This Woman Lost 70 Pounds Doing Keto—And Her Weight-Loss Journey Went TikTok Viral
My name is Kimberly Vargas (@kimmmie.k) and I'm 23 years old. I live in New Mexico and I work as the office manager for my dad’s transportation company. By following the keto diet, working out at least five times per week, and getting a personal trainer, I've lost about 70 pounds.
I’ve been a “bigger” girl for most of my life and it’s been a struggle for as log as I can remember. I tried losing weight multiple times in the past, but always found myself gaining it right back.
Finding clothes (particularly jeans) that fit me and my style was the hardest part of being at my previous weight. Another struggle for me was being terrified of riding amusement park or water-park rides because of my weight. My relationship with losing weight in the past was one emotional roller coaster.
My turning point came when I stepped on the scale and it read 302 pounds.
I always told myself that I would never weigh more than 300 pounds, until I did in February 2020. I thought, That can’t be right, let me try again, and to my disappointment, the scale was correct.
I felt I had hit rock bottom. That day, I decided I would make a change. I would become healthier, happier, and stronger. I wanted to make my family, husband, and especially my late grandmother, proud. I wanted to change for myself, too, and I began my journey.
I started my fitness journey by doing at-home workout videos, then joining a gym and getting a personal trainer.
For exercise, I started by doing at-home, fat-burning workout videos for beginners called Daniel Bartlett’s Body Project. After two months of exercising at home and changing my eating habits, I was seeing results! The workouts started becoming easier for me and I knew I was capable of much more.
At my size, I knew I got judged silently all the time (and not so silently sometimes too), so the idea of going to the gym intimidated me. But I finally found the courage to say, "Screw it!" And I joined a gym three months into my journey.
I started to feel more comfortable at the gym, and I felt good knowing I was finally taking a step forward and doing something positive for myself.
I saw a personal trainer, who I still train with, whose name is Israel Martinez, owner of IM Fitness Gym. I was relieved to know that I finally had a fitness expert guiding me through workouts. I had someone to push me and help keep me motivated.
Now, I train five times per week, sometimes twice per day. I make sure to run, walk, or jog at least three miles per day. My gym days consist of various workouts planned out by my trainer. I train upper body, lower body, and do various cardio and weightlifting exercises.
A lot of my weight-loss success also came from doing the keto diet.
The first nutrition-related change I made was increasing my water intake. I drink lots of water throughout the day, and just when I think I’ve had enough, I drink more. My goal is to drink at least 100 ounces of water daily.
Then I began reducing my carb, starch, and sugar intake—and realized how similar doing this was to the keto diet. I researched more about keto and decided to give it a shot. That said, I knew I had to be patient and not get discouraged after not seeing results right away.
After doing the diet for about three weeks, I started to notice small changes. I started to see improvement in my skin, digestion, and my energy level. I have tried all the different ways to lose weight when it comes to dieting. But when I started keto, my late-night snacking and cravings for sugar and junk food all went out the window. It was working!
I no longer crave sugar or carbs. It’s a lifestyle change that's transforming the way I feel. I no longer suffer lows in energy throughout my day. I feel that my mind is sharper and my memory is getting better. I am also finally satisfied with my meals.
Here's what I typically eat in a day now.
Breakfast: Others choose to have breakfast while on keto, but fasting works best for me and my schedule. The only thing I have before noon is coffee.
Lunch: Two eggs topped with avocado, some bacon, and a chaffle (cheese waffle). Other days I'll do tuna salad boats or buffalo shrimp lettuce wraps.
Dinner: Chicken wings (bone in, of course) are my favorite. I usually pick a protein and add veggies like broccoli, asparagus, squash, zucchini, or cauliflower rice on the side.
Snacks: Almonds, string cheese, pork rinds, beef jerky and, if I’m craving something sweet, Two Good yogurt, berries, or strawberry fat bombs.
After losing 70 pounds, I feel better than ever—both mentally and physically.
Losing 70 pounds is a huge accomplishment for me. Even simple tasks like tying my shoes have become easier. Mentally, I feel more confident, more relaxed, and more receptive of life.
Losing weight wasn't essential, but it’s something I really wanted for myself. I know I’m doing something right when I notice things are becoming easier for me physically and mentally, like no longer needing a belt extender when flying or seeing that an averaged-sized towel finally fits around my body. It is such an amazing feeling.
Now, I like creating content that inspires others to live their best life.
I am finally in control and I am not letting anything hold me back or stop me from becoming the best version of myself. I've used my platforms on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube to help others live their best lives through the beauty, lifestyle, and cooking content that I create.
My goal is to spread positivity and good energy. I hope to inspire and encourage others in proving that losing weight and becoming healthier is achievable. It’s not easy, but it’s not impossible.
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