Let’s be real for a second—most diets look way more fun in commercials than they actually are in real life. The ads are full of people laughing in sundresses, dudes flexing in polo shirts, and everyone just magically happy after “losing the weight.” What they don’t show is the real grind: staring down your plate of plain chicken and broccoli while your roommate smashes pizza in front of you.
I know, because I’ve been there. Not once. Not twice. But three separate times, I’ve lost over 30 pounds. And every single time, I learned something new about myself, food, and what actually works. Spoiler: it’s not all about the diet.
The First Weight Gain: Meds and the Scale
I was never overweight growing up. Through my early twenties, I kept a steady weight without really trying. I joined 24 Hour Fitness at 21, worked out three times a week, lifted weights, mixed in cardio, and thought I had it figured out.
Then I hit 25. Cue the plot twist. Some medications I started taking packed on an extra 30 pounds seemingly overnight. No matter what I tried, the weight stuck. That’s when I decided to try diets.
Diet Rollercoaster #1: Atkins vs. Nutri-System
My first experiment was the Atkins Diet. And listen—if you’re strict with it, Atkins works. The pounds drop fast. But the second you cheat? Even one carb slip-up can undo days of progress. It felt like being in a toxic relationship with bread.
Next, I tried Nutri-System. Honestly? Way easier. The food was affordable, tasted decent, and came with clear instructions. Paired with workouts, I lost about 50 pounds. It was solid, but I still had this on-and-off relationship with food that I hadn’t fixed.
Diet Rollercoaster #2: Losing Weight With Just Food
More recently, I lost 25 pounds—this time with zero exercise. I know, sounds sketchy, but it worked because I leaned on food research and muscle memory from my past workouts. Lean muscle sticks around for a while, and it helps burn fat faster even when you’re not hitting the gym every day.
The first hack? Water. Eight glasses a day, plus ditching coffee. That alone kickstarted my metabolism and gave me a confidence boost with quick results.
Next came the real MVP: portion control. I didn’t overhaul my diet into nothing but salads. I still ate pasta, tacos, and even mac & cheese. But here’s the catch—I only had one plate. If I got hungry later, I reached for fruit instead of seconds. Apples, bananas, oranges… basically my late-night snack squad.
And for cravings? Baby carrots became my ride-or-die snack. Sometimes I switched it up with celery, snack bars, or even a half PB&J (on whole grain bread, of course). The key wasn’t starving myself—it was finding ways to stay full without bingeing.
Exercise: The Hard but Necessary Part
Okay, let’s talk about the part that everyone loves to hate: exercise. The truth? You don’t need to spend two hours in the gym every day. A few minutes daily or a couple of hours spread throughout the week can change everything.
I leaned on protein powders (GNC has solid options with safe creatine and amino acids) to boost recovery and muscle growth. And yes, cardio is your friend—even if gym bros tell you it “kills gains.” Long-term, it keeps you healthier and actually supports fat loss.
If you’re just starting out, don’t overcomplicate things. Light weights, bodyweight exercises, or even reading a book while walking on a treadmill are enough to get moving. Think of exercise as an investment—it might not give you instant results, but the payoff for your future self is huge.
What I Learned From Losing 30 Pounds (Three Times)
Here’s the thing: losing weight isn’t just about diets, workouts, or protein shakes. It’s about building habits that actually stick. Anyone can grind for 30 days and lose weight, but the real challenge is staying consistent when life throws curveballs—whether that’s stress, late-night cravings, or the lure of Taco Bell at 2 AM.
What helped me most was figuring out that:
- You don’t have to eat “perfectly” to make progress.
- Water and portion control are way more powerful than people think.
- Exercise doesn’t have to be extreme—it just has to be consistent.
- And most importantly, confidence comes from small wins.
If you’ve lost weight before and gained it back, you’re not alone. It happens. But every time you restart, you come back smarter, stronger, and more prepared.
Final Thought
So yeah, I’ve lost 30 pounds over and over again. It wasn’t always pretty, and I definitely messed up along the way. But what I’ve learned is that weight loss isn’t about punishing yourself—it’s about building a lifestyle that actually feels doable.
Whether it’s drinking more water, skipping second helpings, or just going for a walk while scrolling TikTok, the little things add up. And trust me, if I can do it three times, you can definitely do it once—and keep it off for good.
