‘Counting Macros And Weight Lifting Helped Me Lose 100 Pounds’

My name is Sasha Jones (@sashabody__), and I am 31 years old. I live in Tampa, Florida, and I am a NASM-certified personal trainer. Being told I had prediabetes and may need to be on insulin was a wake-up call that pushed me to change my lifestyle. By counting macros and lifting weights, I was able to avoid developing diabetes and lost 100 pounds in the process.

In 2017, I began having frequent headaches, fatigue, soreness, and aches. I knew that something was wrong and that I needed to see a doctor. I was right—my doctor told me that I had prediabetes. My A1C (which tells you your average blood sugar level over the past three months) was 6.2 percent, which is pre-diabetic, and 6.5 percent or higher is considered diabetic. I asked her to give me the opportunity to get me life together and on track. Although she was hesitant, she believed in me and gave me a chance to live a healthier lifestyle.

In a matter of three weeks, I managed to get my A1C down and was no longer at high risk of developing diabetes. What got me there was the changes I made to my diet and lifestyle.

First, I cut out bread, cheese, pasta, and alcohol, as recommended by my doctor.

That helped me so much in the beginning with adopting a healthier lifestyle. Now, I still eat the foods I love, but I look for healthy alternatives. I don’t deprive myself—I just eat smarter. It’s all about balance.

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Meal prepping has helped me immensely. I also counted macros, which helped me make sure I was getting the right amount of protein, carbs, and fat.

Here’s what I eat in a day now.

• Breakfast: Eggs, fruit, oatmeal, and avocado toast
• Lunch: Grilled chicken salad loaded with yummy veggies like tomatoes and cucumbers and a light balsamic dressing
• Snacks: White cheddar popcorn, veggie sticks, and ranch dressing
• Dinner: Salmon, broccoli, and whole grain brown rice
• Dessert: Halo Top ice cream

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I also started working out right away.

Working out was never the issue for me, but I needed to change my intention for it. Before, I used working out as an excuse to eat whatever I wanted, so I wasn’t losing weight and seeing results. Now, I love my time in the gym and lifting. I am typically in the gym five to six days a week.

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I also like to do my workouts outside, utilizing park benches or other “equipment” I find. My favorite thing to do is train my upper body, preferably my shoulders. Lifting weights used to be the scariest thing to me, but now I love it!

These three changes have led to my weight loss success.

1. I stayed consistent. Staying consistent and disciplined is one of the hardest parts of starting a healthy lifestyle change, but I tell myself that this will benefit me in the long run and I should always keep it fun—the workouts, the food, and the experience.
2. I stopped looking at food as the enemy. I had to learn balance when it came to food, and that food is my friend, not my enemy. Counting macros and being very aware of what I’m putting into my body have been super helpful.
3. I practiced patience with myself. I had to understand that there were gonna be days when I didn’t want to eat healthy, work out, or even get out of bed. And that’s okay! Also, I had to accept the fact that my weight was going to fluctuate and that I wasn’t going to lose weight overnight. Patience is a virtue.

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I’ve lost about 100 pounds in about a year and a half.

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I want other women to know that it’s possible to lose weight, and that it’s important to love yourself before the process, so you can love yourself during the process and you can love yourself after. And it’s okay to fall off the horse sometimes, as long as you don’t stay off and get back on!

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