One day I started walking and that one day changed my whole life. This is how I lost 80 pounds walking.
The Beginning of a New Life
My 80 pound weight loss didn't begin with a diet. It began with a walk. In fact, weight loss wasn't even a thought in my mind.
Before you read further, here's a podcast I recorded on how I lost 80 pounds walking and I give you actionable tips for losing weight for good in that podcast that are not in this post.
At that time in my life, I was feeling particularly unhappy and insecure working as a consultant in California unsure of my future, unhappy that I'd sacrificed so much of my personal life to corporate America. One night after a particularly stressful day, a coworker suggested I go to the beach to think.
When I arrived, I saw a path on the strand where people were walking and running. I hadn't been active in over decade due to my avascular necrosis, but something pulled me toward that path. A voice inside me said "you should walk."
So that's what I did. That night as I walked, I realized for once I didn't feel strangled by life. I could breathe. I could just be.
After my walk, I looked back at the ocean and thought to myself "I'm going to walk here every night." And that's what I did. Every night from that day forward, I walked. The first week 10 minutes, the next month 20 minutes the month after 30 minutes, then 40, 60, 90 and eventually I was walking 8-9 miles at a 12-13 minute per mile pace. The pace of a slow runner!
How I Lost 80 Pounds Walking
Walking made me feel good. It cleared my head, helped me see what I wanted more of in my life. One of which was losing weight. Since I was a teenager I'd tried losing weight over and over again, and failed miserably. But I never understood what the missing ingredient was until I started walking.
The missing ingredient was living.
Suddenly, my focus became fueling my body with healthier choices so I could do more of the things that inspired me like walking. I was eating better by choice, not by the demands of a diet.
After two months of walking, I lost 10 pounds. Those 10 pounds motivated me to continue walking and eating healthy. Over 18 months, I lost 80 pounds going from a size 14/16 to a size 2 to 4.
At that time, I didn't run, cycle, swim, lift weights or do any of the things I do today. I just walked. And with each step, the weight fell from my body almost effortlessly.
Walking changed me.
Not only did it change my body, it changed everything about me as a person. Suddenly, the world was full of new possibilities. With every pound I lost, part of the old me died. The old me who didn't love herself or think she was good enough. As those parts died, a new me emerged. The me who's confident, secure and proud in her own skin.
Walking taught me I was capable of anything.
Walking fired a passion in me to live life beyond my expectations and experience more of what it has to offer. It sparked a dream that I could live a different and more fulfilling life.
Now years later, I look back at the first day I started walking as the beginning of my new life.
A life where I lost 80 pounds, taught myself to cook, take beautiful pictures of food, started this little blog that transformed into my primary source of income and led me to the path of becoming a nutritionist and starting my own private practice.
Now I help women transform their lives and lose weight. I'm telling you this because it's not just about the food you eat or diet you do. It's about living a healthy life, choosing cleaner, chemical-free products (toxins get stored as fat) and making time for meal prep and activity.
Sometimes dreams aren't as far outside our reach as we think. It's about being willing to take the first step in the direction you want to go.
Having you been walking for weight loss and not losing weight? Watch the video for 6 reasons Why You're Not Losing Weight Walking.
Are you willing to take the first step? Watch my free hormonal weight loss class and listen to my podcast.
If you haven't been working out, walking is a great way to start with fitness. The key is to walk at a very fast pace to get your heart rate up. This is how you get the cardiovascular benefit that will help you lose weight. It's not guaranteed that everyone will lose weight walking as it depends on your health status and eating habits.
have never been able to lose weight and now i’m 64 and 80 pounds overweight
nothing ever works 100% of my life
went on a one hour walk this morning
hope it helps
Thank you for this story 🙂 . Walking is not only important to physical health but to mental health as well. I feel that today's society does not reflect (or daydream) enough. When I walk with a great playlist, my mind runs wild and I always feel so invigorated when I am done!!
Megan you are awesome! thanks for the inspiration to gain back control over my weight and my life, I am forever grateful and love you for it. 🙂
You are incredible!! I’m glad I found you and follow you on Instagram. Your recipes are delicious and your advices are very helpful.
Thank you so much!
This is a very inspiring history! Our bodies are made for walking but sometimes we forgot that. Great Post!
Great article! It really helps me to lose weight. it is just easy way before I get used to sitting after finish my work but after following your walk at home starting with 1 mile and then 2 miles and finally the 4 miles, I start to be motivated to work out every day. I start to lose weight which is good. Walking a weight loss very helpful always to lose weight.
thank you again
Hi Megan,
Your story is an inspiration to all those who are struggling with not only weight loss issue but also for them who are trying to find their place in the universe.
Thanks a lot.
I am a 65-year woman, and I need to lose at least 100 pounds. Do you think that age matters when walking to lose weight?
Yes, it does because as you age metabolism slows down.
Which shouldn't discourage you at all. A regular walking program, reducing calories and eating clean = weight loss and a healthier body. I say, go for it no matter your age!
I found age didn’t matter. At 65 and 160 lbs I started walking 4 times a week. After a year with slight changes in my eating habits I was 140 lbs and decided to walk the Camino in Spain 800 k over 35 days (lots of eating and drinking)and lost 5 more lbs. I put my weight loss down mainly to the consistent walking.
29 year old man here. My whole life I've always had a ferocious appetite, and it just reflected the gusto I like to get out of life. But I was also very overweight as an adolescent and child, and it had adverse effects on my whole life. In my late teens I got into working out vigorously, and it had great effects. However, the truth about weight lifting, distance running, and endless forms of intense cardio is that (1) they are VERY stressful on the body, even though they feel good, and are very rewarding, (2), they are high-risk for injury, (3) they don't burn enough calories, and (4) you simply sometimes don't have the energy to push yourself to the limit. When I started going for long walks (6-8 miles), I found that all of these problems disappeared...the advantages were numerous. I can walk even if I'm extremely tired. I can walk if I'm full or hungry, if it's hot or if it's cold, day or night, rain or shine. Running doesn't always allow for that! When you're walking, you can listen to music, listen to videos, debates, the news, or simply enjoy the scenery. You can study flashcards, catch up on phone calls or e-mails on your smart phone, or converse with a friend...anything you can imagine! You can walk anywhere your legs take you, and you can walk anywhere in the world that you might be without having to plan a route! If you go for long walks, I guarantee you your appetite will both increase, be more controlled, and also naturally guide you to eat as much as you would like without wanting to overeat, because you will truly be satisfied after being able to indulge any day you feel like it! Virtually none of these benefits really occur when you are doing intense runs or other forms of special regimented exercise because of the level of stress, extreme focus, risk of injury, need to plan and prepare, and/or need for a special environment or training program that comes from having to engage in such activities. I encourage anyone to exercise however you like, but walking about 2 hours a day is indeed a life changing habit to adopt, I promise. You'll burn tons of calories, you'll strengthen your legs, you feel like a million bucks, you get to enjoy nature and destress, and once you start a long walk you know for the next 2 hours it's your time to be left alone. Lastly, if you feel like bursting into a run for 20 minutes, you can do that, but there's no pressure because your habit is just to walk! The only disadvantage to this regiment over others is that it takes 2 hours! But in the end, I find it's not unreasonable because you can use that time to do many of the productive things I was mentioning above, which you can't do with other exercises that require 100% of your attention. Additionally, you don't HAVE to commute somewhere to walk; you can just zip out the door and be on your way, so it's not that much more time than trips to the gym in the end. Besides, in the end, we spend our whole lives, every waking moment, inside our own bodies, so if we can't afford to invest a significant amount of time into our health, then we really aren't properly prioritizing our lives correctly, in my opinion. One last thing is that a lot of hot chicks like to walk, rather than run, so that's a plus too! Haha!
Good video
I’m at standstill, will sign up for tips
Thank you
I just started my weight loss journey. Well, seriously started it. I've lost 39 lbs so far. I'm 187 lbs now, down from 226 in January. All I've been doing is walking daily and hiking on weekends. When I started, a friend told me I was wasting my time, because walking wasn't enough, I had to do weight lifting and join a gym etc. But I got 39 lbs less to prove her wrong. I've noticed my endurance is a lot better as well. Before, I couldn't walk up a flight of stairs without wheezing. Now I'm covering miles effortlessly. Even participated in my first 15k! I came dead last but crossed that finish line anyway. My point is, not everybody likes the gym or can afford personal trainers and whatnot. Walking is the cheapest, easiest exercise that anybody at any fitness level can do.
Thanks for your post Camille, so encouraging to know one can lose this amount of weigh by just walking. I am going to follow your lead and hopefully by August I'll also have lost 39 ibs.
I need to lose about 60 lbs. Googled "walking to lose weight" and didn't get very good enthusiasm out of it...today I typed in walking instead of running (bc I simply can't run) and came across this.....let me just say THANK YOU. I needed to hear that I don't need to run at 200lbd to lose some of before my body can run. Trust me, I WANT to run but my shins hurt,ankles hurt and I'm out of breath in 25 seconds so it's a real downer when I just need to take it slow until my body can lift itself with a better weight...I want to lose it faster! I can walk forever tho! And for you you say it will work, I'll walk allllll day now!
No, you don't need to run but you do need to walk at a fast pace. The key with walking is that you have to be someone who hasn't been active (i.e. been leading a sedentary lifestyle). That and eating a little below your caloric needs will help with weight loss and great for the cardiovascular system too!
Hi Megan,
I just wanted to thank you for writing this. Before reading I was wondering if I could lose the 85lbs I gained over the last 2 year by eating right and walking. I'm so glad to hear your success and I'm happy you're confident and looking wonderful. When I was done reading I forced myself to get up and go on my treadmill (which has been gaining dust) I think k I'll start walking everyday and see where it takes me. Thanks again!
Hi Megan! It's nice to "meet" another Megan who spells their name the same as me! Yes! Walking is a great way to get started if you have been sedentary for awhile. It will also give you motivation to do more. I'm glad this post gave you the confidence you needed to start!
Hello, I was just curious if you lost that 85 pounds? I used to walk due to not having a car and now I never walk and needless to say I am back up to 185 pounds. I know walking works in the long run but I like to see quick results. I wonder how long it will take to get back down to 150 pounds?
I lost 80 pounds by walking and changing my diet over the course of 16 months. True fat loss takes time and you absolutely have to change your diet. Walking is just one piece of the puzzle. If you have the mindset that you want it to happen fast, the weight will come back and any shortcuts you take will result in losing water and muscle. If you haven't watched my free weight loss training I recommend you do! https://skinnyfitalicious.com/why-diets-fail-webinar/
About how fast do you typically walk? I have started trying to walk 4-5 miles a day and am desperately trying to lose these 35 lbs I've gained during pregnancy and almost nothing has worked after 4 years!!
Thanks:)
I average 12-14 minute miles. Remember what works for one person won't necessarily work for another. You can't compare. People aren't apples to apples. This is meant to inspire others to get active and to find what works for them. If you've been doing the same thing for a long time, it's time to change things. The body is highly adaptive.
Wow, congrats this is such an amazing story. Sometime taking the first step is all it takes then staying consistent. Love this!
You're exactly right! Thanks Ivanna!