Megan Tjelle Loses Weight After Quitting Junk Food
Megan Tjelle once felt very embarrassed by her body shape and weight which reached 247 pounds. And finally, Megan Tjelle lost weight after quitting junk food.
"I grew up as an athlete and gymnast for 13 years, but when I went to college, things changed," the 29-year-old said.
"I then used food as a coping mechanism, and this increased even more when I started working as a nurse, especially during the pandemic."
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"I turn to food for comfort," says the nurse in Chicago, Illinois.
He easily pulverizes food for breakfast, lunch, and dinner at random times, and is not only unhealthy but also an expensive habit.
He told Newsweek he often spends a lot of money on junk food.
Tjelle estimates he used to eat about 3,000 calories a day and always ate at odd times.
"My eating habits change because I work night shifts and often have to be on standby," she says.
"I don't have a regular sleep schedule, and I'm going to eat unhealthy foods to cope with everything."
"Sometimes I eat dinner in the middle of the night or when I get home at 6 a.m."
In October 2022, Tjelle became very unhappy with her size being size 16.
"It got to the point where I was very inferior, and I didn't want to leave the house," he said.
"I'm so ashamed of my weight. I've tried diets before, but I've never been able to hold on."
"I spent seven years giving everything for others and neglecting my own needs."
"So, when I left my job as a traveling nurse and started a new job with normal 9-5 hours, I decided that it was time to prioritize myself," she recalls.
It was at that moment that she decided to embark on a health and fitness journey.
Tjelle joined the gym and walked on a walking pad on an uphill path for 30 minutes per day, and stopped eating junk food.
Instead, he buys ready-to-eat healthy meals prepared by local companies.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) explains that a healthy weight isn't just about following a diet or program.
Instead, it requires a way of life that combines stress reduction, regular exercise, and healthy eating habits.
Losing weight is like a marathon, not a sprint.
Thus, those who do it at a slow but steady pace will be more likely to maintain weight.
Although exercise and a healthy diet are essential for weight loss, they are not the only things that affect weight.
Weight management can also be affected by sleep, aging, genetics, disease, medications, and the environment.
The CDC suggests starting small and increasing it to 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity per week.
However, this amount of time is just a guideline because the physical activity required varies greatly from one person to another.
Lost weight 100 pounds
Now, one year after her commitment to healthy living, Tjelle is very proud to show off her 138-pound body, which translates to more than 100 pounds.
Tjelle further increased her physical activity and also stopped consuming sugary drinks. She chose plain water which has been shown to improve fat loss results.
Also, read: Benefits of Walking in the Morning.
"I walked every day on a treadmill for six months."
"Then I added weight training after about five months, but only little by little – for example, three different machines each time a visit, or using stairs."
Tjelle admits there were times when she felt hopeless because the results weren't instantaneous. But she soon realized that consistency was key to losing weight.
"I always listen to my body, so if I'm really tired then I won't force myself to exercise and will rest," she says.
Tjelle also sought medical advice from a weight loss doctor who told her how many calories she should consume in a calorie-deficit condition.
"It's nice to get guidance from a professional—it's better than trying to do it yourself," she says.
Tjelle doesn't want to reveal her current calorie intake because everyone's body composition is different. But he always burns more calories than he consumes.
"I'm very proud of myself. I feel that I can do anything now and the sky is the limit!"
"I'm proud because I believed in myself and followed through on my achievements."
It was a lot of fun with the final result that made Megan Tjelle lose weight after quitting junk food and losing 100 pounds in one year.