Tamara Before After

Hi Tamara, what was the reason for you to lose weight?

Basically, I was always pretty happy with myself until italy weight started climbing a few years ago. Stress at work and poof the chocolate bar was open. In my work as a retail clerk, it often happens that I have days off during the week. While my friends are at work, I sit at home alone and don't know what to do with my time. What helped against boredom? Chips, candy and lots of coke.

The first time I really noticed that I had gained weight was when I was on vacation with my family and stood in front of the mirror in the hotel room in a bikini. The person in the mirror wasn't me anymore. I felt constantly lacking in energy.

What goal did you set for yourself?

I just wanted to feel good again, lose the extra pounds and be able to look at myself in the mirror and say: You look great! It was also very simple things: When shopping in the city, I didn't want to have the feeling that every shirt or dress I try on looks like a potato bag and pinches at every nook and cranny.

How did you manage to lose 30 lbs?

I've always been a very active person. Weight training and swimming were regularly on my schedule. The bigger problem was the diet. With feastr I managed to find the perfect mix. I usually eat a sweet breakfast in the morning (I'll just say one thing: I love the chocolate oatmeal), then I have something light for lunch and in the evening I like to cook one of the many delicious warm dishes and eat a proper serving. And if I do feel like eating something light in the evening, that's not a problem either. Thanks to the large selection of recipes, you will find something you like every day. I think you don't even notice that you're eating in a deficit, because the portions really fill you up.

Of course, there are days when I don't stick to the plan. But that is the exception, not the rule. A delicious piece of cake for a birthday or raclette on New Year's Eve doesn't make you fat. Just as a salad does not directly make you fit. The key is a good balance, and I've found that here.

How did feastr help you on your journey?

In my new job, I sit in the car for almost 9 hours every day. It is therefore very important to me to structure my day well. feastr is a huge help for me. I can plan my entire week in 5 minutes, and I don't need more than half an hour to do all my weekly shopping in the supermarket. I no longer spend time on the go looking for restaurants that offer reasonably healthy food and don't have to constantly enter groceries into an app.

Were there any setbacks, and how did you overcome them?

Of course, there were the occasional day or two when I indulged in fast food and felt like I was falling back into old patterns. But looking in the mirror and getting compliments from friends and family were always motivation enough to keep going. For example, recently I met a friend from my old work who I hadn't seen in ages. She said straight away that I look like a different person and that I just look great. How can you not see that as an incentive?

What tips do you have for other feastr users?

Stay tuned! Losing weight isn't a sprint, it's a marathon. After all, you didn't gain all the weight in a week, either. Setting a weekly goal and taking regular photos of my progress have been particularly helpful. It often seems as if nothing is happening. But if you take a photo every week and then compare them, you often only notice what great progress you have made.

What's next for you? Have you set any other goals?

I don't think I'll ever get there. There is always something that can be improved. That doesn't mean that I'm dissatisfied with myself, but I still want to lose 4-6 pounds and then build up some muscles. It will definitely remain exciting.

Why is it important to you to share your story?

It is important to me to show other people who are in a similar situation that it is not that difficult to achieve your goal if you have the right support.

People often want to reach their desired weight in two weeks, no matter what. It makes much more sense, to lose weight slower but sustainably.