I lost 20 pounds last month. It was easier than I thought it’d be

Small changes, big results

Photo by Towfiqu barbhuiya on Unsplash

A recent doctor’s appointment shed light upon a new tier of Body Mass Index (BMI): 30.1. My PCP said I was .1 over the threshold of being obese. I never considered BMI to be accurate as I often lift weights and many BMI scales don’t consider muscle mass. Still, to be documented as obese by my PCP was a shock.

Roughly 40% of Americans are considered “obese.” It can lead to heart disease, diabetes and an increased risk of cancer—three health risks I‘d like to never be associated with.

Thus, my weight loss journey began. I’d never been in a position that forced me to lose weight for the betterment of my health. My goal was to lose 20 pounds in a month to better my health. Here’s how I did it.

Step 1 — Research phase

After setting my target weight and goal, I dove into a ton of weight loss research online.

Calorie calculations

My research quickly surrounded calorie intake vs. exercise. Using an online calorie calculator, I created a daily calorie maximum for myself and a weekly exercise minimum.

Counting calories is associated with unhealthy eating habits, but being intentional about what…