Candace Brisco as told to Emily Shiffer

<p>That is-until an injury left me inactive and my eating habits caught up with me. Before I knew it, I weighed 260 pounds. </p>

<p>Then, I was hit with something devastating: My mom was diagnosed with <a href="https://www.womenshealthmag.com/health/a19930335/signs-of-breast-cancer/" id="f6ef7a91-d898-3ab8-a54e-6d43ed1c8c8a">  breast cancer </a> for the third time shortly after I graduated from nursing school. She opted out of chemotherapy and radiation, and when she passed away in 2016, I turned to food as comfort. I was 315 pounds at my heaviest in 2017.</p>

<h1> A bridesmaid's dress fitting prompted me to make a change. </h1>

<p>Two of my close friends were getting married, and I ordered my dress before trying it on. I ordered a few sizes smaller (a size 14) with hopes that it'd motivate me to lose a few pounds.</p>

<p>But I absolutely couldn't fit into it-the seamstress even told me I would need to buy another size 14 so she could sew the two together, essentially making it a size 28. I was mortified; I started my weight-loss journey right then and there.</p>

<p>At first, I followed the weight-loss advice I found online: exercise and eat a low-fat, low-calorie diet. I was trying to eat small meals three times per day, but I was so hungry. Then, a coworker mentioned that the ketogenic diet (a diet high in fat and low in carbs) had worked for her. That night, I did as much research on the keto diet as I could.</p>

<h1> The keto diet was the best choice for me-I was floored that I wouldn't have to deprive myself. </h1>

<p>I keep my carbs below 20 grams per day, and I eat enough fat that I feel focused and full from meal to meal. I've also incorporated intermittent fasting into my routine: I eat two meals per day, the first at 2 p.m. and the second at 6 p.m. </p>

<p>But honestly, the best part of the keto diet (other than weight loss) is that I've been able to re-incorporate some of my favorite foods (bacon, cheese, steak, chicken wings) into my eating plan, when I never thought I could eat those foods on a diet before. Here's what I typically eat in a day:</p>

<ul><li> <strong> Breakfast: </strong>  3 hard boiled eggs, 2 slices of bacon, and a half of an avocado </li><li> <strong> Dinner: </strong> A chicken Caesar salad, a 7 oz ribeye steak with butter and sour cream </li></ul>

<h1> As I lost more weight, I started exercising again.  </h1>

<p>I was so heavy in the beginning of my weight-loss journey that all I could do was walk. Coming from an athletic background, I was so disappointed in how little I could do. </p>

<p>Still, I downloaded a "couch-to-5k" app and walked five or six days a week. Within the first month I felt comfortable enough to incorporate weight lifting into my regimen. </p>

<p>I went from walking to jogging, and I also incorporated the StairMaster and the elliptical. Eventually, I felt confident enough to join CrossFit. It's helped me get into the best shape I've ever been in, and I'm addicted to getting stronger. I also box and cycle to mix it up and challenge myself.</p>

<h1> Once I lost 90 pounds, I created my Instagram account to help me maintain my motivation.  </h1>

<p>Here's the thing about Instagram: It made my weight-loss journey look quick and easy even though it wasn't. I literally cried through workouts. But as soon as I started posting my photos, I realized that the amount of support and encouragement I was getting was exactly what I needed to continue. I was motivating others, which motivated me! Sharing my journey was the best decision I've ever made.</p>

<p>I've lost 145 pounds so far, and for the first time in my life, dieting doesn't feel like deprivation. I feel the best I've ever felt.</p>

<p>I want women to know that they shouldn't be afraid to share their journeys-the highs and the lows. So many women are going through the exact same challenges with weight loss and we all benefit from each other.</p>

I always had <a href="https://www.womenshealthmag.com/weight-loss/g19989489/avoid-overeating/" id="62b58671-c27c-3e3e-ae1c-64466c323b79">  issues overeating </a> , but since I was an active kid who played sports, I was able to maintain a healthy weight throughout childhood.

'I Lost 145 Pounds Through Intermittent Fasting On The Keto Diet'

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Candace Brisco as told to Emily Shiffer

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'I Lost 145 Pounds Through Intermittent Fasting On The Keto Diet'