Losing weight is a journey and it is so easy to get discouraged, but instead of giving up on weight loss when things get tough, take a look at my true story about how I became a realistic 6 month body transformation female along with other inspiring stories of women who also achieved amazing results in a short time.1
Hopefully the following testimonials will give you the encouragement you need to earn the body you deserve.
How I Went From Fat To Fit (My Body Transformation Secret Weapon to Realistic Results)
Fat is a relative term, but after carrying and birthing a baby, my body was not bouncing back the way I hoped it would; I was stuck at 180 pounds and feeling fat and unhappy.
After unsuccessfully trying fad diets and wasting weeks and weeks of time, I finally found a realistic 6 month female body transformation foolproof secret weapon. Instead of keeping the details of how I went from fat to fit to myself, I’ve decided to share them so others might benefit.
My chubby to fit transformation began when I finally pinpointed the most important of the weight loss rules, which is to ensure that a calorie deficit is maintained.
The United States Department of Agriculture along with several studies have proven weight loss manifests when the amount of calories consumed is less than the amount of calories spent.2 This deficit can be achieved in one of two ways: eating less and/or moving more.
Is It Possible to Notice Results from Working Out & Exercising in 6 Months? How I Transformed My Body Through Diet & Toning
After discovering the importance of a calorie deficit, the next step was finding out how many calories a day my body burned, which is called TDEE (total daily energy expenditure). To find this out, I took advantage of the free Body Weight Planner Calculator provided by the United States Department of Health and Human Services.3
To determine TDEE for myself using the calculator, I entered my personal stats including my daily physical activity level; it is important to input goal weight as your current weight and leave physical activity change at 0 percent for the results to show the current amount of calories you need per day to sustain your weight.
My starting weight was 180 pounds and my TDEE was calculated at roughly 2100 calories per day. So, to start losing weight, I needed to either eat less than 2100 calories a day, workout to increase my energy expenditure, or both. At this point, I was all in, so I decided to do both.
I began by logging my calories; after a brief comparison between Lose It vs MyFitnessPal, I decided to initially just use the notes app on my phone because it was so straightforward. Instead of diving deep into a specific diet, I focused on an intuitive eating weight loss strategy.
By filling my belly with nutritious foods and only eating when I was hungry, I was actually able to save between 300 and 500 calories per day. Not everyday was easy, but allowing myself to be imperfect helped me not give up.
Next, I added in exercise. I didn’t want to overwhelm myself with a difficult hour a day intense workout; instead, I committed to 2 dedicated workouts per week as well as walking every night after dinner for at least half an hour.
Before I knew it, the weight was melting off. Each pound gone gave me motivation to continue until, after just 6 months, I reached my goal weight of 150 pounds
My Realistic Fat Loss Timeline: What is the Potential Weight Loss in 6 Months?
A realistic amount of weight loss really varies due to a person’s starting weight; the more you weigh, the likelier it is to lose more weight. I lost 16% of my bodyweight in 6 months, which was 30 pounds, so it is quite possible for someone weighing 300 pounds or more to lose over 50 pounds in the same 180 days.
To lose 30 pounds in 180 days, which is a realistic 6 month female body transformation timeframe, translated to a calorie deficit of a little less than 600 calories a day.
- 180 pounds – 150 pounds = 30 pounds
- 3500 calories = 1 pound
- 3500 calories x 30 pounds = 105,000 calories
- 105,000 calories / 180 days = 583 calories
It was definitely possible to lose more weight during my 6 month journey. A 1000 calorie deficit per day, as seen directly below, would have equated to a 50 pound weight loss, but my goal was to carry on my life in a similar way to how I had been and find a way to happily achieve my realistic curvy body goals.
- 1000 calories x 180 days = 180,000 calories
- 180,000 calories / 3500 calories = 51 pounds
Can a Female Achieve Body Recomposition in 6 Months?
Six months may not seem like enough time to transform your body, but in reality, dieters can lose 30-50 pounds in 6 months. Of course, everyone is different and the amount of weight lost can vary, but even if half of that is achieved, it’s time well spent if you learn about yourself and make small lifestyle changes on the way.
So set a realistic goal, get inspired by the my story and the ladies below, and then see the tips I’ve come to realize are the key to lasting results below.
6 Month Realistic Body Transformation Results, Pictures & Stories
Although the following transformation stories aren’t exactly like mine doesn’t make them any less real. The powerful women below made realistic changes that fit their lifestyles and obtained amazing results, which proves that 6 months is a plausible timeline to earn the results you are craving.
Lucy’s Realistic 6 Month Body Transformation: Female #1
Lucy started gaining weight when she was around 8 years old and in the midst of puberty and growing up, she was diagnosed with scoliosis. For an entire year, she had to wear a plastic brace as treatment for her spine; and, while necessary for her physical health, it took a mental toll.
Notice in her before picture, her belly is bulging but she stayed committed to her goal and managed to lose an impressive 28 pounds in just 6 months resulting in a toned body and a newfound confidence as seen in her after picture. Source: @gritttfit on Instagram1
She didn’t end up leaning out as she got into her teen years and starting looking for quick ways to lose weight. Lucy fell into a cycle of extreme starvation diets and then binge eating, causing her to pack on more pounds.
Her epiphany came when she weighed in at 168 lbs and realized why she was having such a hard time losing weight, which ultimately was that she was using it to shield her emotions. Once she pinpointed the root of the problem, she devised a way to overcome it.
Lucy, like myself, decided the ultimate way to kick fat to the curb was through a realist approach and change to her diet and exercise routine. Rather than immediately making massive changes, for the first 2 weeks she went to the gym for just 20 minutes a day.
Focusing on building consistency was her initial goal and in that short amount of time, she already started to see small differences in her body.
As she got more comfortable at the gym, she incorporated a change of diet. She began with the ketogenic diet by cutting out all but 20-30 carbohydrates per day and then transitioned to a calorie counting diet and settled into eating about 1600 calories a day.
Meal prepping was her key to success with food; it took away the temptation to eat poorly and let her preplan tasty and healthy meals.
Along with a healthy diet, Lucy began to ramp up her workouts. She didn’t feel like she was getting the maximum benefit from cardio alone, so she began working out with heavy weights. Not only did she find it more enjoyable, strength training is beneficial for cardiovascular health, metabolism, and bone strength.4
She made it a priority to workout 5-6 days a week with no excuses.
After 6 months, she had lost 28 pounds plus gained a toned body and a lifetime of confidence. Her biggest takeaway and advice is to treat working out and eating healthy as a daily routine, just as you would showering and brushing your teeth.
Lucy says that working out isn’t a punishment but a privilege and the ultimate way to respect your body.5
Blair’s Realistic 6 Month Body Transformation: Female #2
Blair was a busy professional who spent countless hours on her career; while this, in and of itself didn’t make her unhappy, the weight she gained while being a workaholic did make her unhappy.
Her initial attempt to lose weight came in the form of joining a workout program that let you try out different types of fitness classes in your city, but because she wasn’t necessarily prioritizing it, not much changed because she was only going 3 or 4 times a month.
The real catalyst to her transformation happened when her friend asked her to be a bridesmaid at her wedding. After trying on several different dresses in the size she was at and being unhappy, she decided it was time for a change.
Thankfully, the wedding was far enough away that she had time to implement diet and exercise and hopefully see some progress.
She began going to a barre class; this type of class focuses on strength, balance, stability, and calorie burning. The instructor of the class encouraged her to join a circuit class and, although she was initially intimidated by the intensity, the cardio and strength workouts she achieved ended up being unmatched.
Along with trying out different classes, Blair made changes to her routine which involved making sure she was getting in as much movement as she could to maximize her calorie burn.
She incorporated a smartwatch to ensure she was hitting 10,000 steps a day to increase her NEAT (non exercise activity thermogenesis), which is the amount of calories burned doing everyday activities such as waking, working, cleaning, etc.6
While working out 5 to 6 days per week and bumping up her everyday movement, she realized she needed to make changes to her eating habits as well. Adding in protein and veggies and reducing her carb intake, especially in the form of junk food and sugar, ended up being the plan that consistently worked for her.
She didn’t focus on perfection because that is an unrealistic standard; instead, continuing to stick with the changes she made, even if she had a slip up, was paramount.
When Blair hit her realistic 6 month female body transformation results, she was down 38 pounds and went from a size 10 to a size 4. The biggest piece of advice she has for anyone looking to make a realistic change to their body is to find a workout program you love.
She wants everyone to know that instead of suffering through gym classes that you hate, put effort into finding something that is enjoyable and that will give you fulfillment as well as amazing results.7
How To Create Your Own 6 Month Full Body Transformation Plan
I know how easy it is to blindly jump into trying to lose weight based on a whim or a frustrating moment. Typically, though, this results in restrictive eating, overcommitting to exercising, and ultimately ends up with binge eating and giving up.
Source: ttatty via Canva.com8
Instead of falling victim to this nasty cycle that has happened to me and countless women, make yourself a priority and devise a real plan.
1. Research & Commit to an Eating Plan
Begin by finding your TDEE so you have a starting gauge and then move on to the following action items that can lead you to your goal. After this, eat about the same amount of calories for two weeks, see if you lost weight, and adjust from there if need be.
A special “type of diet” isn’t required, but limiting intake and/or monitoring calories is usually suggested unless you’re trying out intuitive eating. Of course, diets can be a good thing if you’re not sure where to begin or want to completely change what you eat.
Another point is that becoming a pescatarian while not being able to stomach seafood is probably not the best idea, so putting some time and effort into finding an eating plan that is compatible with your lifestyle is a huge key to being successful in weight loss.
There are a multitude of traditional as well as trending diets that can all lead to success, so choosing one that fits your preferences and abilities can be done if you’re not sure where to begin. Ensure the plan you settle on includes healthy proteins as well as vitamins and nutrients from vegetables.
Although some diets do have restrictions on fat and carbs, when those things are eaten, it is important to remember to choose whole foods that satiate the body.
Remember that it is okay to treat yourself on occasion. Completely restricting food groups can cause negative results, so indulging every now and then may be necessary to keep you on the right path.
2. Find Fitness You Love
Rather than spend your life doing things you hate, consider investing the first few weeks of your realistic weight loss journey finding a workout that you actually enjoy. Try out a Peloton workout plan, take a kickboxing class, or start training for a 5k. As long as you are moving, there really is no wrong answer.
If you’re into weightlifting, checking out weightlifting results after 1 month, female stories and achievements may give you the inspiration and motivation you seek.
In that same vein, just because you start doing one thing doesn’t mean you have to do it forever. If you’re someone that gets bored easily, there is no shame in constantly taking different classes or changing workouts. Fitness truly is very personal and varies so much person to person, so anything that gets you moving is a good answer.
No matter what type of fitness regimen you decide on, it’s usually best to start small like 1-2x weekly, and then progress up to 3-5x weekly as you become adjusted to exercise(s).
3. Don’t Give Up
Getting frustrated and burnt out is normal, but don’t let it ruin your momentum because one bad decision or day isn’t going to destroy your progress. What can set us back, though, is getting into our own heads and letting that slip up completely derail us.
Remember, most successes, whether fitness related or not have failures but getting back on the horse is what separates those who improve, vs those who do not.
A health and fitness journey does benefit from motivation, but in the end, persistence is key. We are not always going to be motivated to choose the healthy lunch option or go take a nightly walk, but deciding you aren’t going to quit no matter how you feel is what can keep you going.
Health and weight loss are real issues that many people struggle with, especially women, so finding those you can relate to and draw inspiration from is important when looking to make big life changes.
Becoming a realistic 6 month body transformation female may seem out of reach, but deciding to make some of the changes modeled by the successful women above can make it a reality.
References
1@gritttfit • Instagram photos and videos.” Instagram. Accessed 1 April 2023. <https://www.instagram.com/gritttfit/>
2United State Department of Agriculture. (n.d.). Interested in Losing weight? Nutrition.gov. Retrieved November 10, 2022, from <https://www.nutrition.gov/topics/healthy-living-and-weight/strategies-success/interested-losing-weight>
3United States Department of Health and Human Services. (n.d.). Body Weight Planner | NIDDK. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Retrieved November 10, 2022, from <https://www.niddk.nih.gov/bwp>
4Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. (2022). Evidence mounts on the benefits of strength training. Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. Retrieved November 11, 2022, from <https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/news/hsph-in-the-news/strength-training-time-benefits/>
5Flood, R., Davidson, D., Weingarten, B., Rogers, T., Creel, N., & DePetris, D. R. (2021, June 14). Woman Takes Photo Every Day for Six Months to Document Weight Loss. Newsweek. Retrieved November 11, 2022, from <https://www.newsweek.com/woman-takes-photo-every-day-six-months-document-weight-loss-transformation-1600299>
6Levine, J. A. (2002, December). Non-exercise activity thermogenesis (NEAT). PubMed. Retrieved November 11, 2022, from <https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12468415/>
7Helwig, B., & Gomez, A. (2017, March 3). ‘I Lost Nearly 40 Pounds In 6 Months—Here’s How I Did It’. Women’s Health. Retrieved November 11, 2022, from <https://www.womenshealthmag.com/weight-loss/a19958644/blair-helwig-success-story/>
8ttatty. Canva. Accessed 15 April 2023. <https://www.canva.com/photos/MADBquzMW5M-diet-plan/>