Junk Food Binge
Amandalyn was only 10 years old when she started suffering from eating disorders. She would binge on junk food day after day and she started gaining tons of weight.
"I didn't grow up eating fruits or veggies, but was on more of a pasta, cake, meat, and potato diet", she told Pop Sugar in a recent interview. But how long did this carry on?
Record Weight
Apart from binge eating processed foods and chumping on sweets all day, Amandalyn wasn't too much of a sportsy person. Even though she would always try different diets, her absolute lack of exercise led her to put on weight, especially throughout her teens.
"My weight progressed through my teens and well into my early twenties", Amandalyn explained. By the time she turned 23, she had already reached a record weight of 265 pounds (120 kg).
Multiple Health Issues
However, things grew more serious when her weight started taking a toll on her heath. When she was 19, she was diagnosed with rocketing cholesterol levels and started suffering from back problems, too.
As if this weren't enough, by the time she was 20, the doctors had already diagnosed her with chronic migraines, high blood pressure, diabetes, and polycystic ovary syndrome. Changing her eating habits, though, was harder than she ever imagined.
Over-Medicated
Before she knew it, she was taking a dozen pills each day. "My doctor had me ingest 11 pills a day to try and level out my body. I don't like taking any form of medication, not even for a headache", she remembers.
Hoping to quit the pills, she eventually started taking vitamins and introducing some healthier foods to her diet. "My ultimate goal was to be off all medication, so I tried taking vitamins to help my body reach that goal sooner", she explained. But did it work?
At Death's Door
Despite her medication and her occasional diets, her health grew poorer as the years went by. It wasn't until she turned 23 that the doctors started growing deeply concerned.
"My doctor insisted I lose weight, or I wouldn't see the age of 30 or have a family of my own", she recalls. But no matter how hard she tried, there was nothing she could to to lose weight.
Nothing Worked
Discouraged by the ineffectiveness of the medication she was taking, she started falling into a state of depression. She felt overwhelmed at the fact that she couldn't find a way of boosting her health.
"I've done every diet, magic pill, or drink you can think of to try and lose weight. I would gain and lose the same 20 pounds for years", she shared. Her depression, however, only made her fall into a downward spiral...
Downward Spiral
Her increasing levels of stress only deepened her negative relationship with food. She would sometimes nearly starve to death for the sake of losing weight, only to end up wolfing up sweets and chocolate.
On top of that, her mother's health record didn't help at all. Her mom had also suffered from obesity all her life, which made Amandalyn's attempts of losing weight all the more discouraging. But until when did this go on?
Failed Exercise Routine
In winter 2013, a few months after reaching her record weight, Amandalyn made up her mind and finally started doing some exercise. This, however, was easier said than done.
Six months later, she injured her back by lifting some weight. Having to bedrest for over a week, she gained back the few pounds she had initially lost. However, things got worse once her love life went downhill...
Heartbroken
In 2014, Amandalyn moved to Kentucky with her boyfriend, whom she had been dating for over a year. She seriously hoped her relationship would keep her mind off the pain caused by so many failed diets. Destiny, however, had other plans.
A few months after moving, Amandalyn's boyfriend broke up with her. She had never seen it coming and she now found herself forced to move back to Idaho. Heartbroken and homeless, she once again fell into depression.
Emotional Scar
The day of the breakup left an emotional scar on her forever. "Back in 2014 I was very much in love and thought I could see a future with him. He accepted me for who I was but then out of nowhere he dumped me. He gave me no reason, just said it was over", she recalls.
"We were together for a year by the time he dumped me. I think it affected me so much because I left home and never thought I would go back unless to visit", she added. It wasn't long before her depression triggered her eating disorders...
Low Self-Esteem
It wasn't until a few months after the breakup that she finally started moving on. "After taking time to think about the situation, we weren't a good match. He would bore me with conversations, and we didn't have much in common", she admitted.
She soon realized that the only reason she had grown so attached to her ex was that she feared nobody else would ever find her attractive. "I was just glad someone found me attractive when I was so heavy because I didn't have enough self-love". It was now time for her to start accepting her own body and loving herself for who she was.
A Strong, Self-Confident Woman
Amandalyn felt devastated after moving back to Idaho, but every cloud has a silver lining. "It helped me realize how important my own happiness was and how I didn't need anyone to make me happy", she shared.
Having become a strong, self-confident woman, Amandalyn finally felt optimistic enough to tackle the goal she had very much postponed: losing weight. Even though she no longer felt ashamed of her size, she felt she owed it to her health.
New Diet
To begin with, Amandalyn once again cut off sugary and high-fat foodstuffs from her diet, replacing them with fruits, green vegetables, and lean proteins. "I felt like a rabbit", she admitted.
She would also eat some bison, shrimp, eggs, and turkey, and she'd drink at least two liters of water each day. By strictly committing to this new dietary regime, she managed to lose three and a half stone during the first three months only. But this was only the start!
Successful Results
As the weeks went by, Amandalyn started growing used to her new lifestyle and she even learned to crave some freshly cooked veggies! "I was full all the time once I got used to this kind of eating", she said.
By the third month of her diet, she had already lost 80 pounds. Satisfied with the results, she started switching to a more normal diet. "I upped my calories to around 1,500 [a day] and still ate very clean, but incorporated healthy fats", she explained. Now, it was exercise time!
New Workout Routine
While Amandalyn increased her daily calorie intake, she also began a strict workout regime. "I started working out six times a week which helped me lose the other 30-ish pounds", she explained.
Unlike her previous failed attempt of working out, this time she managed to go through with it for one whole year. Not only did she lose lots of weight, but her health also improved, to the point in which she managed to quit most of the pills the doctors had prescribed her. But how much weight did she lose, exactly?
Drastic Weight Loss
All in all, Amandalyn managed to lose a whopping 8 stone 2 lbs (114 pounds) and she also dropped four clothing sizes. Her before-and-after pictures are truly astonishing!
Even though she treats herself to some chocolate every now and then, she's successfully managed to cut off fast food and processed meals for good. However, even though she had become a strong, self-confident woman, there was something about her body that still troubled her...
Surgery
Even though she was much fitter and slimmer than ever, she couldn't overlook the fact that she had so much excess skin. Not only did it look weird, but it also got in her way when working out.
Therefore, in October 2016, Amandalyn went through surgery to have her excess skin removed. Now, she finally was confident enough to go to the beach wearing nothing but a bikini! But wait a moment... what is she up to now?
Brand New Life
Nearly a year after her body transformation, Amandalyn started dating a man named Trenton. The two lovebirds got married in 2018 and has their first kid in 2019. Look how cute they look together!
Amandalyn has also become a major sports fan, greatly thanks to Trenton, who happens to be passionate for strength sports. In fact, she is currently working as a weight loss coach. Slide next if you wanna check out her weight loss tips!
Weight Loss Tips
To all of those who wish to switch to a healthier diet or lose some weight, Amandalyn has several pieces of advice they should follow. First and foremost, it's important to take one day at a time. "Each day is different. Some days you lose weight, and some days you have gains", she said.
She also suggests taking pictures throughout the weight-loss journey in order to fully appreciate how much your body has changed. "Those will help you remember where you started and how far you've come", she claims.
A Whole New Person
Amandalyn's story is, without a doubt, nothing but inspiring. A couple of years ago, she was so unfit that she could barely bend down to tie her shoelaces, but look at her now!
Amandalyn is now both a gym fan and a veggie fan, and working out makes her happier than any relationship! Who said you need to depend on other people to feel happy about yourself?