to have someone along for the ride who understood."
2. Just get started.
When Lewis knew it was time to lose weight, she researched what would work best for her life. She was armed with information, and knew she had to make some changes.
"The hardest part is starting. You have to make a plan. You have to do some independent research and then you have to commit yourself, "she said.
3. 'Be patient.'
While Lewis has an incredible amount of money in his life Sometimes it did not seem like she knew what she was doing or it would work. But she stuck to meet her goal: weighing less than her husband.
"You also have to be patient," she said. "It is incredibly overwhelming for so many reasons when you make a change like this."
For more weight-loss inspiration, check out our My Weight-Loss Journey page. Interested in changing your clothes? Sign up for our Start TODAY newsletter for extra support.
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