Kim's Inspiring 100-Pound Weight-Loss Story Will Make You Want to Lace Up Your Walking Shoes

Kim Dye
Kim Dye

Many people think if they need to lose weight, they need to spend a lot of money: pricey gym memberships, weight-loss subscription programs, and all organic food cost a pretty penny. But as Kim Dye proved, you can lose 100 pounds totally for free. Kim lost most of her weight simply from walking and tracking everything she ate on a free app.

Now, Kim is using her story to inspire others. On her Instagram page @100readysetgo, Kim documents the healthy meals she eats and how she stays active. She spoke to POPSUGAR about her weight-loss journey, how she stays on track, and what she hopes others learn from her story.

How She Got Started
Kim Dye

How She Got Started

Kim started her weight-loss journey in September 2016 at 242 pounds. "At the time, I suffered from bouts of anxiety and depression and was completely sedentary," she said. "My weight was truly beginning to hold me back socially and, more importantly, as a mother."

Although she didn't initially set out to lose weight, she began to walk nearly two miles every day to take her son to school. "About two weeks in, I noticed my clothes were fitting looser, and I decided to step it up," she said. This progressed to three-mile walks at a trail nearby, then six-mile walks.

This increase in activity motivated her to start tracking her calories in My Fitness Pal. In the first month, she lost eight pounds. "No radical diet or fitness plan, just tracking everything I ate — the good, the bad and ugly — staying within my calorie goal and walking five days a week," she said. "That dramatic loss was all it took to continue what I was doing."

How She Stays on Track With Her Diet and Exercise
Kim Dye

How She Stays on Track With Her Diet and Exercise

Kim tracks all her food in My Fitness Pal and started out eating 1,500-1,650 calories a day. "Since diets and restrictive eating didn't work for me in the past, I did not limit what foods I ate but rather started weighing my portions and tracking them," she told POPSUGAR. "If I wanted Cheetos or chicken wings, I weighed out a portion on my digital food scale and tracked them in MFP."

She found that weighing her food made her more mindful of her eating and prevented bingeing, which made her feel more in control. As she lost weight, she started to make more home-cooked meals. Once she lost 75 pounds, she increased her caloric intake to 1,800 calories a day. Now that she's in maintenance mode, she eats closer to 1,900-2,200 calories a day, depending on how much she works out.

As for her workout, Kim said she lost 100 pounds through just walking. She later joined a mixed-martial arts gym. "I soon became addicted to the camaraderie of the fitness classes," she said, and started taking regular boxing and stretch classes. She's also dabbled in jiu-jitsu and Zumba and takes seven to eight classes a week with one to two rest days.

Some Nonscale Victories
Kim Dye

Some Nonscale Victories

Some of Kim's favorite nonscale victories include:

  • Sitting comfortably in a bus seat.
  • Being able to ride a child's roller coaster with her son at the county fair.
  • Being able to wrap a standard bath towel around her body while on vacation.
  • Being called "petite."
  • Being able to keep up with and roughhouse her now 7-year-old.
  • Feeling more graceful.
  • No longer feeling invisible while simultaneously feeling like all eyes are on you.
  • Being able to tuck in a shirt and wear a belt with confidence.
  • Being able to wear vintage clothes again.
  • Saying goodbye to plus-size clothing stores.
  • Being seen as a success story, and being able to inspire others.
How She Stays Motivated
Kim Dye

How She Stays Motivated

"Results keep me motivated, and I feel so much better with daily movement," Kim said. "Endorphins have been great for my anxiety and have for the most part replaced food when life throws me curveballs. If I go a day without movement, I just don't feel like myself."

Kim's Advice For Others
Kim Dye

Kim's Advice For Others

"Make a list of what hasn't worked for you in the past, and do the opposite," she advised. "If you are not a gym person, walk or dance. If yo-yo dieting and restricting foods has not worked for you in the past, practice moderation or intuitive eating."

Kim also advised that while doing anything consistently will yield results, it's not feasible unless it's something you want to do for the rest of your life. "Once you hit your goal, the journey does not end there, and to maintain the weight you lost, you will need to continue what you were doing to lose that weight in the first place," Kim said. "Make sure those things are realistic and sustainable in the long run. Choose a lifestyle, not a diet."

Finally, she recommended finding your tribe. "Support was everything during my journey," she said. She also made friends on My Fitness Pal and joined challenges to keep her accountable. She joined a weight-loss-focused Facebook group that kept her accountable and uses her Instagram to inspire others. "In this internet age, there is no reason to go at it alone, and sometimes even complete strangers can be your greatest inspiration or support on your journey," she said.