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Mum-of-two's 30kg weight loss transformation goes viral
A 31-year-old mother-of-two has gone viral on TikTok after sharing how she lost 30kg after embarking on a healthier lifestyle journey.
Ali Kay, from Lakeland Florida, said she lived an "unhealthy" lifestyle while adjusting to life as a mum to her two boys Lukas, seven, and Ford, two.
The TikTok user shared how she was so busy looking after her kids she never spent time preparing nutritious meals and would then binge on fast food and sugar-loaded dishes.
For breakfast, an average meal would consist of a cream cheese bagel and large coffee filled with cream and sugar.
She would then eat a chicken sandwich meal for lunch with a milkshake, and for dinner it was pasta, chicken wings or pizza.
Ali didn't really cook all that often and would snack on whatever leftovers her sons had, which might have been chicken nuggets or macaroni and cheese.
“I lived a very unhealthy lifestyle during pregnancy and ate anything and everything,” Ali told Jam Press. "But after I gave birth, I kept gaining more and more weight because I kept indulging in that unhealthy lifestyle. I never gained control of my eating after I gave birth and I think I just kept spiralling after birth and kept gaining a lot of weight."
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“I wasn't happy, I didn't feel good about myself mentally and physically, and I found myself putting my happiness on hold," she added.
Ali wasn't happy with the the direction her health had taken and in 2018, she began her weight loss journey.
She said: “It wasn't until I realised that I was becoming less involved with my kids, like going places with them, because I was self-conscious about myself and I didn't like how I felt about myself.
“It was then that I realised that I needed to make some type of change and start living life. In that moment, I decided I was going to take action and do something about my situation to better myself – not only for myself, but for my kids and family.”
Ali incorporated healthy foods into her meals and ate a high protein diet, filled with essential vitamins and nutrients.
For breakfast, she would have a protein bar before going to the gym. After the workout, the mum would drink a plant-based shake with almond butter powder, greens and chia seeds.
Before lunch, Ali would snack on green peppers with vegan cream cheese and bagel seasoning or would eat an apple and some nuts.
She would then normally whip up a spinach salad with chicken or a kale bowl with sweet potatoes, sprouts, chickpeas and an assortment of vegetables.
If she wanted a snack, it would be vegetables and hummus or almond butter on Ezekiel bread. Ali also sometimes drinks a plant-based shake before dinner.
Her final meal of the day consists of ground turkey, steak, or salmon with veggies and sweet potatoes.
She also doesn’t restrict herself from treats and occasionally enjoys a burger or fast food when she feels like it, but her diet mainly consists of healthy and nutritious food.
She also works out for at least 30 minutes a day, focusing on lifting heavier weights. Ali has lost over 36kg in a year and a half – and says she has never felt better.
Her transformation has gone viral on TikTok, gaining her 390,000 followers.
“My entire weight loss journey has had such a positive impact on not only my physical health but also on my mental health," she said.
“I feel more motivated than ever to put my best self forward. I feel more resistant to my daily stressors, less moody and all around just happy.
“I think starting this weight loss journey has been one of the best things I've ever done for myself and for the people I love because I can give them my best self.
“My ‘weight loss secret’ is to change your perspective about weight loss. Rather than thinking of it as ‘weight loss’, think of it as starting a healthier lifestyle for you mental and physical health."
“I also think it's about making slow and steady changes to your lifestyle and diet rather than just doing extreme diets.
“It's all about finding the balance and creating a sustainable lifestyle that works for you. And you do that by taking it day-by-day rather than looking at the big goal.”
Ali now works full-time as an online fitness coach and hosts her own podcast called Invest Your Best with Ali Kay – focusing on helping others embrace their best lives through positive thinking and mindful eating.
With Australscope.
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