Kids Are Bullied Everyday
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Saying that kids can sometimes be cruel is definitely an
understatement. In just the last year, one out of five students reported
being bullied by others. According to the National Center for Education
Statistics, 33 percent of the students that reported being bullied
while they were at school said they were bullied at least once or twice a
month. 13 percent of the students that reported being bullied said that
they were called names, insulted, or made fun of; 12 percent of them
had rumors spread about them; five percent were either shoved, tripped,
spit on, or pushed; and five percent were purposely left out of
activities. No one knows about being bullied better than a 17-year-old
girl from Queensland, Australia, named Josephine Desgrand.
Issues With Weight
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When Josie was at her maximum weight, she weighed more than 265
pounds and was a size 20 or 22 in the UK. Because she was a bigger girl,
Josie was the constant victim of horrible bullying, and mean looks, no
matter where she went. Josie blames her weight on the large portion
sizes she got used to eating and her lack of exercise. Josie wasn't just
a target for bullies, her weight began to have a severe impact on her
overall health.
Too Many Risks
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Even though Josie was only a teenager, she was at risk for diseases
like type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, gallstones, high cholesterol
and triglycerides, a stroke, coronary artery disease (CAD), sleep apnea,
along with many other conditions. Complications that come with being
overweight include problems with hip development (slipped capital
femoral epiphysis), bone growth in the legs, liver problems, polycystic
ovary syndrome, and early puberty. So why wasn't Josie trying to lose
weight immediately?
Scared To Go To The Gym
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When Josie was at such a large weight, she became too embarrassed to
go to the gym. Considering that she was always being made fun of for her
weight when she was just walking around, she assumed that a gym full of
healthy people would treat her the same way, and that was the last
thing that she wanted. What a contradiction! Making fun of an overweight
person for going to the gym is like making fun of someone for going to a
restaurant because they were hungry. Every single person has goals, but
she decided to do things differently.
Josie's First Steps
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Please note: if you want to go on a diet, or a new exercise program,
make sure you speak to a doctor. Before Josie committed to an exercise
routine, she chose to examine her diet. Josie's first step was to
completely cut out sugar from her diet, including fruit. “I treated
fruits as a candy bar and only ate a certain amount each week,” she
said. “I also cut out carbs so I haven’t eaten bread or pasta or even
chocolate in one year.”
Make Healthy Choices
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The most important part of a healthy transformation is making sure
that your diet has a variety of foods, plenty of whole grains, fruits,
veggies, and complex carbohydrates And we can not tell you enough how
important eating plenty of protein is. It's been proven to boost your
metabolism by 80 to 100 calories every day. Diets that are high in
protein can also reduce obsessive thought about food, reduce cravings,
and reduce the need for late-night snacking. But for Josie, cutting out
the sugar was the key.
Cut Out Sugar
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“I cut sugar completely and reduced my carb intake," said Josie.
"Sugar was the main thing. I tried many diets beforehand, but I never
stuck to them. I did some research into sugar and was shocked at the
amount of sugar I used to consume; it seemed to be in everything. Making
the decision to cut it out of my diet was the best decision of my life.
It was very difficult at first; the first two weeks were so hard, but
pure determination saw me through. Then it became a habit." What's up
with sugar?
Cut It All Out
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Eating sugar that's been added, which is any sugar that doesn't occur
naturally, messes up pretty much everything about your body. From
headaches and skin issues to metabolism and insulin levels. It also
leaves you with being at a greater risk for obesity, and other diseases
such as heart disease and cancer. Sugar can also potentially increase
your cholesterol, raise blood pressure, wreak havoc on teeth, and impair
cognitive function. So how do you do it like Josie?
Simple Steps
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The first step is finding out where the sugar is. Read the labels of
things such as breads, salad dressing, and even yogurt. Find your
perfect balance of simple and complex carbs so you're not leaving
yourself feeling deprived, which can lead to binges. Include protein,
fiber, and healthy fats in your snacks and meals. These things are
digested more slowly than refined carbs or sugar, so your blood sugar
level rises and falls at a steadier, slower rate. Doing simple things
like using cinnamon instead of sugar in your coffee, or oatmeal, can
make a huge difference. So does making the decision to change.
Change Is A Decision
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One day Josie had had enough. Josie says that she “went through
cycles” of trying to change the way she looked. “Then one day, I stopped
thinking about it and just did it. It sounds so easy. I googled so many
transformations; I researched how I was going to do it. I was prepared,
I wanted it so badly, and now I was waiting for the ‘lightbulb’ moment
when I wake up and want to go for a run, or I wake up and don’t have any
sugar cravings," she continued. How did she do it?
Foodies Can Be Healthy
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We understand that diet is a huge factor, but how do you change the
way you eat if you love food? “I’m a huge foodie. My portions were huge,
and I used to eat so fast," admitted Josie. "Mom always used to tell me
to slow down with my eating as I’d always be the first finished. I was
also never interested in sports and would avoid it at all costs." But
Josie knew she needed to start somewhere, so she did.
Josie Had Enough
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“I would look at my friends and be so envious of what they were
wearing and what they could do," explained Josie. "I used to worry about
things like not fitting in seats and having to ask for seatbelt
extenders. I would avoid clothes shopping as I would have to go into the
older stores, which made me so depressed. Finally, Josie had enough.
Step By Step
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When it was time for Josie to exercise, she really didn't need too
much to get moving. In the beginning, Josie did three high-intensity
workouts. Josie would spend 15 minutes a day training, using the
YouTube channel called The Body Coach for inspiration. Not only was
Josie losing weight, she was saving money, as well. “I never joined a
gym so I managed to save some money there. I worked out at home so I
didn’t have to buy gym clothes so I didn’t have to worry about looking
good," said Josie. But then Josie started feeling really good.
Before And After
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Even though she ate pretty healthy while she was at her heaviest,
Josie said it was all about controlling her portions, and snacking only
on healthy foods. This is what contributed to her weight loss. Normally,
Josie would have large portions and return for seconds, or even thirds.
Using a combination of reduced sugar, portion control, and physical
activity, in less than a year, Josie was able to lose more than half of
her body weigh. Inspired by her story, people are heading to Josie for
advice.
Words Of Wisdom
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Josie shares on her Instagram that in order to change from within,
you must find the motivation and always remember why you're doing it.
"If you want it bad enough, make it happen!" she writes. "A little
progress each day ends up with big results. One of the main things that
kept me motivated was my transformation photos. I would take them weekly
and look for differences. In the last year I’ve made some huge
lifestyle changes and I’m so thrilled that I can inspire others and
contribute to their journeys in some way."
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