Woman Loses 85 Pounds By Sticking To A New Year's Resolution

Shannon Bartlett struggled with her weight for most of her life and fell into a pattern of yo-yo dieting until she became inspired to change her approach once and for all.

"Nothing really stuck with me, and it was so difficult. Weight was always a sensitive topic for me and such a struggle to maintain." she told Popsugar.

Overweight since childhood, Bartlett played sports in high school and later stayed active in college but admits she lacked consistency.

She tried several different diet plans and weight loss programs but was always met with short-term success. Despite her efforts to make a change, she found herself disappointed when all the weight she had lost ended up coming back.

In January 2019, Bartlett was 28 and weighed 235 pounds. She finally felt ready to break the cycle and adopt healthier habits.

A New Year's resolution that worked

After spending time with her brother over the holidays, she discovered that he was able to lose weight through intermittent fasting. Feeling inspired, she thought she’d give it a try.

"I noticed a real change in him, so I called and asked him how I can do it," Bartlett said.

Equipped with the right amounts of motivation and curiosity, it wasn’t long until she started 16:8 intermittent fasting.

I thought it would be very hard and was nervous about starting, but it's been the easiest thing I've ever done to lose weight!

Shannon Bartlett

She put all chances on her side

To give herself more chances at long term success, Bartlett has eliminated all types of processed foods and alcohol from her diet as well.

"I honestly didn't have a continuous workout program. I went on a couple bouts of going to Zumba class and would go once or twice a week, but it was only for maybe two months in the middle of my weight-loss journey,” she remembered.

Over a 10-month period, the San Diego-based event planner lost a total of 85 pounds.

She kept track of her progress by weighing herself every day and the numbers on the scale were a constant reminder that she was doing the right thing.

Her advice for people wanting to try her method

For people wanting to try intermittent fasting, Bartlett’s advice is just to start, wherever you are at. She also recommends having a support network of like minded people in place to keep you motivated and on track with your goals.

"You just have to decide you are ready to make the change and want it for yourself. Just set your mind to it, and you can do it, too!”

More inspiring stories:

• Man Loses Nearly 140 Pounds After A Triple Diagnosis
• Woman Lost 124 Pounds and Chased Her Grief Away One Selfie at a Time
• This Father Lost 75 Pounds by Shifting His Priorities After Health Scare