A Trainer Told Reghan to Make These 2 Changes, and They Helped Her Lose 80 Pounds

Reghan told POPSUGAR that her weight-loss journey began when she was 18 years old. She was tired of not fitting into cute clothes and never having a date, and she expressed that she felt down about her appearance. As she's gotten older, her reasoning has changed. Today, at age 34, Reghan wants to be strong, confident, and healthy and set a good example for her children.

During her two pregnancies, Reghan gained weight. After the birth of her second child in 2014, Reghan weighed 230 pounds and was ready to lose weight and get into shape. "I started eating more clean foods and really getting into exercise," she said. After consistently working out for a few months, Reghan lost 20 pounds. Two years later, she had lost a total of 80 pounds.

Shortly after giving birth to her second child, Reghan decided it was time to get back in the gym and took up kickboxing. In that class, she became friends with a few women, and they introduced her to weightlifting. "I followed along with them, and that's how I found my love for weightlifting," she said.

In 2015, she was introduced to a trainer, who created a clean eating plan and workout schedule for her to follow. "I started seeing results with the eating plan paired with the workouts, and I was feeling so good," she said. Now that she's lost the weight, she likes to mix up her workouts and incorporate different styles of training — like kickboxing, running, and barre — into her weekly routine.

Here's a typical day of eating for Reghan:

Breakfast: 1/2 cup of oatmeal (made with egg whites) topped with blueberries and cinnamon. A coffee with a splash of milk.
Lunch: A salad full of vegetables topped with chicken, turkey, or tuna. 1/2 cup of sweet potatoes, brown rice, or quinoa.
Snack: An apple with almond butter.
Dinner: Roasted or steamed vegetables with a lean protein like chicken, shrimp, or beef.
Dessert: Two squares of dark chocolate.

Reghan works out four to five times a week, and on the days that she trains, she will have a protein shake, a protein bar, or an extra snack like vegetables with hummus.

Initially, meal prepping was extremely difficult, but once she made it a habit, Reghan found that it helped her make healthier choices throughout her day. Feeling strong, having more confidence, and being able to fit into cute, stylish clothing are just a few of her nonscale victories.

For those beginning their own weight-loss journey, Reghan said to never give up and be consistent. "One bad day or weekend won't stop your weight-loss progress, but giving up will!"