This article was published on news.com.au and has been republished here with permission. By Josh Saunders.
A mum has knocked two decades off her age after losing 63kg by quitting alcohol and carbs.
Misty Mitchell (above), 36, from Wimberley in Texas, USA, weighed 134kg after excessive alcohol consumption and overindulging on carb-based foods during hangovers.
At her heaviest, she struggled to squeeze into her car seat and had difficulties putting on her own socks because of her large frame.
Misty at her heaviest with her husband Joel and her son. Picture: Caters News
“I decided enough was enough”
But last year, while recovering from surgery for a herniated spinal disk she decided enough was enough — she quit her excessive alcohol, which totalled more than 1000 calories a day, and cut back her carb intake.
She started weightlifting and altered her diet, reducing her fat percentage from 60 per cent to 25 per cent
The svelte 69kg mum, who believed she looked middle-aged at her heaviest, is now bombarded by people telling her she looks two decades younger.
“I look so different now, no one believes me when I tell them I’m 36, which is great because I looked middle-aged less than two years ago,” Misty, an online weight loss coach, said.
“I look really good, most people tell me I look like I’ve lost a lot years off my age or that I look like I’m in my 20s.
“My family are floored, when I share pictures online they can’t believe it’s me”
“Even I can see the difference, now I have a clearly defined neck and jaw bone which is really encouraging, before I had a large lizard chin and you couldn’t see my neck at all.”
“In just over a year I went from around 60 per cent body fat to around 25 per cent and feel incredible.”
A back injury left her housebound. Source: Caters
“My weight gain just exploded”
Misty believes a lot of her weight piled on due to an inactive lifestyle where consuming a large amount of calories and a back injury that left her housebound.
“My weight gain just exploded. I was eating all day, then drinking by night, then because I was hung-over I was eating badly — it was a terrible cycle and amounted to me consuming a lot of calories,” she said.
“On my worst days I probably drank more than half a litre of vodka, which equates to an extra over 1000 empty calories on top of my poor diet.
“I was constantly eating until my stomach hurt”
“When I was hung-over I would feel a massive emptiness of hunger that couldn’t be sated and some days I would eat all day without getting full.
“I wasn’t making healthy food choices, I would eat tacos, burgers, fried food, ice cream, just anything all day long.
“I was constantly eating until my stomach hurt, then when it would ease up I would start eating again.”
Misty after her dramatic weight loss with an old pair of her tracksuit pants. Picture: Caters News
“Weightlifting also did wonders”
Alongside drastically cutting down her carbohydrate intake to 20g a day, she also started to lift weights on a daily basis and noticed a drastic difference in her health.
“Because of my weight, I used to struggle to walk around the grocery store without being red-faced, sweaty or out of breath,” Misty said.
“Now I can lift weights for five days a week and do yoga too. Before, because I was so large I had to hold my breath while painting my toenails and struggled to put socks on my feet because of the size of my stomach.
“Now I can do intense yoga positions and am incredibly flexible, it feels like I can do anything.”
Misty didnt realise how much being healthy could make her so happy. Picture: Caters News
“I had no idea how happy I could be”
Misty has now chiselled a physique she’s proud of and has gone onto help others to lose weight through her own company — Mind Your Macros.
She combines a keytogenic diet and advises slimmers how to lose weight, after amassing a keen following on Instagram.
“I have arms with clear definition and biceps, which I’ve never had before,” she said.
“I’m at 25 per cent body fat now, which I’m really proud of, my muscles are strong and my fat has decreased by a large amount.
“I thought I was happy back then, but I was just surviving, I had no idea how happy I could be, a how wonderful life could get.
“I’m very proud I managed to turn my life around and I hope that I can inspire other people out there so that they know it is possible.”
Misty has never looked back. Picture: Caters News
“She inspires thousands of people to live healthier lives”
Misty used ShapeFit, an online weight loss tool to inspire herself into getting into shape — the site boasts overs 180,000 members in its forum.
Kris Bierek, founder of ShapeFit.com, said: “Misty has really made a dramatic transformation and we are so proud of her.
“With hard work and dedication, she was able to stick to her fitness program and achieve incredible success. She inspires thousands of people to live healthier lives.
“When people lose body fat and build lean muscle they are able to tighten and tone their bodies which results in much more vibrant skin and an overall youthful appearance.”
DIET BEFORE
Breakfast — Breakfast tacos — bacon and potato tacos with biscuits and gravy
Lunch — Hamburger and fries
Snacks — Cereal, potato chips
Dinner — Frito pie
Dessert — Bowl of ice cream and alcohol
DIET NOW
Breakfast — Protein shake and cashew milk
Lunch — Indian style curried tuna
Dinner — Salmon and roasted broccoli
