Before and After: How 1 Woman's Love of Nature Helped Her Lose 90 Pounds

After struggling with her weight for as long as she could remember, our Before & After star Kat Roemer took matters into her own hands. And after two years of hard work and consistency, she has the results to prove it. With her fierce dedication, she adopted new lifestyle habits that have helped her lose 90 pounds. Read on for her inspiring story and tried-and-true tips.

Source: Kat Roemer

POPSUGAR: What made you decide to start your weight-loss journey?
Kat Roemer: I came to the point where I realized how many opportunities I was missing out on because of my weight. I was extremely involved in various extracurricular activities all through high school and at the beginning of college, but I felt like my weight was really holding me back from my full potential. I was also starting to feel the physical limitations of my weight, and as someone who loves nature and exploring outdoors, I needed to change if I wanted to continue to enjoy outdoor activities.

I have been heavy my entire life, and I don't remember a time where it was easy to lose weight at all. I was always pretty active though and didn't notice the physical limitations until I got to college. In high school, there were many times where I would try to lose weight, lost some, and then gained it back. When I finally started to lose weight this time, I made the decision that it would be a complete lifestyle makeover so that it would stick for good. I am so happy with life now that I made that decision.

Kat: Before

Source: Kat Roemer

PS: What's your favorite way to work out?
KR: I love doing some cardio and some weight lifting every day. I have found that doing both works for my body. My workout usually consists of an hour of cardio and then a half hour of weight lifting in some capacity. I also enjoy long walks or jogs if the weather is nice. It is a great way to clear the mind and focus on what's important.

PS: What's your weekly exercise schedule?
KR: I exercise six days a week, taking Sundays as my rest day. I walk to the gym every day (about a half-hour walk), do my hour of cardio, my half hour(ish) of weight lifting, walk home, and then usually finish the day with squats and sit-ups before bed.

Kat: After

Source: Kat Roemer

PS: How much weight have you lost?
KR: I have lost about 90 pounds.

PS: How do you keep workouts exciting?
KR: Honestly, it doesn't take much to keep me motivated in my workouts. I just make sure I have my music on, and I can stay entertained for my workout. Sometimes, it is worthwhile for me to go on a long jog or walk instead of the gym to switch things up a bit. Fitness has become something that I really enjoy, so for the most part, just going and doing my workout is exciting enough.

PS: What was the first big difference, other than the number on the scale, that really made you feel proud and excited?
KR: I started losing weight when I was away at college. The first semester that I was really trying to lose weight, I lost about 40 pounds, and it was the most amazing feeling to go home and have my loved ones notice. Most didn't even know I was trying to lose weight, so it was very exciting to see their reactions, and I really think that is what inspired me to continue and push my weight loss forward into the next several semesters at school.

PS: How do you track your weight loss?
KR: I am a scale type of person. I really like to know how much I weigh. I don't weigh myself more than once a day but definitely at least every other day. I like to track my weight so that I have a better understanding of what is working for my body in terms of weight loss. When I first started losing weight, I weighed myself constantly, but as I have gotten more comfortable in my new body, I don't feel quite as obsessive about knowing how much I weigh at any given moment.

Kat: After

Source: Kat Roemer

PS: What's a typical day of meals and snacks?
KR: I am vegetarian, so I try to come up with new recipes all the time and try them out. However, the typical day would probably start with a banana and yogurt or peanut butter. A typical lunch is pretty quick, so I keep hummus in the house so that I can make a quick lunch with veggies. I usually have a salad for dinner with some sort of protein added. Lately, I have been inspired to get creative with vegetarian cooking and have been using many fake-meat products like tempeh and tofu.

PS: What's the range of calories you eat per day?
KR: I don't track calories anymore, but I'd imagine I'm eating about 1,500 calories per day. It depends on the day, but I think for my body, it's probably a healthy range to support weight loss and also sustain my workouts.

PS: What are the healthy staples that are always in your fridge?
KR: Bananas, yogurt, peanut butter, spinach, homemade hummus, and tofu.

Kat: After

Source: Kat Roemer

PS: What advice do you have for anyone starting out on a weight-loss journey?
KR: Patience. My weight-loss journey has taken two years, and I'm still not completely done. In order to make a healthy lifestyle difference, you need to not only change your habits but also your mindset. There will be bumps along the road, but just remember that people probably won't notice the weight gain from last night to this morning if you messed up healthy eating in some way or another. Just keep going. Also, tell people about your weight loss. When people know that you are trying to lose weight, it makes you more accountable for your goals. Friends will also be more sensitive about finding activities to do that don't require unhealthy eating.

Just don't give up, I can't stress that enough. Remember why you're doing it. Remember that for every healthy day you have, you are adding days to your life. Remember that with your new body will come new confidence and new opportunities you never had before. Take those opportunities. Most of all, enjoy the journey.

Do you have an inspiring Before & After story to share? Message us on Facebook, and give us a few details of your journey. We might even profile you on the site, like Kat!