{"id":357,"date":"2024-06-16T11:27:31","date_gmt":"2024-06-16T11:27:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/health-reporter.com\/?p=357"},"modified":"2024-06-18T18:38:53","modified_gmt":"2024-06-18T18:38:53","slug":"from-5000-calories-a-day-to-fasting-without-struggles-dezaraes-story","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/health-reporter.com\/index.php\/2024\/06\/16\/from-5000-calories-a-day-to-fasting-without-struggles-dezaraes-story\/","title":{"rendered":"From 5,000 Calories a Day to Fasting Without Struggles: Dezarae\u2019s Story"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Dezarae went through years of addiction, struggled with binge and emotional eating, lost herself in the process, yet managed to recover. Today she has a beautiful family, went from 220 to 160 lbs, and has fallen in love with herself even more.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We\u2019ve asked Dezarae a few questions about her experience, and she was kind enough to share her inspiring story and explain 5 very precise ways that helped her lose 60 lbs!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Keep on reading to find out!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Start taking action<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>I had struggled with weight my entire life.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I\u2019d always been big because I had a very unhealthy relationship with food and struggled with binge eating and emotional eating.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I\u2019m a recovering alcoholic and quit drinking back in 2009.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I\u2019m 5 foot 3, and I was around 220 pounds by 2010. After being sober for a couple of years, I started counting calories and working out with a friend and lost around 70 pounds. However\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When life got hard after a few years of sobriety, my addictions came back full force with food. I began binge eating with a vengeance, and over the next few years, gained all my weight back.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I started a family in 2016 and gave birth to 3 amazing kids. However, this led me to being 230 pounds by May of 2020.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I had chronic back pain, my knees hurt all the time, I was constantly exhausted. I didn\u2019t have the energy to try to look good: I didn\u2019t style my hair, I didn\u2019t wear makeup, I didn\u2019t wear cute outfits\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I lived off caffeine and junk food. I was complacent and thought I was happy but physically didn\u2019t feel that good.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/healthinsider.news\/app\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Woman-Proud-of-Diet-Results.jpg\" alt=\"Woman Proud of Diet Results\" class=\"wp-image-24098\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>I was around 220 pounds when I started trying to lose weight again. I wanted to be back where I was in 2012 \u2013 160 pounds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I couldn\u2019t get myself to stick with any diet or exercise program. So I sought medical help.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I tried several medications to help with weight loss, all of which came with a high price \u2013 SIDE EFFECTS! Terrible ones. All were very expensive, and none worked after my body adjusted to the medication. I would lose 10\u201315 pounds, then gain it all back. It was quite upsetting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>My biggest struggles and setbacks came along with my personality \u2013 my escape was food.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Any time I was stressed out, anxious, or upset, I ate. And, I ate a lot! It was easy for me to consume 3,000, 4,000, 5,000 calories a day. I also had no control when it came to sweets. Once I started consuming anything super sugary, I would eat in excess.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Trust your gut<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>I had heard of intermittent fasting before but never considered doing it myself.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But one day, I was on the couch, and I saw an ad for the DoFasting app, and something inside of me just said to give it a shot.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I just did it with 0 hesitations. I trusted my instincts.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>This was in May of 2021, and this is when my true, life-changing journey began.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>Right before I found the DoFasting app, in April 2021, I gave up sweets. I told myself I\u2019d completely abstain from them as I did with alcohol, and for me personally, that set me up for even greater success when I began my fasting journey a month later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Intermittent fasting protocol that works<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>I will say that the main thing I use the app for is to remind myself when to start and stop eating. It has become very ironclad in my life.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I started with a 16:8 plan. I ate from 11 am to 7 pm.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I will admit that at first, it was a tad slow going because I was still a very heavy overeater. I was consuming way too many calories during my eating window.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/healthinsider.news\/app\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Fasting-Without-Struggles.jpg\" alt=\"Fasting Without Struggles\" class=\"wp-image-24099\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The summer at work was hectic, and I found myself some days having to wait even longer than 11 am to start my eating window. Some days I was fasting for 18\u201320 hours, and I would still stop eating at 7 pm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How long does it take to see the difference?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>After a couple of months of fasting for 18\u201320 hours when I could, my appetite started to decrease substantially.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I started noticing weight loss and changes in my behavior with food.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There would be days I would forget to eat and have to make myself grab something quickly in between other tasks, and for me, this was CRAZY!!!&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Food had always been a top priority in my life. I\u2019d finish every bite on my plate and eat until I couldn\u2019t anymore, snacking when I was bored. But, by July of 2021 \u2013 food just wasn\u2019t that important anymore. I started gaining confidence in myself when the pounds began to fall off.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The significant changes that come after<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>I started to dress nice again, tan, take pride in my appearance, and I naturally became more active because I felt better and wasn\u2019t struggling with chronic back\/knee pain anymore.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>By August 2021, I felt like a new person.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I was so happy with my results, and the craziest part about it was that it was incredibly EASY!!!&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Not having to worry about eating constantly gave me more time to think about other important aspects of my life. It freed up a lot of my time.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>By the fall of 2021, everything was just working naturally. I kept with the 16:8 fasting plan but continued to push myself any time I could. I\u2019d say at least 2x per week, I\u2019d fast 18\u201320 hours.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That was a huge deal for me.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Perks of fasting<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>When I do eat, I eat what I want. And most importantly, I mess up at times!!&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I\u2019ll get starving from time to time after my eating window has closed, and you know what, I\u2019M HUMAN. I make mistakes, and I\u2019ve eaten later in the evening before, BUT\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Any time I do that \u2013 I instantly update my app for the time to start my fast, and I just wait until later in the day to start eating.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>I\u2019ve done this on NUMEROUS occasions, and I\u2019m still thriving and losing weight.<\/strong>&nbsp;When I fast, I fast CLEAN. I only consume water.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I don\u2019t work out much, but I\u2019m hyperactive and constantly moving.<strong>&nbsp;I have much more energy now that I\u2019m smaller.<\/strong>&nbsp;My chronic back and knee pain is GONE! I\u2019m even able to wear heels again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>As of 1\/10\/22, I hit my goal of 160!&nbsp;<\/strong>Nine months of using the DoFasting app helped me achieve this result. My new goal is to hit 140 and work on toning my body, getting rid of my tummy flap from having three kids.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What would you like to tell others who are starting their journey?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ol>\n<li>If you mess up and eat when you\u2019re supposed to be fasting, just update your time on the app and start eating later the next day.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Try fasting 18\u201320 hours 2x per week.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Try to abstain from sweets if you have an addictive personality and can\u2019t control yourself with that kind of food.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>CLEAN FAST! Don\u2019t cheat. You are only cheating yourself.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>If you plateau or don\u2019t notice instant results, JUST KEEP DOING THE NEXT RIGHT THING! It definitely took 2 months to really start working for me personally. You have to allow your appetite to decrease, and the longer you can fast on a regular basis, the quicker that will happen.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/healthinsider.news\/app\/uploads\/2022\/06\/DoFasting-interface.jpg\" alt=\"DoFasting interface\" class=\"wp-image-24268\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>*IMPORTANT:&nbsp;<\/strong>While other fasting-related apps are mostly only time trackers, the DoFasting app is a full-on personal fasting guide. This means that you\u2019re getting all of the knowledge on fasting to reach the target weight without questioning if you\u2019re doing it right.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You\u2019re literary moments away from\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u2705 Daily fasting and nutrition tips as well as a step-by-step guidance specifically for you<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u2705 A comprehensive tracker to journal your progress and reports to always know what\u2019s next<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u2705 Mouthwatering recipes (for your eating windows) with simple ingredients you and your family will love&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u2705 Access to a science-backed content library to answer all fasting-related questions<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u2705 A macronutrient breakdown of your diet<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u2705 And even home-friendly video workout routines<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But the best part is that all of it is personalized to you based on the answers in a 1-minute quiz.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Dezarae went through years of addiction, struggled with binge and emotional eating, lost herself in the process, yet managed to recover. Today she has a beautiful family, went from 220 to 160 lbs, and has fallen in love with herself even more.&nbsp; We\u2019ve asked Dezarae a few questions about her experience, and she was kind&hellip;&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/health-reporter.com\/index.php\/2024\/06\/16\/from-5000-calories-a-day-to-fasting-without-struggles-dezaraes-story\/\" class=\"\" rel=\"bookmark\">Read More &raquo;<span class=\"screen-reader-text\">From 5,000 Calories a Day to Fasting Without Struggles: Dezarae\u2019s Story<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":430,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"neve_meta_sidebar":"","neve_meta_container":"","neve_meta_enable_content_width":"","neve_meta_content_width":0,"neve_meta_title_alignment":"","neve_meta_author_avatar":"","neve_post_elements_order":"","neve_meta_disable_header":"","neve_meta_disable_footer":"","neve_meta_disable_title":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[13],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/health-reporter.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/357"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/health-reporter.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/health-reporter.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/health-reporter.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/health-reporter.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=357"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/health-reporter.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/357\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":431,"href":"https:\/\/health-reporter.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/357\/revisions\/431"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/health-reporter.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/430"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/health-reporter.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=357"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/health-reporter.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=357"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/health-reporter.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=357"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}