After Battling Binge Eating, Taran Transformed Her Life and Lost 82 Pounds

"I was always a little heavier than all my friends growing up, but I never really noticed it until the teasing started in about third grade," Taran said. It continued all the way through high school, and it tore her self-worth and confidence to shreds.

She was active as a child, but never participated in any sports until high school when she played lacrosse for a season. "I always ate large portions as well, but so did everyone around me since I grew up in the South on a diet of comfort foods for all three meals," Taran said. Nutrition and physical activity were never really topics at the kitchen table for her family or in her friend circles.

Taran started working out in college with her roommates and friends, and it was around this time that she said she started developing very unhealthy eating patterns and thoughts about food. "I can't pinpoint the exact moment or timeframe that I started binge eating because I honestly didn't know that it had a name. I just knew that if I was experiencing any emotion — happiness, sadness, joy, sorrow — I was going out and bingeing," Taran said. This went on for over a decade, unfortunately, but she shared that "starting my weight-loss journey has helped me grasp onto its reins and work on it daily."

After being diagnosed with binge eating disorder (BED), a health educator helped Taran with her recovery. This is how Taran explains what BED is, which she said is different from overeating:

"Binge eating is not just eating an entire box of macaroni and cheese once a week when you have a craving, or eating an entire bag of chips in one sitting. It's not just going out to eat and eating until you're stuffed," Taran said. "Binge eating is going to a fast food restaurant and ordering three adult-sized meals, with the drinks, too, and eating it all in a short amount of time, and then turning around and heading home to eat dinner with your family like nothing happened."

Or sometimes Taran said that having BED meant "having dinner with your family, and then lying about going to the store just to pull into another fast food joint and eat two more meals — on the same day that you have already repeated these actions for breakfast or lunch."

People with BED tend to consume a massive number of calories in a short window of time. Taran said she knows some people who struggle with it that have eaten over 6,000 calories in one sitting, and back in her worst years, she said she probably consumed the same.

Taran explained that when she was binge eating, she would stand in the kitchen, deciding to eat handfuls of anything that was open, feeling out of control, and not being able to stop. "It's eating until you are physically uncomfortable and feel a sense of shame and guilt – and you turn around and do it again in two hours, and then do it the next day."

"Binge eating disorder is not something that I ever knew about — I just thought I was alone and addicted to food. I had no idea how to break the cycle," Taran said.

"But it can be broken. I am human, and not perfect, and I definitely have moments where I give into weaknesses and binge on occasion. But taking control of my life, my health, fitness, wellness, weight – it all has given me the tools to overcome my eating disorder, and not be ashamed of my past either," Taran said.

Part of what helped her significantly in her BED recovery were the two books Brain Over Binge Recovery Guide and Never Binge Again.

"I was binge-free for almost eight months before I had an episode at the start of this year – and I have now been binge-free for two months! It's the little wins," Taran revealed.

Taran tried losing weight several times over the past decade, but nothing ever stuck. "I didn't understand calorie balance, exercise, nutrition – anything honestly. I thought going to the gym daily and doing cardio would just make me lose weight somehow," Taran said.

In the Fall of 2017, she and her husband had just moved to Germany for his job. She was isolated without friends or family, and knew that she had to make a change. "This was the place for me to finally focus on myself. I had to improve my relationship with food, my relationship towards myself, and only I could make these changes happen."

After seeing photos of herself, she revealed that she didn't even recognize herself. She said, "I hadn't ever realized how much weight I had gained over the years, and it felt like my world was sort of closing in on me when I saw my true weight gain."

On November 1, 2017, Taran told herself that she legitimately had to change, or she'd continue to gain weight and not be able to enjoy life. "Tying my shoes, fitting into clothes, walking up four flights of stairs, getting out of the car, cleaning the house – all of these basic life functions were getting harder for me daily," and would leave her out of breath or even breaking a sweat.

Taran knew she had to make a lifestyle change that would be sustainable long-term, and she began following the IIFYM (if it fits your macros) style of eating. "I started using a TDEE (total daily energy expenditure) calculator online and after about three months, I started getting BodPod testing
(which measures your body composition)and metabolic testing completed at my local Army Wellness Center."

These tests allowed Taran to see her body fat percentage, lean mass, basal metabolic rate (BMR), and when providing her activity levels, they indicated the number of calories she needed to lose weight.

"I started out in 2017 eating about 1,890 calories daily, and over time my BMR has adjusted with my weight loss, and I am eating about 1,670 daily now." Taran tracks her activity during the day, and she'll eat a couple hundred fewer calories on rest days.

When she began her journey, Taran was eating a typical omnivore diet. But after about six months of losing weight and working out consistently, she transitioned to eating plant-based. "It was a decision I made for my health, and I could instantly see a difference in the way my body felt daily. After learning more about a plant-based diet – the environmental impacts and ethics behind it – I was convinced it was the way of eating for my own personal beliefs and health, and have been eating a plant-based diet ever since."

At about two months into Taran's journey, she started intermittent fasting. "I didn't start this for all the health benefits that are floating around the internet, but rather as a window for eating to assist with my BED," Taran said. She also enjoys exercising first thing in the morning and prefers working out on an empty stomach.

"My meals vary daily, and I eat all sorts of amazing meals," Taran said. She cooks primarily out of the three Thug Kitchen cookbooks for lunch and dinner, and also uses her own recipes or ones she finds from plant-based Instagram accounts. "I never feel deprived and if I crave something, I'll eat it if it fits within my calorie goal," Taran said.

She normally breaks her fast at 11:30 a.m. Here's an example of a day of eating:

11:30 a.m. almond milk protein shake (chocolate banana from Costco): 120 calories, 3.5 grams fat, 12 grams carbs, 10 grams protein
12:30 p.m. vegetable pad Thai with tofu: 408 calories, 9.1 grams fat, 74 grams carbs, 17 grams protein
3 p.m. Cinnamon Oat Kind Bar with one tablespoon peanut butter: 235 calories, 12.5 grams fat, 28 grams carbs, 5 grams protein
5:45 p.m. buffalo soy curls on toasted bread with carrots, celery, and homemade ranch: 592 calories, 28.8 grams fat, 58.7 grams carbs, 3 grams protein
7:15 p.m. (eating window closes at 7:30 p.m.) frozen strawberries, bananas, blueberries, and cranberries blended with soy milk and PB powder for a smoothie bowl: 330 calories, 5.5 grams fat, 54 grams carbs, 15 grams protein

Total: 1,685 calories, 59.4 grams fat, 226.7 grams carbs, 70.8 grams protein

"Losing weight does not have to be about giving up all your favorite meals! Learning about calories and nutrition and re-working your favorites in order to make them healthier is easy and worth it," Taran said.

Taran started working out on the elliptical at her gym because she felt like it was easier than running. The cardio machines were on the second floor, overlooking the first floor, where people were lifting weights. "I would work out on the elliptical for 30 to 60 minutes and admire all the women downstairs lifting weights, and even the men, too," Taran said. She wanted to be down there with them, but the elliptical was comfortable, and she didn't feel confident to try.

After losing about 30 pounds, Taran slowly started running a half a mile a few times a week until several months later when she could run a 5K. She also started taking her two dogs on longer 3.5-mile walks with one of her friends most mornings and evenings.

At the end of December, Taran had already lost a good chunk of her weight, and she asked her husband to show her some free-weight exercises at the gym so she'd feel confident doing them on her own.

Taran said it was very intimidating to be the only female in the weight room with all these guys lifting heavy. "I would blast some of my favorite tunes in my headphones and do what I came to do – kill it," she said. "I just remembered that I was here for my health, both physical and mental."

"Once I began weightlifting, I felt so powerful!" she said. "I began to see that each week I could lift heavier dumbbells and add plates to my barbell. That feeling was incredible," she said.

Taran revealed that she never enjoyed working out in the past. But with lifting, she found getting stronger over time was a feeling she'd never experienced before and it inspired her to keep pushing. She started reading more about proper technique, more advanced exercises, and following people in the industry who shared strength-training workouts.

"I began working on the three main lifts for powerlifting – deadlifts, bench press, and squats — and I worked my way up to a total of 500 pounds for all three combined. I still have it as a goal to compete in some powerlifting competitions one day," Taran said.

This is what a typical week of workouts looks like for Taran. She said the weightlifting is the same as when she started, but she started incorporating running this year.

Monday: legs and glutes + 1.7-mile run
Tuesday: arms and shoulders + 6-mile hike
Wednesday: back and chest + 3-mile run
Thursday: 1.5-mile run
Friday: legs and glutes + 10-mile run
Saturday: deadlifts, bench press, squats + any area that I feel needs more
Sunday: 3.1-mile run + 1-hour kayak

Taran's highest recorded weight on the scale was 242.5 pounds, but in photos from before her start date, she believes she was pushing 250 to 255 pounds at times. "I use 242.5 as my starting for numbers," Taran said, and after being on this journey for one year and seven months, she's lost 82 pounds.

Taran told POPSUGAR she had several nonscale victories, including:

Over one-and-a-half years later, and Taran says she still has days where her "motivation is at a -9000," and she'll search for any and every excuse in the book to not work out or plan her meals. She realized this was normal, but having discipline was key.

"Remembering your 'why,' recalling all your nonscale victories, pushing and showing up during those days where you just can't muster the motivation – that's when it counts. Those moments are where you start fighting to get out of your comfort zone," Taran said. "Your comfort zone is how you got to this place that you cannot stand to be anymore – so why would you want to stay there?"

Taran said having a plan for her nutrition and your exercise was essential, and holding herself accountable. Having friends and family to push her along her journey was amazing. "I even have a small group of ladies from all over the world in a group chat, and we try to help each other daily," Taran said. "but only you are accountable for your actions and those actions are the only things that will bring you results."

If you're on your own weight-loss journey, Taran has tons of tips and advice, including drinking enough water every day (Taran drinks over a gallon a day herself), using a calorie counting app (she uses Lose It!), eating enough calories, and finding an exercise routine you enjoy,

"Don't compare your journey to what you're seeing on social media," she said. "Ensure you are doing it the healthy way and don't diminish your joy comparing your losses to someone else." She also recommends taking progress photos and monthly measurements.

And when it comes to hitting a plateau on the scale, which Taran said will happen, it's important to keep pushing yourself. "Change up your routine, make sure you're getting enough sleep, manage your stress, get enough calories and water – just never give up!"

"Health and wellness has become such a huge passion of mine and I am forever grateful that I woke up in November 2017 and decided to give me a chance," Taran said. It's become such a huge part of her life that she's decided to make it a career. "I would love nothing more than to be able to assist other women during their health and fitness journeys."